Results 8,681-8,700 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: An Irish Residence Permit card ( IRP card ) is normally issued following the successful registration or renewal of an applicants immigration permission. The below table details the number of IRP cards issued nationwide for the period January 2022 and to end of May 2023. It should be noted that not all registrations result in the issuing of an IRP card, and some cards are issued more than...

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

Helen McEntee: I want to emphasise that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, since 2017, my Department has administered a grant aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area. The CCTV grant scheme was extended in 2019 to cover not only new CCTV systems but to also provide funding for the extension or upgrade of existing CCTV systems which are incomplete or obsolete. Applicants may now also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 486 together. The State has a duty to protect its borders and following examination, ensure that all arriving passengers are 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The State has a duty to protect its borders and following examination, ensure that all arriving passengers are 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: Legislative Measures (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am advised that the conveyancing system allows purchasers of second hand houses to enquire as to the nature, quality and condition of a property prior to purchase. Detailed written queries and replies about the property (‘Requisitions on Title’) are exchanged between the vendor’s solicitor and the purchaser’s solicitor before the sale is completed, and the vendor...

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

Helen McEntee: Immigration officials of my Department have checked their records and advised that they cannot locate any applications for the person, details supplied by the Deputy. However, if the Deputy can provide any additional information via my Department's Oireachtas mail facility, I will arrange for a further response to the Deputy. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Records (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The criminalisation of consensual sexual acts between men in Ireland came into effect prior to the foundation of the State and remained in place until its eventual decriminalisation in 1993. As the Deputy will be aware, I recently published the final report and recommendations of the Working Group examining the feasibility of a scheme to disregard certain historic convictions related to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation can only be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 10 February 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. The processing times of applications will vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department is committed to reducing how long applicants have to wait for a decision while improving the service provided to applicants. To help achieve this my Department is holding additional Citizenship Ceremonies this year and next to ensure it has the ability to naturalise as many applicants as possible. So far this year there...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics. The CSO also continues...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I recognise and acknowledge the crucial role front-line workers play in the delivery of our healthcare system. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. The position in regard to applications of this nature is set out in the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which is available on my Department's website. The policy, which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Last week, following their consideration by Government, I published the majority report and the minority report of the Independent Review Group appointed to examine all aspects of the Offences Against the State Acts. The Acts are Ireland's primary counter-terrorism legislation. They have and continue to serve the State well in tackling subversives and organised crime and fulfil a vital role...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I know this is an issue about which the Deputy is very passionate, as am I. That is why I have brought forward the Family Courts Bill, which is being worked on at the moment. I have also introduced the family justice strategy. The Family Courts Bill will ensure that we have specific courts that deal only with family law, thereby ensuring we have the right structure, system and setting in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. When it comes to my engagement with An Garda Síochána, Garda recruitment is my number one priority. I could probably say it is the Commissioner's priority. We have had challenges over the years, not least the closure of Templemore and, more recently, Covid-19, which has slowed down the number of new recruits coming out. Couple that with an increased...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: We have a wonderful workforce in An Garda Síochána. As I said, my priority is to make sure we increase that workforce. The gardaí I meet are committed to their job. Many of them love the work they do. That work is not without its challenges and that is why we provided an unprecedented budget of €2 billion for the Garda alone last year. Obviously, I will be doing...