Results 7,581-7,600 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: At present, a member of the Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners or others can access this data without going through much of this process. We are reducing the amount of data that will be available in the longer term. It is about how it can be accessed. We have included an additional safeguard by inserting the words "reasonable grounds". It will be necessary to make a case....

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: There is no court hearing required in this instance. The court, in its ruling, did not ask for such a provision because it did not deem general data as being as serious as location data and the other information it specifically singled out. I should not get into it but, obviously, all present area aware that can have a greater impact in terms of cases. The court has deemed that more...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: In response to one of the Senator's last comments, I wish to say that this is an emergency Bill and we are addressing the courts. That is specifically what we are doing in the provision. Everybody has expressed a view on the really short time that it has taken us to bring this legislation to the committee and bring it to Cabinet. Everything has been done at a much faster pace than I would...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: In one sense what we are proposing here, to comply with the European Court of Justice ruling, is tying members of the Garda's hands behind their backs because it limits what they can do. It limits their access in respect of national security grounds and the time for which the data can be kept. It absolutely limits what they can do when it comes to fighting crime, including serious crime....

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I understand the concerns in the amendment. We have to be very sensitive to anything relating to data that journalists have collected. The Murray report published in 2017 made a number of recommendations on data retention issues specifically relating to journalists. There are two elements. One of these is what is being maintained from what was in the principal Act. The intention is to...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The definition of "journalist" is something we will look at. It is a recommendation in the Murray report. The general scheme will be introduced by the end of this year. There will not be any time limits put on how we will debate it. I regret the timeline in which this Bill has been brought forward. It is based on the timeline of the 2020 ruling, the April ruling and getting clarity that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The application from the person referred to by the Deputy was returned requesting further information. In order to provide the information requested, the applicant is required to log onto their online portal account and provide the documents requested. Applications that are resubmitted after a request for further information are expedited so as not to disadvantage the customer....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Non-EEA nationals residing long term in the State must register once they reach 16 years of age. Prior to this, they are classified as a dependent on their parent's permission. A re-entry visa was therefore required for children under 16 if travelling on a passport issued by a visa required country. The re-entry visa requirements for children under 16 have been suspended with immediate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (12 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 rights....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Strategies (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Department launched its first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy in March 2022. The Strategy aims to strengthen the Department’s capabilities to promote equality, embrace diversity and foster inclusion, not only in our daily interactions and activities as colleagues, but also in the design and delivery of the services that we provide to the public. To this end,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for FEMPI fee restoration rests with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I understand that the reversal of cuts is under consideration in that Department. I also wish to reassure you that my Department has been engaging with all relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to resolve...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Housing Policy (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Objective 25 under the Government's ‘Housing for All’ Strategy contains 13 sub-objectives. While the majority of these are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), my Department is working with DHLGH and the Housing Agency in relation to Policy Objectives 25.10-25.13. In particular, my Department has engaged with the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Strategies (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 723 and 724 together. As the Deputy is aware, I recently published Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV). The goal of our third national strategy is clear: zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Judgments (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Special Criminal Court is established pursuant to Part V of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. The Court deals with cases involving the prosecution of terrorist offences, and organised crime. Unfortunately, the detailed information sought by the Deputy is not maintained by my Department. However, the Courts Service Annual Report, which is publically available, provides...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Since its introduction in June 2018, under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), the labour market access permission issued by my Department has had a very positive impact for international protection applicants and employers alike. Over 8,000 permissions have been granted to date. This permission gives eligible applicants the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 727 and 728 together. For those who are in the international protection process, our objective is to have decisions made on their applications, including the permission to remain consideration, as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Abuja on 8 February 2021. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 13 April 2021. Appeals for applications of this type are processed in the order in which they are received, to be fair to all applicants....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that my Department has engaged the services of Carr Communications Ltd. The associated costs relate primarily to training and are set out in the table below: Year Cost 2020 €6,329 2021 €11,621 2022 (to date) €2,498 I can confirm that My...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 731 and 732 together. The Government is committed to providing assistance to people who may be in danger of losing their home. In October 2016, the then Minister for Justice and Equality launched Abhaile, the Government’s free mortgage arrears support service. Abhaile is jointly coordinated and funded by my Department and the Department of Social...