Results 8,481-8,500 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Airport Security (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Border Management Unit of my Department currently operate 25 eGates at Dublin Airport for eligible passengers arriving into the State. I can confirm that officials from my Department meet with the current eGate supplier on a regular basis to discuss agreed service levels and ensure that all issues or risks are kept under review.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response. Since last November a number of measures have been implemented to improve efficiencies and throughput, in tandem with reforms to the application, interview and decision-making process. These reforms are having a significant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was granted on 31 May 2023. The applicant has been advised that they must register this permission with their local Garda Síochána Registration Office at Westport Garda Station, The Fairgreen, Westport, Co. Mayo. Attendance is by appointment only. They should contact the local Garda Síochána Registration Office...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The EU Temporary Protection Directive was activated by the EU Council in March 2022 in response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Council Decision to activate the Directive places specific obligations on Ireland and on all EU Member States, including the duration of the temporary protection to be awarded and the State supports and services that the beneficiary should be entitled...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 861 and 862 together. 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 for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The Government is committed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, for reasons of maintaining full confidentiality, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for international protection has been made in the State. An applicant for such protection status, or their legal representative, should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, overall responsibility for 3rdlevel education in the State and for the operation of the apprenticeship system lies with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). In relation to my Department’s responsibility to provide labour market access to International Protection Applicants, I can confirm for the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department fully appreciates the needs of business travellers and I can advise that it is open to visa applicants to request their passport back while they are waiting on the processing of their applications. We have also extended the multi-entry visa option for up to 5 years, for all visa required countries. Any person applying for a short stay ‘C’ visa may apply for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Jun 2023)

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 resources. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I can however assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, one of the recommendations made by the High Level Taskforce established to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those who come into contact with the criminal justice sector, is the development of a Community Access Support Team or CAST. This recommendation came from the work of a subgroup of the High Level Taskforce that looked at diversion. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The final report of the Judicial Planning Working Group, which was established to consider the number of, and type of, judges required to ensure the efficient administration of justice over the next five years, was published on 27 February 2023. Officials in the Department of Justice have established an implementation group to oversee the delivery of the recommendations outlined by the JPWG....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Restorative Justice (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware Restorative justice is one of a suite of measures available to the criminal justice system. It is delivered by the Probation Service, both pre and post-sentence; by An Garda Síochána within the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, and by Community-Based Organisations that receive referrals at specific points in the criminal justice process. It is already...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the average annual cost of an available, staffed prison space during the calendar year 2022 was €84,067, a 4.6% increase on the 2021 cost of €80,335 The figure includes all elements of net expenditure incurred to the Irish Prison Service vote within the year, (such as salaries, utilities/maintenance, ICT, services...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) was established in December 2016 in accordance with section 61 of the International Protection Act 2015. The Tribunal is a statutorily independent body, and exercises a quasi-judicial function. Accordingly, and in keeping with statutorily independent body status, a separate budget is maintained within my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 873 and 882 together. The Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews addresses a very difficult but very important subject. Most of us cannot begin to understand the impact of something like this unless we have lived through it and I would like to express my gratitude to the families who engaged in the process leading up this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister I play no role in such matters. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 90 CBD2 training courses envisaged under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The nationwide roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs), which was an action under both the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and ‘Supporting a Victim's Journey’, has been completed. As the deputy will be aware, there is now a DPSU in every Garda division across the country. This is to ensure that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. Furthermore, under the provisions of the Act, the Commissioner is also the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote, and the distribution of funds to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Jun 2023)

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, which includes the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am advised by the Garda authorities that it is difficult to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 878 and 879 together. The International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department is responsible for examining all international protection applications received. The staff of the IPO (the Chief International Protection Officer and the International Protection Officers) are independent by law in the exercise of their international protection functions. ...