Results 7,521-7,540 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 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, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. Budget 2022 provides in excess of an unprecedented...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no direct role. The following table, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of reported incidents of the PULSE incident types...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: In September 2018, my Department announced a call for projects under funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund. Proposals were invited for funding applications to research and assess the safety and well-being of persons who engage in sexual activity for payment. One project which succeeded in obtaining dormant accounts funding was the organisation mentioned by the Deputy, which is a charity...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, Section 20 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 sets out that restoration for public servants with annualised basic salaries above €150,000 would be completed by Ministerial Order by 1 July 2022. In accordance with the legislation, an Order under Section 20 of the Act was laid before the Oireachtas on 30 June. My Department is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I extend my deepest sympathies to the family involved on the tragic loss of their mother and I can assure the Deputy that my Department has been in contact since last year with the family on this matter. This contact has included a response to outline to the family that it is not intended to establish a public inquiry as they have requested. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Independent Reporting Commission plays a very important role in highlighting what still needs to be done to tackle residual paramilitarism in Northern Ireland. To facilitate monitoring of the implementation of measures aimed at ending paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland, the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement provided for the establishment by the two Governments of the Independent Reporting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I refer the Deputy to Question No. 5 of today's date. I am pleased to say there is ongoing contact between myself and my colleague, Naomi Long, Minister for Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive, as well as excellent ongoing cross border co-operation between our respective Departments on a range of issues as well as between An Garda Síochána and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that an application from the person referred to by the Deputy was processed on 30 June 2022. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The development of the Community Safety Innovation Fund is a key commitment under Justice Plan 2022 which will have a significant impact on the development of community safety projects throughout the country. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department opened applications for the new Community Safety Innovation Fund on 11 April 2022. The new fund will use money seized from the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The guidance provided by the Council of Europe sets a recommended standard for the provision of shelter places which Government is committed to reaching. Under the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, we will see the fastest ever expansion in the number of refuge spaces. We will double the number of spaces and will put in place the structures to go on to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Anyone who wishes to make an application for international protection must proactively do so on their own behalf and on behalf of any of their minor family members. If they apply initially at their port of entry to the State they will still need to make a formal application at the Dublin offices of the International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department. If a person attending the IPO...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible for my Department to provide a definitive or average timeframe for a decision to issue under the scheme. However, I can assure the Deputy that there are no unavoidable delays in issuing decisions.  In order to be fair to all applicants, applications are processed in order of the date on which they are received....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that an application for permission to remain from the person referred to by the Deputy was approved on 30 June 2022. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (5 Jul 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 and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service Staff Recognition Policy was introduced on 1 June 2013.  This policy provides for the presentation of Merit Awards to staff in recognition of their actions. The Brian Stack Medal, which is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a staff member, is presented by the Minister for Justice in recognition of acts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am advised that the record in question was previously considered as not suitable for release by the Irish Prison Service.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the person referred to by the Deputy has requested copies of files relating to him and held by the Irish Prison Service on a number of occasions. I am further advised that he has received a copy of the letter from the Prisons Personnel Section to the Governor of Portlaoise Prison and the subsequent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, every State has a duty to protect its borders and to refuse entry to people not entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise of State sovereignty, which is necessary to protect the security of the State and to prevent illegal immigration. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Guardian Status (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Delivering family justice more effectively is a priority for me and is a major element of my Justice Plan 2022. My Department has engaged academic experts to conduct research for the purpose of a review by my Department of the operation of the provisions of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 relating to guardianship of children whose parents are not married or in a civil partnership....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Airport Security (5 Jul 2022)

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