Results 8,841-8,860 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I firmly believe violence against women and girls is the biggest issue preventing equality, not just in Ireland but right across the globe. It is an issue people are dealing with throughout the world. It is not fair to say nothing has happened in 20-plus years. The previous strategy resulted in significant changes in this country by way of new laws, new polices and investment. There is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I assure the Deputy that the development of a substantial new Garda station and facilities on Dublin City Council lands at the corner of the R139 and the Malahide Road at Northern Cross is considered a strategic priority project by An Garda Síochána. The Office of Public Works, OPW, is engaged in ongoing positive interaction with the council, in consultation with An Garda...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: We have a significant capital plan under way at the moment. Funding for this year was €50 million, with a further €50 million allocated for next year and the subsequent year. I will be seeking an increase in that capital spend in the coming years. As set out in the Summer Economic Statement, there will be an increase in the capital ceiling for the NDP. There is a variety...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I might have to get back to Deputy Lawless on some of the detail of his question. The Northern Cross project is a commitment under the national development plan. It is included in the indicative schedule of works under the Garda capital plan, which runs from 2023 to 2030. The location of the site is the subject of discussion not just between the Garda and the OPW but also Dublin City...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware and as I have mentioned a number of times this evening, my priority is to ensure that we continue to increase the number of gardaí, that we do not just reach the target of 15,000 but go beyond it and that we ensure that every community benefits from that increase in numbers. Of course, it is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to decide where gardaí are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I talk to the gardaí in my county and engage with them at every level, from the new recruits coming into our county to the highest level, our chief superintendent. I understand that what we need is more gardaí. We also need to make sure that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, whether that is through capital investment or investment in vehicles, handheld...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I disagree with a lot of what the Deputy has just said. Morale is not on the floor. I speak to gardaí every day. I know they need additional members to support them in the work they do. It is simply not correct to say that nobody wants to join. Some 11,000 people applied to join An Garda Síochána last year and there were 5,000 in a competition that happened less than a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: We want people to apply and to join. We will work through the process. However, we are now in a situation of full employment and the numbers applying to An Garda Síochána are not reflected across the rest of the public service. The Deputy says that gardaí are leaving in their droves. Less than 1% of gardaí left last year. That does not compare to the numbers leaving...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that I hope to bring my proposals to Government for the drafting of a Bill to establish the Irish Prison Service on a statutory basis with new and enhanced governance and accountability structures shortly. In fact, I hope to bring it to Cabinet in approximately two weeks. This follows Government approval in June 2022 to prepare the general scheme of such a Bill. A...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As I said, I hope to publish the Bill in two weeks time. That will give Deputies time over the summer, if they wish, to read into this and look into the detail of it. A huge amount of work has been set out, but of course this will have to go to the justice committee. There will be pre-legislative scrutiny and of course, as is the case with any Bill, I will be taking on board all...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The proposal being worked on at the moment is to expand the number of spaces we have within the existing prison capacity. The proposal is for between 620 and 650 new spaces to be delivered over the next five to six years. Some projects are shovel-ready and have plans already developed that can be moved on quickly to cater for the fact that we have a growing population. At the same time we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: No, it will not.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Facial Recognition Technology (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, I am committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources, the equipment and the technology necessary to do its job in protecting people from harm and saving lives. As part of this commitment, I am working to ensure gardaí have body-worn cameras and to extend the powers governing An Garda Síochána's use of CCTV and automatic number plate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Facial Recognition Technology (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: This is about getting a balance, making sure we give An Garda Síochána the tools to be able to deal with the really serious cases I have mentioned, and protecting people's rights and their privacy. It is about striking that balance, making sure we have a level of oversight and also making sure we are in step with our colleagues at European level. This Bill will be progressed very...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: In respect of Seanad amendments Nos. 8, 18 and 33, and pursuant to Standing Order 196, I request the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to direct the Clerk to make a number of corrections of a typographical nature to the Bill. Seanad amendment No. 8 inserts subsections (5), (6) and (7) into section 23 of the Bill. However, consequential renumbering of the existing subsections (5) to (12) has not been...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: Amendments Nos. 1, 6, 18 and 32 provide a mechanism for Ireland's co-operation with the European Public Prosecutor's Office, EPPO. It is an independent EU body with responsibility for investigating and prosecuting crimes against the financial interests of the EU and participating member states. It commenced its operations in 2021. While Ireland has not opted in to date, we have been...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: These amendments provide 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 Commission, DPC, which has raised concerns in respect of this provision and its compatibility with the requirements of the DPC to be completely independent in the performance of its...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: These amendments address an issue identified in a 2018 case where it was found that the Court of Appeal cannot impose a sentence of imprisonment on an adult who had been initially sentenced as a child to children's detention. Amendment No. 21 provides that the sentence in such cases will not preclude a sentence which could have been imposed at the court of trial if the person had reached the...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: These are a number of technical and typographical amendments. They are grouped together for consideration, as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle outlined. Amendment No. 7 reflects the change in name of what is now the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Amendment No. 11 is a transitional provision to ensure that medical evidence certificates signed prior...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: Amendment No. 33 provides for consequential amendments to the Broadcasting and Other Media Regulation Acts 2009 and 2022 arising from the new offences introduced under this Act. It follows the pattern in those Acts of scheduling matters that might be subject to regulation of online media and covers the new offences provided in this Bill related to stalking, harassment and non-fatal...