Results 9,721-9,740 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I know is of importance to her. I previously outlined complications whereby we had to take on a new person to conduct the review. That person is now not finishing the review. A body of work has been done. The competition has closed now and I hope to appoint a new person to finalise the review in the coming weeks. A body of work has been...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to discuss this particular case with the Deputy. Any decision to carry out a cold-case review would need to be taken by the Garda, but I am happy to discuss it with the Deputy later.

Seanad: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to present the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023 to the House. The programme for Government recognises that Ireland is experiencing a domestic, sexual and gender-based violence epidemic consistent with global trends. That simply must change. This Government has responded strongly and proactively with the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and...

Seanad: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023: Second Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank all Senators for their contributions and for their broad support for the legislation. Most of them have alluded to the concerning figures and the facts that are very clear. To be honest, the figures that we see, even with the increase in those coming forward, are probably just the tip of the iceberg. There is a perception that we are seeing an increase in cases. However, we could...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 1: In page 6, line 20, to delete “Part, “Act of 1981” means the Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981.” and substitute the following: “Part— “Act of 1981” means the Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981; “Act of 2006” means the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006; “Act of 2017” means the Criminal...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy proposes to add a number of other offences to the definition of applicable offence contained in the Bill. These are specifically offences that relate to prostitution. As the Deputies will be aware, our sexual offences legislation, which is separate, criminalises the purchase of sex but related activities are also criminalised, such as the organisation of prostitution, living on...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy is essentially proposing that the definition of "sexual assault offence" would be expanded to include human trafficking offences where this offence is committed for purposes of sexual exploitation. While both are clearly apparent crimes and crimes that exploit vulnerable people and the prevention, detection and prosecution of both are a priority for all of us, there are very clear...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Amendment No. 21 is my own so I can outline that. I propose to delete section 7 of the Bill. This deletion will remove the provisions on the knowledge of consent and rape which have been the subject of discussion, as we mentioned very briefly. The provisions in question stem from recommendations of the Law Reform Commission in relation to rape and moving to an objective test of knowledge...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Were this amendment to be accepted, it would be amending something I propose to take out, so it is something to be discussed at a later date.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 5: In page 10, line 30, to delete “Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006” and substitute “Act of 2006”.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 6: In page 11, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: “CHAPTER 5 Repeals and application of repealsRepeals 19.(1) The following provisions of the Act of 2006 are repealed: (a) section 2(5); (b) section 3A(5). (2) Section 8(3) of the Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2012 is repealed. (3) The following provisions of the Act of...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Essentially, it is following through on the Supreme Court ruling and the advice from the Attorney General on that.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 7: In page 11, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “Retrospective application of repeals 20.(1) Subject to subsection (2), the repeals effected by subsection (1)of section 19and paragraph (a)of subsection (3)of that section shall apply in respect of a relevant offence committed before the date of the coming into operation of this Chapter,...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I accept what the Deputy is trying to achieve with this amendment. First, the role of Tusla within the new national referral mechanism is clearly set out. The way this amendment is worded would prescribe additional requirements in statute on Tusla, which would have to be done with agreement so further engagement would be needed with the agency. I acknowledge there have been asks for a...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: We need to talk it through further with the agency.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I will bring forward amendments on Report Stage to amend the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act to update dated terminology that refers to vulnerable persons as mentally impaired and to provide that there is no need to provide the trafficking of a vulnerable person occurred via specified means such as force, fraud or any other specified means.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: We have three proposals in to do the same thing but with slightly different wording. I assure the Deputies that I agree and we want to ensure that we remove the reference to credibility and replace with a reasonable grounds standard. I have been advised that it is potentially a part of all three of them and so what we are trying to identify through the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: What we have here in section 49(3) already mandates me to have due regard for humanitarian considerations when making a decision, whether it is on an international protection applicant and whether they should be granted permission to remain, in that regard. Obviously, if somebody if a victim of human trafficking, it would fall under that consideration. The concern here is that by being...