Results 5,241-5,260 of 15,493 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Substance Misuse (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs including crack cocaine remains a priority for An Garda Síochána and the other state agencies tasked with responsibilities in this regard. A concerted effort has been made over the past year to ensure that the detection and prevention of these types of criminal activity have not been adversely affected by the unprecedented...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Visa Applications (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application you refer to was refused. The letter issued to the applicant outlines the reasons for this refusal. It is open to the applicant to appeal this decision, in writing, within two months of the date of the refusal. Appeals must be in written form and sent to the Visa Appeals Officer in the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Garda Síochána (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Garda Síochána (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the arrangement of training courses for Garda members. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I understand that Specialist Interviewing was established in An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Garda Síochána (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Prison Service (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Inspector of Prisons, whose independence in the exercise of her functions is provided for by law, plays a vital role in ensuring effective independent oversight of our prison system. ‘A Framework for the Inspection of Prisons in Ireland’ was published by the Inspector in March last year. This sets out how the Inspector will conduct inspections of prisons and draws...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legal Aid (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means in the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021. On 10 November 2021, I was pleased to announce the appointment of a new Board for the period 1 November 2021 to 31 October...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Prison Service (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that on 19 November 2021 there were 361 people in custody whose most serious offence was burglary. Of this, 294 were sentenced and 67 were being held for trial or on remand. A detailed breakdown of those serving sentences for burglary is set out in the tables below. Table 1. All Prisoners in Custody For Burglary or Related Offences on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Court Judgments (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. This includes the compilation of information relating to convictions. In addition, the decision about whether or not to prosecute a person is entirely a matter for the Director of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, there is a commitment in the Justice Plan 2021 to publish the independent research on Familicide and Domestic Homicide Reviews which has been commissioned by my Department. This will be an important first step in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to legislate to introduce Domestic Homicide Reviews. The independent study is looking at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Naturalisation Applications (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it and my Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and during all levels of public health restrictions. However, the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones case and the necessary health restrictions arising from the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Work Permits (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Atypical Working Scheme was established as a cross Departmental response to address the matter of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet, who are not currently eligible for permission under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's employment permit system. The Scheme provided, for the first time, a framework for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Court Orders (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. Furthermore, as the Deputy will be aware, the making of a maintenance order is a matter for the presiding judge and I have no role in this regard. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was introduced in April 2012 to encourage inward investment and create business and employment opportunities in the State. The Programme provides investors with the opportunity to invest in Ireland. Key to the Programme is that the investments are beneficial for Ireland, generate or sustain employment and are generally in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Programme (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The General Scheme of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 was approved for drafting by the Government in the early summer. The purpose of the General Scheme of a Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is to provide for amendments to provisions across a range of civil and regulatory law by way of updating and enhancing their application and to better...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Private Security Authority, established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, is responsible for the licensing and regulation of the private security industry in the State. The Authority is an independent statutory body under the aegis of my Department and I have no involvement in the day-to-day operations of the Authority. Following the enactment of the Private...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Private Security Services (Amendment) Act 2021 was signed into law by the President on 12 July 2021. This is an important piece of legislation allowing the Government to bring the regulation and licensing of security personnel assisting those enforcing court orders for evictions and repossessions within the remit of the Private Security Authority. The 2021 Act provides for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (1 Dec 2021)

Helen McEntee: The statistics sought by the Deputy are set out in the document attached to this response.   My Department's overall objective is to have decisions made on applications from people seeking international protection as quickly as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection in Ireland can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (1 Dec 2021)

Helen McEntee: Supporting a Victim's Journey is an ambitious plan which is introducing important reforms to support and protect vulnerable victims and ensure our criminal justice system is more victim-centred. I am fully committed to implementing in full all of the actions set out in Supporting a Victim's Journey. To monitor progress, I chair an Implementation Oversight Group comprising all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (1 Dec 2021)

Helen McEntee: Criminal Legal Aid is a vital element of the criminal justice system. The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 gives expression to the Constitutional right that free legal aid must be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. Under the 1962 Act, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid...