Results 6,321-6,340 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 578 and 579 together. In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, I opened the special Afghan Admission Programme for applications on 16 December 2021. The Programme closed for applications on 11 March 2022. The Programme enabled current or former Afghan nationals living legally in Ireland to apply to have certain close family members...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with an unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion. This includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Garda members and up to 400 Garda staff. It should be noted that many of the Garda members to be recruited will be drawn from the recent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 eligible for Temporary Protection (granted initially for one year, but renewable) will have immediate access to the labour...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I recognise and acknowledge the crucial role healthcare workers are continuing to play in responding to the threat of COVID-19. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. Their exceptional commitment has been particularly clear throughout the pandemic, during which they have played a key role in preventing the spread of COVID-19. An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Constitutional presumption that a person is innocent until proven guilty means that restricting a person’s liberty is a serious matter. While our laws do provide for the refusal of bail in certain circumstances, the decision to grant bail in a particular case is always a matter for the presiding judge, who is independent in the exercise of their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs 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 two years to ensure that the detection and prevention of these types of criminal activity have not been adversely affected by the unprecedented demands placed on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (29 Mar 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 has staff drawn from An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (including Customs), the Department of Social Protection and my Department. The Bureau’s remit is to target the assets, wherever...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: Tackling organised criminal activity is a key priority for the Government and an ongoing priority for An Garda Síochána. The Government has supported An Garda Síochána in addressing the threat from organised crime gangs through the introduction of a range of legislative measures. This includes the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service perform a quarterly census of the Prison estate and publish the results on their website at www.irishprisons.ie/information-centre/statistics-informatio n/census-reports/ According to the latest census which was carried out on 18 January 2022, there were 3,389 usable cells across the estate. Table 1 below provides a breakdown by prison of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that on 28 February, there were 3,939 people in custody, of these 1,130 are first time offenders. Number of people in custody Establishment First time Committals Arbour Hill Prison 95 Castlerea Prison 82 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 595 together. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion. This includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Garda members and up to 400 Garda staff. It should be noted that many of the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). This includes the management of internal Garda HR matters, including absence management of Garda members and staff. I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the current gender breakdown of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 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 An Garda Síochána, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in these independent matters. The budget provided by Government to the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information the Deputy is seeking from An Garda Síochána, however, the information was not on hand in time. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is received from the Garda Authorities.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Government is fully committed to the fight against racism, prejudice and bigotry, and strongly condemns the actions of those who abuse and attack others because of their own prejudices against a person’s religion, ethnic origins, sexual orientation or any other part of their identity as a human being. Ireland is a diverse and tolerant country, and such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, however, the information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that there are no civil servants in my Department currently on secondment to the private sector.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Student Visas (30 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: In order for a non-EEA student to register for a stamp 2 permission they must enrol and commence a course of study from the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). The ILEP lists almost 7,800 programmes with more than 140 suppliers. The ILEP was developed as part of a series of reforms to the student immigration system for international education. This was in response to concerning...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (30 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, Budget 2022 provides for the establishment of the new Community Safety Innovation Fund, which will enable local communities to seek funding for innovative projects which will improve community safety in their areas. This fund will reflect the success of the Criminal Assets Bureau and other agencies by using money seized from the proceeds of crime to support...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (30 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics. The CSO also continues...