Results 6,121-6,140 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I recognise the difficulties that Covid-19 has had on everyone in the country, including our international student population. From the outset of the pandemic, my Department and I have worked to provide assistance and assurance to people who use our immigration services. Since the pandemic was declared in March 2020, I have provided nine temporary extension of immigration and international...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 746, 747, 748 and 749 together. Statistics are not compiled or maintained in the manner requested by the Deputy, i.e. whether an application was granted based on Irish Association by Descent or Ascent other than in the case of applications in respect of a minor of Irish descent or Irish associations or a refugee. The retrieval of the data requested would...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Afghan Admission Programme enabled current or former Afghan nationals living legally in Ireland to apply to have their close family members, who are living in Afghanistan or who have recently fled to eligible territories bordering Afghanistan, to apply for temporary residence in Ireland. The eligible neighbouring countries are: Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: World Economic Forum (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that I received a meeting request from a representative of the World Economic Forum in November 2021. As the request was received at short notice, a meeting did not take place. Neither I nor officials from my Department have engaged in any other communication with the World Economic Forum or representatives of the World Economic Forum in the timeframe specified.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 752 and 753 together. As the Deputy is aware, the EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC) has been activated for the first time in response to the Ukraine crisis. Ireland participates in this measure, which has been given legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. Those eligible for Temporary Protection (granted initially...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy created an online Join Family (Non-EEA national) (spouse) visa application on 14 July 2021. The supporting documentation and relevant fee were subsequently received on 1 September 2021 in the Ankara visa office. The Visa Office in Turkey is experiencing an unprecedented number of applications at present. Notwithstanding this, the Visa Office continue...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: For reasons of maintaining full confidentiality, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State. An applicant for such protection status, or their legal representative, should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed individually in line with the eligibility criteria as set out under that Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) 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 employment permit system. The Scheme provided, for the first time, a framework...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Security (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 758 and 759 together. The Deputy will appreciate that, for sound reasons, it is not the practice to comment on security matters nor would it be in the public interest to do so.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I was pleased to open the landmark Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme for applications on 31 January 2022 and applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July, when the scheme will close. This once-in-a-generation scheme is designed to give long-term undocumented people without a current permission to remain in the State, the chance to regularise their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC) has been activated in response to the Ukraine crisis. Ireland participates in this measure, which is given legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. Those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine will generally be eligible for this temporary protection, initially for one year and on a renewable basis. It will provide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase and distribution of Garda resources, including Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am advised, however, that Garda management keeps the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. I have been advised by the Garda authorities that no specialised human...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: Based on the information supplied by the Deputy, it is not possible to definitively state the type of application that should be made. However, it would appear that an application for a de facto partner of an Irish National may be the most appropriate application. Further details on how to make such an application are available on my Department's website at:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Properties (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Thornton Hall site remains an important strategic State asset with potential future use value. As previously advised, the Irish Prison Service is continuing to engage with the Land Development Agency to explore the options for the future development of a portion of the site to maximise its value to the State. The Prison Service recently sought an updated...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Afghan Admission Programme enabled current or former Afghan nationals living legally in Ireland to apply to have their close family members, who are living in Afghanistan or who have recently fled to eligible territories bordering Afghanistan, to apply for temporary residence in Ireland. The eligible neighbouring countries are: Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service introduced a wide range of measures necessary to protect the prisoner population form Covid-19 including the quarantining of new committals. While it has been possible to lift the majority of restrictive measures introduced, the Irish Prison Service, recognising the threat that Covid-19 continues to pose to the vulnerable prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 768 and 769 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service has continued to review and modify Covid-19 restrictions throughout the pandemic in line with the various announcements made by Government, advice from Public Health/HSE and the Irish Prison Service National Infection Control Team. In 2020 the Irish Prison Service developed a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Management Companies (22 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011, a company seeking to provide property management services on behalf of the owner(s) of a property, must hold a licence from the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA). Such services are normally provided under contract between the property services provider and the owner of the property (or, in the case...