Results 5,921-5,940 of 15,508 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Government is determined to tackle anti-social behaviour and I am very conscious of the impact it can have on the quality of life for local communities, including in Dublin city centre. We want people to feel safe and be safe, whether they live or work in Dublin or want to visit and enjoy our capital city. The Deputy will be aware that Budget 2022 includes significant additional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Electronic Tagging (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the Criminal Justice Act 2006 contains provisions for the introduction of Electronic Monitoring in this jurisdiction. Section 101 concerns Restriction of Movement Orders and subsection 10 provides the stipulation that a person may be subjected to electronic monitoring as part of the conditions of the order.  Under section 108, Temporary Release of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to tackle anti-social and criminal behaviour. I am very conscious of the repercussions that such behaviour can have on the quality of life for residents in local communities. It is important that people feel safe and are safe in their communities. There are a number of policy approaches ongoing, including the Local Community Safety...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Judiciary are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and we must give full respect to the separation of powers as enshrined in the Constitution. Section 6 of the Judicial Council Act provides the Judicial Council is, subject to the provisions of the Act, independent in the exercise of its functions and as Minister I have no role in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: At this time when we celebrate a centenary of service by the members and staff of An Garda Síochána, I am very pleased that the Government is in a position to continue to increase the number of Gardaí on our streets and last week a new recruitment competition was launched by An Garda Síochána through the Public Appointments Service. Budget 2022 includes an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: My thoughts are with the victims of the recent horrific attacks in their own homes. I know I speak for everyone in this House in utterly condemning these senseless and cowardly attacks and also in my belief that the perpetrators must be brought to justice.  Incidents like these, although rare, are terrifying not only for the victim themselves but for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law 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 distribution of resources under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 160 together. I was pleased to open the landmark Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme for applications on 31 January. Applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July, when the scheme will close.  The scheme includes a parallel strand, which opened for applications on 7 February 2022, to implement the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and providing supports for victims is a priority for me as Minister and for Government. Since my appointment I have been continuously working with my colleagues and with our partners to ensure that we have robust legislation, policies and infrastructure that can support and assist victims and hold perpetrators to account. With regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: My Department is fully committed to implementing the key recommendations in the Expert Advisory Group Report to reduce processing times of both first instance decisions and appeals to 6 months respectively, as outlined in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Protection Support Service.   The White Paper proposes that the new system...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that I received Government approval in December 2021 for new regulations amending the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013, in advance of a new Garda recruitment competition to commence this year. The new Regulations contain technical amendments to reflect changes in legislation, and also to revise the language requirement for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As I am sure the Deputy is aware, on Tuesday, my colleague Minister O’Gorman and I brought the Tusla review to Government and it has now been published. The Tusla review is the latest action in a series of important commitments in the Programme for Government to examine how we, as a state, tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.  Since the formation of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: My Department is reviewing its administrative arrangements to ensure it can assist Irish Citizens and their family members in Ukraine speedily and with flexibility. While Ukrainian nationals are not visa exempt to enter Ireland, given the current circumstances, all visa applications will be dealt with as quickly and as humanely as possible. This includes family applications for non EEA...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the former Cork prison was built in the early 1800s and served as a military detention barracks until it was transferred to the ownership of my Department in 1972. However, due to the age, fabric and condition of the building including lack of in-cell sanitation, a decision was taken in 2014 to close it and construct a new modern prison on a site opposite the former...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am deeply conscious of and acknowledge the work and commitment demonstrated by all those who have contributed to our society and particularly those working in frontline services during the Covid-19 pandemic. I was pleased to open the landmark Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme for applications on 31 January. Applications will be accepted for six months until 31...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I was pleased to open the landmark Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme for applications on 31 January. Applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July, when the scheme will close.  The scheme includes a parallel strand, which opened for applications on 7 February 2022, to implement the recommendation included in the report of the Expert Advisory Group,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The review of the Defamation Act 2009 is a legislative priority for the Government. The Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to “review and reform defamation laws to ensure a balanced approach to the right to freedom of expression, the right to protection of good name and reputation, and the right of access to justice”. The Government Legislation Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that for security and operational reasons the Irish Prison Service is not in a position to provide a breakdown of the staff resources allocated to individual prisons. However, the number of Prison Grade staff employed by the Irish Prison Service for the period 2011 – 2021 (as at Dec 31 2021) is outlined in the table below.  Number of Prison Grade staff...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service collates and publishes the prisoner population breakdown, including those serving prison sentences, on a daily basis and this information is available on the Irish Prison Service website www.irishprisons.ie. The average number of prisoners in custody per institution over the past ten years is outlined in the table below. Daily...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that there are a number of ongoing programmes and initiatives specifically focused on the needs of members of the Travelling community. Education is an important prison-based service, and participation in education is a key to improving outcomes for prisoners and reducing recidivism and the adult educational programmes include programmes...