Results 6,981-7,000 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I strongly condemn the actions of the small minority who subject others to abuse or attack resulting from their own prejudice. We live in a diverse and welcoming country and our law and values should reflect this. Work is ongoing as a priority to legislate for hate crime and hate speech to ensure that Ireland is a safe and secure place for all. A hate crime occurs where an offence is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: This Government is committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in all its forms, and to ensuring that people, particularly women and vulnerable people, feel safe and are safe in our communities. As the Deputy is aware, I am currently leading work on a new whole of Government strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This new plan will have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that it is my goal that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and I am deeply committed to working with our partners in the sector and with my Government colleagues to achieve that. This Government has prioritised tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in all its forms, and ensuring that people, particularly women and vulnerable people,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has been conducting a review of the compulsory retirement age of Garda members, currently 60. This work is at an advanced stage and I expect to be in a position to consider recommendations shortly. The Deputy will appreciate that any proposal to make changes to the age of retirement will involve the amendment of primary and secondary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Investigations (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that my Department conducted one investigation following a suspected information leak to the media in 2019. Following an internal investigation, it was concluded that it was highly unlikely that the information was leaked from my Department as it was already in the public domain. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Justice Plan 2022 commits to legislating for new pre-action protocols (clinical negligence) to encourage early resolution of allegations of negligence, promoting timely communications between parties, and reducing the number of clinical negligence actions which are brought, and to including these enabling provisions in a civil law miscellaneous provisions Bill. Work, in conjunction with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: My Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only. Registrations outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station network. The allocation of appointments with GNIB is a matter for An Garda Síochána. If a person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that I received a similar copy of the correspondence referred to directly from the organisation concerned, the contents of which which is focused on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.  I can assure you and the organisation involved that tackling these heinous crimes is a priority for me, my Department and this Government. The prioritisation of this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including operational matters such as arrests for the sale and supply of drugs. As Minister, I have no role in the matter.  I am advised by the Garda authorities that the following table outlines the count of Charges/Summons by Proceedings...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 561 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Serious Crime Review Team was established in 2007 under the direction of Detective Chief Superintendent, Garda National Bureau of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The overall objective of my Department is to have recommendations made on international protection applications as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection from the State can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. I can assure the Deputy that my Department continues to work to improve the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 566 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. As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 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: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities.  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: Crime Prevention (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office publishes reported crime figures under reservation on a quarterly basis, currently available up to Q4 2021. A brief synopsis of trends indicates the reduction in incident levels that were seen during 2020 and 2021, whilst COVID-19 restrictions were in place, have seen a consequential increase as society returns to normal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (25 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 168 together. The Atypical Working Scheme was established as a cross Departmental response to address the issue of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet, who are not currently eligible for an employment permit under the regime operated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Postal Services (25 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that where a Peace Commissioner has changed postal address they should write to my Department to inform the Peace Commissioner Unit of these changes. Should a Peace Commissioner no longer reside in their county of appointment, or an adjoining county, they will have to resign their position and, should they wish to do so, seek reappointment for the county in which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (25 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As you are aware my colleague Minister McGrath leads on national pay policy and the long standing approach has been to negotiate public pay deals centrally and collectively. This ensures that pay costs are managed in a sustainable and orderly way and in a climate of industrial peace. As the Deputy will be aware, the current public service agreement, Building Momentum, is a two year...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (25 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I wish to assure the Deputy that I am very cognisant that female offenders represent a particularly vulnerable group within the prison system. It is the case that provision of an Open Centre for women was considered in the context of the Probation Service/Irish Prison Service joint Women Strategy 2014-2016, which sought to improve the outcomes for women offenders.  A joint...