Results 9,521-9,540 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The State is required to examine the application of anyone who presents at the borders of the State, or is in the State, and indicates that they wish to make an application for international protection. This is in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law and the Government takes those commitments very seriously. My Department takes all necessary steps to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. The data in the table below show the latest statistics on decisions made. Latest Decision Made per Applicant for International Protection from 2019 to September 2023* Decision Year ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases, under reservation, in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that not every nationality is visa required to travel to the State. A full list of visa required and non-visa required countries is available at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Immigrati on-Service-Delivery-Visa-and-Non-Visa-Required-Countries.pdf Any visa required national that wishes to enter the State, and remain, for up to 90...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (25 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: Departmental Reviews (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners established a Joint Review Group to examine the role of Sheriffs, as currently constituted, in respect of State work. The Review Group was independently chaired by a former Secretary General of this Department, and comprised of representatives from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Courts Service, the Departments of Justice,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Diplomatic Representation (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The International Protection Office examine applications for international protection by anyone who indicates they wish to make an application. The staff of the IPO are independent by law in the exercise of their international protection functions. All applications for international protection are examined fully and individually on their merits, including those from countries which are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware as Minister for Justice, I have no role in the exercise of Probate functions. The Probate Office is an office of the High Court, and management of the courts is 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. Probate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Peace Commissioners are appointed by the Minister for Justice under Section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. The appointment of a Peace Commissioner is entirely at the discretion of the Minister for Justice and the fact that an applicant or nominee may be suitable for appointment does not, in itself, provide any entitlement to appointment as a Peace Commissioner because other...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: In order to work in Ireland, a non-EEA national, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit, which is administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). It is open to the person referred to to apply to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an Employment Permit. More information is available from the Department of Enterprise, Trade...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Functions (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware primary responsibility for nature conservation, wildlife protection and the presentation and preservation of our National Parks and Nature Reserves sits with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. My Department has no direct role in the setting of environmental standards or protection of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy was issued a letter refusing permission to remain in the state on 2 August 2022. In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the persons concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (25 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on nor confirm the existence of any specific protected disclosure. Nor would it be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases involving staff of my Department or the agencies under its remit. However, as the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow workers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (26 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: An application for an Extension of Student Conditions (ESTC) permission was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 12 September 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (26 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. The IIP Unit has published an FAQ document concerning the closure of the programme on my Department's Immigration Services website, which will be updated with any further questions arising from the closure, and is available here:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (26 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 4 February 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Nairobi office on the 3 March 2023. The application was received in the Dublin visa office on the 21 April 2023, where it awaits examination and processing. Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Procurement Contracts (26 Oct 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 procurement of vehicles for the Garda fleet. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. All Garda vehicles are purchased under contracts tendered by the Office of Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I understand the Deputy is referring to Operation Fleming which was established to investigate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring the Gardaí have provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. Following Budget 2024, I announced that this allocation would allow for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (26 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As advised in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 384 of 17 October 2023, the person referred to by the Deputy has no valid immigration permission to remain in the State. It is important that persons keep their immigration permission up to date if they wish to continue to reside in the State. Where a person remains resident in the State without an immigration permission, I encourage...