Results 5,541-5,560 of 15,508 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Second Stage (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to bring the Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021 before the House. The Bill facilitates the introduction of a new Garda Síochána operating model and provides for drug-testing of Garda members, and civilian staff, working within An Garda Síochána. The main aim of the legislation is to make the technical changes needed to allow...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Second Stage (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senators for their questions and also for their support for this Bill. As I said at the outset it is quite technical. At the same time it is an important Bill in making sure that the many changes that are taking place across An Garda Síochána and the restructuring, are rooted in the law, that gardaí are supported and enabled to do their work and that it is as...

Seanad: Violence Against Women: Statements (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: The senseless killing of Ashling Murphy two weeks ago took a wonderful young woman from her family and from her wider community. It also led to an outpouring of grief the length and breadth of the country. In thinking of Ashling, we also remember Urantsetseg Tserendorj, Jastine Valdez, Ana Kriégel, Nadine Lott, and so many other women who have been, and are, victims of violence against...

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) (Stalking) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the chance to speak on this Bill. Obviously, I will not be opposing it on the next Stage. While there is undoubtedly work to be done on how best to implement the changes we are discussing here, Senator Chambers and I have a shared desire to see the law in this area strengthened, as do all of us in this House. We must do so as soon as possible so that it can be...

Seanad: Violence Against Women: Statements (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank all the Senators for their contributions. I thank those who have given of their own personal lived experience because it is not easy to do, certainly not standing in Parliament. Indeed, I thank those who have spoken on behalf of victims and survivors. I thank everyone for their proposals and suggestions. I genuinely mean this. There is no right or wrong answer. I want to work...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commercial Rents (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that there are currently no caps in place for commercial rent increases. However, it is important to note that for leases entered into on or after 28 February 2010, for the purposes of carrying on a business, Section 132 of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 prohibited upward only rent reviews and further detailed the applicable rules in this area. In...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Legal Aid Board (“the 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 (the “Act”) and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021. Section 3(3) of the Act provides that the Board shall, subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy the Irish Prison Service will respond to the individual concerned by the end of the week, to apologise for the failure to respond to his correspondence and to provide him with a response to the matters which he raised.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will agree, resources are fundamental to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Budget 2022 has provided an unprecedented allocation of in excess of €2 billion to An Garda Síochána, which includes funding for the recruitment of 800 additional Garda Trainees and 400 Garda staff. This significant investment demonstrates the Government's...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: Details of quantitative research carried out my Department in relation to policies within its remit, in the timeframe specified by the Deputy, are set out in tabular form below. Topic Spend (exc. VAT) Attitudes towards/experiences of the taking of intimate images (to inform the development of a public education campaign relating to the enactment of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that work is continuing on the review of the Prison Rules 2007. The review is taking account of the updated European Prison Rules, which were published in 2020, and also considering changes within the Irish Prison Service, the prison system and also changes that have occurred within the wider criminal justice system over the past 15 years. The public consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory body, independent in how it carries out its work, set up under the Prisons Act 2007. The Inspector's key role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons and the Inspector plays a vital role in ensuring effective independent oversight of our prison system. The current Inspector of Prisons, Ms. Patricia...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service has continued to review and modify Covid-19 restrictions throughout the pandemic. Restrictive measures have been modified in line with the various announcements made by Government and in line with advice from Public Health/HSE and the Irish Prison Service National Infection Control Team. In 2021, the unwinding of restrictions was linked to the roll out of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to obtain the information requested by the Deputy in the time permitted. Relevant information has been sought and I will send it to the Deputy directly when it has been compiled.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service have a range of programmes, support services and through-care options for prisoners who wish to address their substance misuse. While drug treatment services are provided in all closed prisons, the same type of programmes are not offered in open prisons as a condition of transfer to an open prison is that the prisoner is drug free. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, I opened the special Afghan Admission Programme for applications on 16 December 2021. Applications will be accepted until 24 February 2022, with up to 500 places available for eligible Afghan family members. The Programme enables current or former Afghan nationals living legally in Ireland to apply to have certain close family...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that Oireachtas members may raise issues directly with the Irish Prison Service using the following email address - ipsrequests@irishprisons.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 1 February 2019. However, they made a request on 23 October 2020, under section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to have that Order revoked and this will be considered as soon as possible. All applications are examined on a case by case basis, on the documentation supplied and as provided...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised...