Results 8,701-8,720 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Consultations (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (29 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. As set out in the report of the majority, the Review Group undertook a public consultation to inform its deliberations. Submissions were received from a number of statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together. As Minister for Justice a wide range of correspondence is sent to me regarding the full scope of my Ministerial responsibilities. This correspondence is suitably and appropriately addressed by my office and by the line Division in my Department. Any IIP applicants corresponding regarding their application are advised to communicate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Work to develop a new National Action Plan on human trafficking is very well advanced. This whole of Government plan will set out how the multi-agency work to combat this criminal activity, and to support victims, will be taken forward. It is expected the new Action Plan will be finalised and submitted to Government in the coming weeks for approval to publish. The identification and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 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 decisions related to the Garda Estate. As Minister, I have no role in such matters and am unable to seek to direct, or otherwise influence, the Commissioner in regards to these matters....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Justice Plan 2023 contains a commitment to review the Peace Commissioner appointment process. This work is being undertaken in the context of a broader review of the role of Peace Commissioner given that the legislation underpinning Peace Commissioners dates back to the Courts of Justice Act 1924. As well as the appointment process, I can inform the Deputy that the main areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy, that criminal legal services are provided by private legal practitioners who have notified the relevant authority of their availability to undertake criminal legal aid work. The courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid on application by the defence in court. My Department has no role in the granting of legal aid or in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that the Department of Justice LGBT+ Staff Network procured 56 branded t-shirts for staff attending the Dublin Pride parade. The total cost was €627.30 including VAT. No other memorabilia was procured by my Department for Pride 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Justice Plan 2023, published earlier this year, builds on the work outlined in Justice Plans 2021 and 2022, and outlines a wide range of actions under the Department's five strategic goals, which are:Tackle crime, enhance national security and transform policingImprove access to justice and modernise the courts systemStrengthen community safety, reduce reoffending, support victims and combat...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the criteria for obtaining an Employment Permit for healthcare assistants is set by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. My Department's role relates to the immigration legislation and procedures which apply to persons granted an Employment Permit. These include the requirement to apply for a Visa to travel to the State, where the person is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service is committed to providing safe and secure custody for all people committed to prison and that my officials in the Irish Prison Service and the Department continuously work to identify short, medium and longer term proposals to help manage capacity issues in our prisons as they arise. It has to be acknowledged that the Irish Prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy created on-line Join Family visa application on 03 October 2022. The supporting documentation and relevant fees were applied on 09 November 2022 in the Pretoria visa office. These visa applications were received in our Dublin Visa Office for further processing on 09 December 2022. Processing of this application is ongoing at present, however it is not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification contains a stated business target that visa applications for family reunification for immediate family members of Irish citizens should be dealt with within 6 months of application. However, it must be made clear that this is a business target for the immigration service and reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (4 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator. As he rightly outlined, section 13 provides for the selection and recommendation of lay members of the commission by the Public Appointments Service, PAS, for appointment by the Minister. It stipulates categories of knowledge and experience that the service shall have regard to in selecting lay members. Subsection (7) provides that the Minister may designate that a...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (4 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: We always have to think ahead, but statute never knows who or what Minister will be in place when legislation is being passed through. However, we do have to try to plan for potential eventualities if for no reason other than a date is set with every intention that the names were to go before the Houses. That is an option available to me, as Minister, or to any other Minister who operates...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (4 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: This amendment is similar to another amendment the Senator tabled to section 41 on the prohibition of canvassing. We need to ask the question as to how far we should go. We have tried to clearly state that anybody who is working on the commission or working in an office who is part of the overall process should not share that information or be careless such as leaving it on the bus or even...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (4 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Senator is right; the damage is done by the time it is published. That is why we are trying to prevent it from being published.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (4 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: No, it does not. If it is published, the damage has been done.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (4 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: We are trying to prevent it from getting to that stage. We have a €50,000 fine and the potential for five years in prison. The fault lies squarely with the person who shares the information. It is not just "Prime Time", the Irish Independentor the Daily Mail. What happens if somebody finds such material on a bus and decides to share it on Facebook, as does the next person and the...