Results 9,461-9,480 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Budget 2024 (18 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I secured a record €3.5 billion to support the Justice sector with a particular focus on building stronger, safer communities. The allocation provides for the services of An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service, Courts Service, my Department and a number of statutory agencies who operate within the Criminal and Civil Justice areas. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (19 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Citizenship ceremonies were first introduced in 2011 and mark the transition to Irish citizenship by new citizens in a dignified and celebratory manner with the appropriate solemnity such a landmark event deserves. The ceremonies have been universally well received and contribute in no small measure to the continuing integration of our new citizens. The provisions referred to by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (19 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (19 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that the management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. I can, however, assure him that the Department fully supports the Courts Service in its work to create an environment where justice can be administered efficiently and accessibly for all citizens. The Government have invested substantial additional resources into the Courts Service in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (19 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together. The unprecedented allocation of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána in 2023 and 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (19 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department is working closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation including in their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (19 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for a Change of Status, which was received on 30 March 2023. To be fair to all applicants, applications are dealt with in chronological order by date received. My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (19 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am informed that the person referred to by the Deputy has permission to remain under Stamp 4 conditions until 26 February 2024. The person concerned has been advised of the conditions attaching to their permission to remain and of the requirement to apply to their local immigration registration office for a further renewal of their permission to remain two weeks before their existing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (19 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the person referred currently does not have any open application with my Department. I encourage them to contact the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) or their local immigration office and to take all the appropriate steps to regularise their status. Any application submitted should explain their current circumstances and future intentions in the State and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (19 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question 677 of 21 June 2022 and I can advise the position remains as set out in that answer and that I have been informed by Garda authorities that this matter was fully investigated by An Garda Síochána, and the Director of Public Prosecutions directed no prosecution. As you know, the Minister has no role in relation to these matters.

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

Helen McEntee: Yes. I thank both Deputies for raising this point. These amendments both seek to amend section 21 of the Bill to create a statutory obligation on the Minister to consult with the chief executive of the agency when appointing staff to it. Section 21(1) replicates the arrangements already in place for providing staff to several other bodies under the aegis of my Department. These include...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: What Senators Ruane and Flynn are proposing is to prohibit the use of devices that are capable of processing using FRT. Under the Data Protection Act 2018, specific primary legislation would be necessary for the use of FRT. This Bill would retain the status quo. We have obviously introduced plans to bring forward a separate Bill looking at facial recognition technology. Separate...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Amendment No. 3 is a technical amendment to update the expenses provision of the Bill to reflect the change in the name of the Department. As Senators are aware, the Government formally agreed to change the name of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform with effect from 1 February. Amendment No....

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: We are discussing amendments Nos. 5, 6 and 8 to 12, inclusive. The proposal is to make clear that Garda personnel would be required to turn on their cameras when asked to do so. This would ultimately be a matter for the code of practice, which is dealt with in section 43. This will outline clearly the circumstances in which Garda personnel have to turn on their cameras, including how they...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: They would have to be set out but they have not been decided on yet. That can only be done when a decision has been taken. I know this is referred to in a later amendment but there will be a pilot and the intention is that it will be up and running in the middle of next year. It will allow us to tease through any issues that may arise and that would necessitate any changes.

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: On the last point, as I outlined, gardaí absolutely will notify people but there may be circumstances where they cannot do so. If they are in a crowded area, for example, where a protest develops into a riot and one garda shouts to tell everybody about the camera, not everyone will hear that. It is just not possible to require that absolutely everybody be informed in that scenario. In...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: On the latter question, many of the new cars that have been purchased have that inbuilt technology, whereas the older cars do not.

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: It will allow for this to be part of the overall system. My understanding is that, at the moment, if gardaí are asking for dashcam footage from a separate car, such footage would have to be specific to a case for which they are seeking information or data in the same way as applies with CCTV, automatic number plate recognition, ANPR, or anything else. The new Garda cars have this...