Results 6,801-6,820 of 16,457 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (10 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, I published a progress report from the Working Group to Examine the Disregard of Convictions for Certain Qualifying Offences Related to Consensual Sexual Activity between Men on Thursday, 05 May. The Victorian-era laws which were repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 caused immeasurable harm to generations of gay and bisexual men,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (10 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Táim tar éis dul i dteagmháil le húdaráis an Gharda Síochána le haghaidh na faisnéise a lorg an tAire ach, ar an drochuair, ní raibh an fhaisnéis sin ar fáil in am. Scríobhfaidh mé chuig an Teachta arís a luaithe a bheidh an fhaisnéis ar fáil.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (10 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all operational policing decisions and I have no role in these independent functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have contacted the Garda authorities and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (10 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The applications for naturalisation from the persons referred to by the Deputy, continue to be processed with a view to establishing whether the applicants meet the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, and will be submitted to me for decision in due course. I recognise and acknowledge the crucial role frontline workers are continuing to play in responding to the threat...

Defamation Act 2009 Review: Statements (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputies for providing me this opportunity to update them on my plans to reform and modernise defamation law in Ireland. Copies of my statement should have been left in. I will check.

Defamation Act 2009 Review: Statements (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I want to ensure that our legislation addresses the challenges posed by an increasingly complex media landscape. I strongly believe the rule of law and democracy cannot truly flourish without robust protection for the right of freedom of expression though, of course, this must always be carefully balanced, as it is under our Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, with...

Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I move the following motions: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application...

Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Opt-in proposals generally do not, or they have not to date.

Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I take the point. The ask had been simply because they were technical amendments. I am open to another way we can do this in future. We have dealt with quite a few opt-ins recently and they went before both Houses.

Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to take that on board and I will speak to colleagues about doing so with regard to the trade and co-operation agreement or other issues. With regard to Prüm and the various categories, the co-operation applies in respect of DNA, fingerprint and vehicle registration data. The proposal to introduce co-operation in respect of facial images and police data records in respect...

Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: There are elements that have to be worked through in terms of the data.

Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I will get that clarified. There is no general population use in this regard. With regard to police records, the proposal seeks to establish a procedure for the automated searching of police records but it does not propose a new exchange of data. I will get something for the Deputy on that. In terms of the Kyoto Declaration, it is adopting the declaration. It is our commitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is an independent law officer under the provisions of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). The Office of the DPP is under the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach and I have no role in the functions of the Director or the Office of the DPP and am unable to provide statistical information relating to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is the independent statutory body established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) to deal with complaints concerning Garda conduct. As Minister, I play no role in the internal administration of GSOC. I am advised that, as a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Services (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted the Garda authorities to provide the information sought by the Deputy, unfortunately this was not to hand in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is received.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Services (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted the Garda authorities to provide the information sought by the Deputy, unfortunately this was not to hand in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is received.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (11 May 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. The Prison Service advise me that approximately 70% of prisoners who are committed to custody have addiction issues. It is the policy of the Service that, where a person committed to prison gives a history of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wildlife Conservation (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department is committed to fostering biodiversity and currently is in the process of providing for beehives on one of its Dublin buildings while the offices in Killarney have set aside a large area of managed wild garden to provide habitats for insects, butterflies and birds. The progress of this will be kept under review and the next logical...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in May of last year, the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 2021 (SI No 248 of 2021) were made. These Regulations facilitated the granting of legal aid to the family members of the victims of the Stardust fire, without reference to their financial resources, in respect of the new Stardust Inquests. On foot of a request received from the Dublin City Coroner pursuant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that an application for a Stamp 4 immigration permission from the person referred to by the Deputy has been approved. They can expect to receive their new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card within the next 10 working days. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at...