Results 9,061-9,080 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 549 together. Whilst Ireland is a comparatively safe country in international terms, I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities. The Budget 2023 allocation of over €2 billion will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff, with recruits entering Templemore every 11 weeks....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources, the equipment and the technology necessary to do their jobs 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 Garda use of CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). Such technology will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to all of those who apply for it. My Department is aware that delays in processing times are frustrating and disruptive for applicants, and we are working hard to improve the position. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by the Commissioner that the total number of women in all ranks of An Garda Síochána as of the 31 May 2023, the latest date for which figures are currently available was 3,945 or 28% of total Garda strength. For context, this compares favourably with the total of 3,130 or 21.7% of the total strength on 31 December 2008. For the Deputy's information the following table,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, which is the primary legislation covering the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, provides that free legal aid may be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of people who have insufficient means in criminal proceedings. Under the Act, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware and in accordance with Articles 13.9 and 35.1 of the Constitution, judicial appointments are made by the President, acting on the advice of the Government. The assignment of judges once appointed is the responsibility for the respective president of the various Courts. Presidents of the Courts and the presiding judges are, under the Constitution, independent in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy, that of the 15,629 international protection applications pending with the International Protection Office on 1st July 2023, only 290 of these are waiting over 24 months for a determination. The types of situations where cases are in the system for a number of years will only arise in the most exceptional of circumstances. These can include cases before the courts, or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that the IRP card income is the largest component part within the Immigration Registration fees and is classified as an appropriation-in-aid in the Department's Appropriation Account (Vote 24) each year. The nature of appropriation-in-aid income is that it is not reinvested against any specific area of expenditure. Similar to all appropriation-in-aid income...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (11 Jul 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 management of the Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS). As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Accidents (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: Road safety remains a high priority for An Garda Síochána and for my Department, working closely in cooperation with the Department of Transport. Any serious injury or fatality is of great concern. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Accidents (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: Road safety remains a high priority for An Garda Síochána and for my Department, working closely in cooperation with the Department of Transport. Any serious injury or fatality is of great concern. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Accidents (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: Road safety remains a high priority for An Garda Síochána and for my Department, working closely in cooperation with the Department of Transport. Any serious injury or fatality is of great concern. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Health Service Executive (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: A number of the recommendations in the Meenan Report are dependent on the introduction of a pre-action protocol for clinical negligence cases. Justice Plan 2023 commits to legislating for new pre-action protocols in respect of clinical negligence to encourage early resolution of allegations of negligence, promoting timely communications between parties and reducing the number of clinical...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 186 together. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: Protecting and supporting victims of sexual violence is a priority for me and my Department and I am keenly aware of the devastating physical and emotional consequences such crimes have on victims. The issue of the disclosure of counselling records is a complex one. On the one hand, there is the victim’s right to personal privacy and on the other the accused person’s right to a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jul 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: Citizenship Applications (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. A request for a solicitor letter of authorisation from the person cited issued last week. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pension Provisions (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am informed that officials in my Department are liaising directly with the concerned party to progress this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: Is the Deputy may be aware, the Judicial Council Act 2019 provided for the establishment of the Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee of the Judicial Council. Its functions include the collation of information on sentences imposed by the courts and the dissemination of that information to judges and others. The Committee has commissioned and published expert research on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together. Abhaile is jointly coordinated and funded by the Department of Justice and the Department of Social Protection, under a Joint Steering Board and a Joint Working Group, which include the implementing bodies. The service’s implementing bodies are the Citizens Information Board (which includes the Money Advice and Budgeting...