Results 8,101-8,120 of 15,622 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of the Child (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: To better inform further discussion in relation to this complex issue, my Department arranged for independent research on parental alienation to be carried out. The aims of the research were to: - Identify the various definitions and characteristics of parental alienation being used internationally. - Investigate what is known about the prevalence of this issue (in Ireland or...

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

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that tackling organised criminal activity is an overriding priority for An Garda Síochána and the Government. I wish to acknowledge the superb and painstaking work of the Gardaí in harnessing an international coalition of supporting bodies to tackle the criminality associated with a particular high-profile Organised Crime Group who operate...

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

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that there are currently 122 prisoners in custody associated with known criminal gangs, of which 17 would be categorised as leaders. These figures excludes the subversive prisoners in Portlaoise Prison. I can further advise the Deputy that in respect of the 17 leaders there are currently 5 further court dates pending. In...

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together. I have asked An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, and I will contact him again when this is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Abuse (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The statutory bodies with primary responsibility for child welfare and protection are Tusla and An Garda Síochána. Both have distinct functions, powers and methods of working. Tusla has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. In doing so, it relies heavily on individuals reporting...

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

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that offer purposeful activity to prisoners while serving their sentences and which encourage them to lead law abiding lives on release. All prisoners are eligible to use the services, including those who are first-time offenders. The Service does not collect data on the number of first time offenders who availed on...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the restricting of a person’s liberty is a serious issue, given the Constitutional presumption that a person is deemed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. While the State’s bail laws do provide for the refusal of bail in certain circumstances, the presiding judge is entirely independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for all operational matters within An Garda Síochána, including vetting and engagement with other state bodies such as Tusla. I can inform the Deputy that the National Vetting Bureau (Children & Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 set out in Schedule 1 Parts 1 & 2 what constitutes relevant work or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (25 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to conduct a review of the existing management company legislation, to ensure that the legislation, i.e. the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011, is fit for purpose and that it acts in the best interests of residents. This will be led by my Department, supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Section 1 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of Garda resources between the various Garda Divisions. As Minister I have no role in this matter, I can assure the Deputy however that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs. The Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information required from An Garda Síochána and I will revert to the Deputy when this is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (25 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Communications and Engagement unit in my Department is made up of three teams covering internal communications, events and stakeholder engagement; media relations; and social media and digital creative. The information requested by the Deputy is as follows: Section Number of staff Head of Communications 1 Internal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (25 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Citizenship Division of my Department that correspondence was issued to the person referred to by the Deputy on 19 October 2022, requesting additional documents. As soon as these are received, the application will continue to be processed. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: In relation to making a visa application to travel to Ireland, a visa required national that wishes to enter the State and remain for up to 90 days must have a Type C Short Stay Visa. A visa required national that wishes to reside in the State for longer than 90 days must have a Type D Long Stay Visa. Any person that wishes to make a visa application must do so online at: ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (25 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I wish to inform the Deputy that a decision in relation to the person's residency in the State will issue to the person concerned by registered post shortly. 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 INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (25 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Citizenship Division of my Department that this application for naturalisation continues to be processed and that correspondence has recently issued to the applicant referred to by the Deputy. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (25 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, Part 4 of the Sexual Offences Act 2017 introduced two new offences - paying for sexual activity with a prostitute and paying for sexual activity with a trafficked person. It also removed those who offer their services as a prostitute from the existing offences of soliciting for the purpose of prostitution and increased the penalty provided for in section 11 of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa applications you refer to were refused. Letters issued to the applicants on 9 September 2022 outline the reasons for these refusals. An appeals process, which is free of charge, is available which allows applicants, in the event of a refusal of the application at first instance, to address the factors...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: When applying for a visa, an applicant must submit their current passport and this must be valid for at least 6 months after the date the applicant plans to leave Ireland. The visa office will also require a photocopy of each page from all previous passports where available. The application will be delayed if the applicant does not provide copies of all previous passports available. As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (25 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by my officials in the Prison Service that the total number of prisoners in custody on Monday 24th October, 2022 was 4,266 compared with a bed capacity of 4,471. This represents an occupancy level of 96%. As the Deputy will be aware the Government has made available significant capital funding to the Irish Prison Service in order to enhance the existing prison...