Results 8,641-8,660 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Section 14C(2) of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 provides that where a person is accused of a sexual offence and the alleged adult victim of the offence is to give evidence, "the court may direct that the accused may not personally cross-examine the witness unless the court is of the opinion that the interests of justice require the accused to conduct the cross-examination personally." This...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I know the Senator has raised this point before, particularly the requirement to write down everything that happens in an interview. The advice I have been given is that I have the ability to change this under regulations, section 27 of the Criminal Justice Act or by amendment to the custody regulations. Obviously, that has not happened and perhaps this area needs to be updated. A separate...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Senator said, the first part has already been done. There has been an update and there is a review under way for the subsequent piece. Until the review is done, I will not be pre-emptive. This is an area on which the Senator and I should work together.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. It is because he raised it that these changes are being made. The Minister, Deputy Harris, previously gave a commitment that amendments would be tabled. As the Senator said, there is a lacuna in the law. Looking at it in practice, there are very few children that receive a life sentence but, as the Senator said, there can be transitional cases...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: This amendment was discussed extensively on Second Stage. It increases the maximum penalty for assault on gardaí and other peace officers from seven years to 12 years. We are all very conscious of the dedication and commitment of our front-line workers and the risks they take in the course of their duties. Recent violent incidents have shocked us all. Any police force, but...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator. As he said, he has worked on this for some time. I also thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, who has also worked on progressing this matter. In the past year, we celebrated 100 years of the Garda. As the Senator said, those members go out every day, say goodbye to their loved ones and do not know what they will face on a day-to-day basis. We...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: On Report Stage, there will be an amendment to section 55 to facilitate the appointment of a deputy chairperson to the mental health review board.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I will introduce amendments on Report Stage to facilitate the provision of assistance to the European Public Prosecutor's Office.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: This amendment provides for consequential amendments to the Broadcasting and Other Media Regulations, 2009 and 2022. It follows the pattern in those Acts of scheduling matters that might be subject to regulation of online media. It covers the new offences provided for in this Bill relating to stalking, harassment and non-fatal strangulation. The effect of this is to allow the online safety...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Amendments Nos. 36 and 38 are intended to correct a number of technical issues in the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act. Apart from correcting certain drafting and cross-referencing issues, they will allow for the data retention reforms of the 2022 Act to be commenced with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. It will also allow for the 2022 reforms to be...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The amendment provides for a change in the composition of the DNA database system oversight committee. The provision being repealed provided for a member of the committee to be appointed by the Data Protection Commissioner. The Data Protection Commission has raised concerns around this provision and its compatibility with the fundamental requirement of the commission to be completely...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I wish to flag in respect of section 23 that I will introduce Report Stage amendments providing for restrictions on the publication of the identity of alleged victims of harassment and stalking offences under the section. I am sorry but I missed that section when we were going through the Bill.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Not at all. It is good to get it done.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Manila on 19 October 2022. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 24 November 2022. 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: Visa Agreements (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The requirement on the part of diplomatic passport holders to hold a visa for entry to Ireland corresponds with whether nationals of that country are required to hold a visa generally for entry to Ireland. In addition, Ireland has a mutual diplomatic visa waiver agreement with China since 2015. This agreement is complementary to the British Irish Visa Scheme, which allows Chinese passport...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: In order to work in Ireland, a non-EEA national, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit, which is administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). In relation to the role of my Department, non-EEA nationals cannot work in Ireland unless they have an immigration permission. For non-EEA nationals that are not visa-required, they must register...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused by the Visa Office in Dublin on 24 January 2023. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 8 March 2023. 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: Substance Misuse (27 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 for all investigative matters. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. This commitment is demonstrated by the unprecedented provision of over €2 billion to the Garda Vote this year, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment and investment in An Garda Síochána. As the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (27 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 all human resource matters and recruitment. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda...