Results 9,281-9,300 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the prisoner referred to has approximately 2 years left to serve on his current sentence and early release is not being considered at present. His case will be kept under review and all options will be considered at the appropriate stage of his sentence. By way of general information the Deputy will wish to be aware that the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (5 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: In response to the Deputy, discussions are still underway between my Department and Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDPR). Therefore, as the Deputy would understand, it would not be appropriate to comment, until the Budget is announced on 10 October 2023. The Deputy is no doubt aware, the Programme for Government contains a broad range of policies and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). This includes the recording of all Garda human resources data and the organisation's obligations under the relevant data protection legislation. As Minister, I have no role in this matter. To be of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 288 together. The information requested by the Deputy is being collated and I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (5 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Let me assure the Deputy that I recognise the important role played by barristers in undertaking criminal legal aid work. Any increase in criminal legal aid fees would have to be considered as part of the estimates process for 2024, which is still underway .

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (5 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Government has agreed to establish a dedicated statutory agency that will be charged with co-ordinating the Government’s response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). The agency will have a range of responsibilities including the funding and commissioning of DSGBV services, supporting the delivery of refuges and co-ordinating the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (5 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy was received 10 May 2023 and continues to be processed. The current median processing time for applications is 19 months. 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 level and it is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (5 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy was granted a stamp 4 permission by my Department for 3 years, valid from 9 August 2023 to 8 August 2026. The renewal of immigration permissions for customers living outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). Information on the contact details for all the registration offices outside Dublin is available...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 297 together. The person referred to by the Deputy lodged a review application in respect of their EU Treaty Rights application decision on 28 September 2021. This application is currently under consideration by my Department. My officials will correspond with the person concerned if further documentation or information is required. A letter was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (5 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, reports can be ordered under section 32 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, section 27 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 and section 47 of the Family Law Act 1995. The ordering of such reports is a matter for the Judge having regard to the statutory requirements and the overall requirement to administer justice fairly and independently. Section 32 of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (5 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for international protection has been made in the State. If a person is in the international protection process, there is a legal requirement under the International Protection Act 2015 to maintain full confidentiality at all times. Therefore the Department is unable to publish any information...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (5 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy submitted two Family Reunification (FRU) applications. One for their spouse and minor children, and the other for the two adult children, details supplied. The FRU application for the two adult children was refused on the basis of not meeting the criteria as set out in Section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015 . The FRU application in respect...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities. Strengthening An Garda Síochána is, of course, at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. That is reflected in the unprecedented budget allocation of €2.3 billion to An Garda...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I absolutely believe we need to increase the numbers of reserves we have to support the work the Garda does and to allow for that increased presence and visibility on the ground as we continue to increase our normal Garda numbers as well. It has been a challenging 20 years or so since the reserve was established. There was a peak of about 1,400 reserves at a particular time, especially when...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I appreciate that it has taken a little time since the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report, but in that time a new strategy has been published. We have also gone through a pandemic, which meant that any type of recruitment, be it in Templemore or here, was near impossible. We have a new regulation which, as I said, will be with me by the end of the week and which will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Courts Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to be able to give an update on progress that has been made on this issue. I fully recognise the important role played by barristers and solicitors in the administration of criminal justice, not only in the context of working to defend those who are accused but also working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of prosecutions. I take this opportunity...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Courts Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I appreciate, depending on the type of work, that there were two 8% cuts and a cut of 10% each in the lower and higher courts. For somebody working in both courts, that was a much higher cut. If somebody is working in the lower courts, the restoration we introduced and allowed for in yesterday's budget goes nearly halfway to responding to those cuts. As I said, this is the start of a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Courts Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I agree this has been going on for too long, which is why I was really pleased to be able to make progress for the first time in this year's budget just yesterday. It is not possible for me to confirm to any organisation what may or may not be in the budget. What I can do, and certainly did do in this instance, was to reassure people, insofar as I possibly could, that this was a priority...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I agree with the Deputy and all members of An Garda Síochána who say they do work others could be doing and could free up valuable police time and make sure we have as many visible gardaí out on the beat as possible. We are committed to doing that. Strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of everything we are focused on at the moment. When it comes to this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: While I have outlined the work that is under way in terms of immigration, courts security and serving summonses, as the Deputy mentioned, a high-level group considered the recommendations relating to prosecutions. A report has been submitted which will shortly be brought to Government. A group chaired by my Department, comprising the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána, has also...