Results 7,361-7,380 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (30 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: Non-custodial penalties, particularly supervised community sanctions, play a significant and important role in addressing criminality, reducing reoffending and providing a degree of protection to the public. This is supported by Central Statistics Office figures on recidivism. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government 2020 contains a broad range of policies and proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (30 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together. The application for naturalisation from the persons referred to by the Deputy were acknowledged on 9 May 2022 by the Citizenship Division of my Department. They will now be processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (30 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy to provide this information as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (30 Jun 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, and all applications are processed in line with the eligibility criteria as set out under the Act. Each application is assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (30 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: There is no record of the person referred to in the Deputy's query having made an application for naturalisation. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (30 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy had their permission to remain in the State renewed for a further three year period, to 15 August 2022. This was communicated in writing by letter dated 21 August 2019. Their family member aged 18 years also had their permission to remain in the State renewed for a further period, from 8 December 2019 to 15 August 2022. This was communicated in...

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022 to the House. This Bill relates to serious matters of policy with regard to the scope of data retention and access measures that are permitted for the purposes of an effective response by State agencies to issues of national security, crime and the...

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The general scheme would be published before the end of this year

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As soon as possible, yes.

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have done so multiple times.

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank colleagues for contributing to the debate. There is nobody to blame here. I am not trying to lay the blame on anyone, certainly not on the Joint Committee on Justice. We are introducing emergency legislation. I appreciate that there is concern and annoyance at the timeframe in which this has been brought forward, but emergency legislation often has to be brought forward quickly....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. As he will be aware, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, which has completed its pre-legislative scrutiny, will provide for a reformed and strengthened Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in line with the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, which is obviously a significant body of work...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The issue of resources is a major factor. It was explored in the pre-legislative scrutiny and was highlighted in the wider report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. I am pleased to say GSOC has had unprecedented levels of resources in recent years, with a total allocation of €13.4 million for 2022, marking an increase of more than €2 million in comparison...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: On the issue of staffing, like any other organisation, GSOC is planning ahead and identifying the type of staff it needs. It will have to go through the same official process and channels as any other organisation to appoint members. One of the Deputy's first questions concerned the overall improvements to GSOC. One of the issues that has been raised repeatedly is the timeliness of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: We have to introduce the legislation first. I hope to bring forward the general scheme after the summer recess.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I fully support the work of Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, and have met with members of the team. I compliment them on the work they do and, in particular, on the work they continued to do through Covid-19. It has been a difficult period for a number of organisations, particularly those that deal with the public. FLAC plays a key role in the provision of legal information, advice and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The overall increase from 98,000 to 294,000 was to support the huge amount of work it already does. There are 30 full-time law centres, part-time centres, four specialist legal offices and 20 family mediation centres. Of the law centres, eight of these with a family mediation offices are collocated. It is not just the online services but a huge amount is happening in-person on the ground....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: What I always try to do and what any Department will try to do is respond to the asks, wishes and needs of the organisation it supports. The Department of Justice has tried, in many different ways, including financially, to support the expansion of FLAC. Any request coming into the budgetary process this year will be examined and hopefully responded to in a positive way. On the family...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: We have to look at where we are identifying locations and need and we can respond once we have that done.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Private Partnerships (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Under the national development plan, the Government will invest over €282 million in capital projects in 2022, including provision for PPP funding. The Government has prioritised a package of funding which will facilitate sustained investment to support an efficient and effective justice system providing important Government services and activities across the sector, including in...