Results 8,061-8,080 of 15,622 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the allocation provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion, an increase of €78 million on last year. This unprecedented amount will fund the recruitment of up to 1,000 new Garda recruits as well as over 400 Garda staff. I am informed by the Garda authorities that at the end...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) was introduced into An Garda Síochána in 2008 and is used on a daily basis to assist in the prevention and detection of crime on our roads network. The Deputy may also be aware that the Government published the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 on 4 August 2022, the text of which is available on the Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I want to say at the outset that acts of violence and anti-social behaviour are completely unacceptable. The safety and security of both public transport passengers and staff, including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour, are important matters that must be managed by every public transport company, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána where appropriate. This Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the Community Safety Innovation Fund was established in April 2022 and €2 million was allocated to it under Budget 2022. This will increase to €3 million next year under Budget 2023. I can confirm for the Deputy that 22 community projects across the country will receive grants ranging from €5,000 to €150,000, totalling €2...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: In July 2020, my Department contracted an independent expert to undertake the review of Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act. As part of the review, an online public consultation was opened and contributions were received from a broad range of organisations with different perspectives. The review will consider all aspects outlined in the Terms of Reference. The review is being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 73 together. Tackling Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) is an absolute priority for me as Minister for Justice. This includes focusing on prevention and on providing victim-centred supports and services. I recently published Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy to combat DSGBV. The goal is clear: zero tolerance in Irish society...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: Any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls is a very serious issue which falls significantly below the high standards that the public expect from Gardaí and the high standards that An Garda Síochána set for themselves. I welcome the publication of the final report by independent expert, Derek Penman which was commissioned by the Policing Authority in July 2021. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I want to once again extend my sympathies to the family concerned on the tragic death of their son and brother. I am aware of the report referred to by the Deputy. As the Deputy will be aware, the shooting of Mr. George Nkencho is being fully investigated by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), which is the independent statutory body established to investigate such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The development of a new permanent courthouse in Wicklow is identified as a Courts Service project in the National Development Plan. As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in the performance of its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: My Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering and renewing immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only. Registrations and renewals for persons resident outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station network. The allocation of appointments for registration and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Online Safety (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I welcome the measures set out in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Billbeing brought forward by my colleague, Minister Catherine Martin, T.D., particularly the creation of an Online Safety Commissioner and the scope to create binding codes of conduct in relation to harmful content. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill will establish a Media Commission to replace the Broadcasting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 74 together. I'm informed by Tusla that a group involving local stakeholders, including the Laois Domestic Abuse Service, has been established to take forward plans to develop the proposed refuge and associated support services. Planning is not yet sufficiently advanced to identify the specific amount of either capital or revenue funding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the development and implementation of road traffic legislation and policy, including the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, and the promotion and advancement of road safety, falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport. An Garda Síochána plays a vital role in enforcing road traffic law and in making our roads safer for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Injury Claims (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: Insurance reform is a key priority for this Government and is reflected in the Programme for Government, the Government’s Action Plan for Insurance Reform, and in my Justice Plan 2022. This is a whole-of-Government effort. My Department has responsibility or part responsibility for 34 of the 66 actions contained in the Action Plan, 26 of which are now complete, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: It is a priority for my Department to ensure that the courts are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively for citizens in their access to justice. The Government endeavours to fill judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity, and a number of such vacancies have been filled recently. In order to bring more strategic focus to this, I established a Judicial Planning Working...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 61 together. As previously advised, I very much welcome the publication of the 'Ballymun - a Brighter Future' report which was commissioned by Dublin City Council following a request by the Deputy when he was the Lord Mayor of Dublin. The key recommendations of this report recognise that working with communities to address underlying causes of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: Community safety is about people being safe and feeling safe within their communities. Ireland is generally regarded as a safe country in international terms, with relatively low crime rates and a general feeling of safety and security. However, we recognise that this is not the case in every community and that people living in some areas can experience a different reality. A community...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion. As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government clearly commits to ‘Recognise the domestic and international importance of data protection in Ireland.’ Delivering on this commitment means supporting and resourcing the DPC to deal with an ever increasing workload with increasingly complex investigative requirements. On 27 July 2022, the government approved the commencement of the process to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: It is a priority for my Department to ensure that the courts are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively for citizens in their access to justice. The Deputy may be aware that management of the courts is 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...