Results 9,401-9,420 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime groups, is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and this Government. The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 was passed in July of this year. These new laws will ensure that An Garda Síochána and our Courts have the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to all of those who apply for it. The median processing time for applications currently stands at 19 months. My Department is aware that delays in processing times are frustrating and disruptive for applicants, and are working hard to improve the position. The Citizenship Division intends to regularly communicate with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, restricting of a person’s liberty prior to trial is a very serious matter, given the presumption that a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. While the State’s bail laws do provide for the refusal of bail in certain circumstances, judges are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and the decision to grant bail in a...

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together. The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and this is reflected the unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion to An Garda Síochána in 2023 and 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020. Given the global nature of the drugs trade, international law enforcement co-operation remains a key element in...

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

Helen McEntee: My Department is committed to driving the modernisation and Digital First agenda across the entire Justice Sector. This is reflected in Budget 2024, as €183.5 million was allocated for the Courts vote, including capital funding of €67 million. This builds on significant investment in recent years, with a total allocation of €176.5 million in 2023, and...

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

Helen McEntee: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service operates under its own vote. It has its own Accounting Officer and lays its reports and accounts...

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

Helen McEntee: I understand the Deputy has clarified that he is referring to barrister's pay in his question. I fully recognise the important role played by barristers and solicitors in the administration of criminal justice – both in the context of working to defend those accused and working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of prosecutions. I can assure the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I welcome the significant increase in Budget allocation of over €3.27 billion in current expenditure plus €274m for capital projects for the Justice sector in 2024, with a particular focus on building stronger, safer communities. Budget 2024 continues to build investment in diverting young people away from involvement in crime, to make youth diversion projects available in...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, we are leading an ambitious programme of family justice reform. I published the first Family Justice Strategy in November of last year. It sets out a vision for a family justice system of the future - a system that will focus on the needs and rights of children and will assist their parents in making decisions that affect all of the family. We intend to achieve...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is currently leading an ambitious programme of family justice reform, including the publication of the Family Justice Strategy and the Family Courts Bill 2022. The Strategy puts children at the centre of the system, and emphasises, amongst other things, the need to ensure they are listened to and heard and their views and best interests given due regard,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (12 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: An Garda Síochána has oversight of the registration and renewal of immigration permissions for persons residing outside of the Dublin area. This responsibility rests with local Superintendents or the relevant Detective Superintendent. The waiting time for appointments outside of Dublin is dependent on the demand for registrations in each office, and fluctuates based on seasonal...

Final Report of the Independent Scoping Exercise into the Circumstances surrounding the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell: Statements (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and welcome the opportunity to have statements in the House today on the report of retired Judge Gerard Haughton, arising from the scoping exercise into the circumstances surrounding the tragic and untimely death in August 2011 of Shane O'Farrell, aged 23, in a hit-and-run incident involving a car driven by Zigimantas Gridziuska, the individual referred to in...

Final Report of the Independent Scoping Exercise into the Circumstances surrounding the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell: Statements (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank all Deputies for their contributions this evening and I thank the O’Farrell family for being here throughout this. I do not think any of us, myself included, who have met either Lucia or Jim, Shane’s sisters or the wider family who could not have been affected by those meetings. Like everyone here, I have witnessed the sheer love, but above all, determination by the...

Final Report of the Independent Scoping Exercise into the Circumstances surrounding the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell: Statements (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The decision was taken by the Government a number of years ago to conduct the scoping exercise. It was very clearly outlined in the terms of reference that, if a public inquiry was deemed necessary following this scoping exercise, that would be considered by Government. I have never, nor has the Government, throughout this scoping exercise said that we would not accept a public inquiry if...

Seanad: Final Report of the Independent Scoping Exercise into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell: Statements (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I welcome the opportunity for statements on the report of retired Judge Gerard Haughton arising from the scoping exercise into the circumstances surrounding the tragic and untimely death of Shane O'Farrell, aged 23, in August 2011 in a hit-and-run incident involving a car driven by Zigimantas Gridziuska, who is referred to in the report as "ZG". The sudden loss of Shane at such a young age,...

Seanad: Final Report of the Independent Scoping Exercise into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell: Statements (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank colleagues for their contributions and for bringing this to the House. I will start with what I said in the Dáil previously because it is important and I think it is why we and the O’Farrell family are here. First, it is to make sure that all the facts and information are laid bare and that all the information surrounding the death of Shane is known and understood but,...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023: Committee Stage (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 1: In page 14, line 21, to delete “subsection (5)”and substitute “subsection (6)”. This amendment is a technical one and serves to correct a cross reference. Amendment No. 4, also a technical amendment, removes an unnecessary word and brings it in line with precedent in terms of the Statute Book. Amendment No. 6, the final technical...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023: Committee Stage (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 4: In page 22, line 2, to delete "the" where it secondly occurs.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023: Committee Stage (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: It is vital that we ensure the highest level of protection for victims and that no information is shared where it should not be. I appreciate the overall intention of the amendment. To clarify, for the avoidance of doubt, the agency is not intended to have a role in seeking the personal information or data of victims of survivors. Neither section 41 nor any other provision of the Bill...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023: Committee Stage (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I will make absolutely sure and will engage with Deputy Daly on it.