Results 10,161-10,180 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: There is an entire section on the community safety partnerships, as the Senator will be aware. This section is about the service plan that the Garda Commissioner puts in place to roll out the resources that are necessary for the overall plan. There is a role for communities and others to engage with the Policing Authority, the board or ourselves as Members, to make sure the strategic plan...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: It is not necessary for this section.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The amendment seeks to place an obligation on the Commissioner to inform the authority, in addition to the board and the Minister, of "any actions, proposed actions, omissions or proposed omissions" which would exceed the resources available to An Garda Síochána for the period of the service plan. It is very much the view, as discussed previously, that this would go against one of...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: This section is specific to whom the Garda Commissioner must engage with if the resources available to his or her for the period of a particular plan are to be exceeded. As I mentioned, we are ensuring the Commissioner must engage with the Minister and the board, which will now have responsibility for oversight where resources have been exceeded or will potentially be exceeded. The...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The term “as soon as practicable” is standard language. If we do not set a timeline, the Commissioner might be able to inform the board and the Minister even sooner. This term allows the Commissioner to inform us as soon as possible. Regarding financial accountability, sections 72 and 73 deal with the Commissioner appearing before Oireachtas committees to respond.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: For clarity, I am quite happy to sit until midnight or whenever Members deem suitable this evening-----

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: -----or I am happy to come back tomorrow.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to come back after Private Members' business. The first question was on the timeline of the plan. It would normally be for three to five years. It is clearly stated at the beginning of the section that that is to be specified by the Minister. It is a three-to-five year plan, because we align it with the national development plan. It is to ensure we have a multi-annual plan...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I will reiterate the point that the capital plan is for rural and urban areas. It does not distinguish between them. It is only appropriate that the Garda Commissioner, who is responsible for the resourcing of the Garda, would be responsible for the roll-out of any capital plan. I do not have any figures in front of me in respect of unused Garda stations.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: No, there is a separate capital plan for prisons that come in under the Department of Justice. The Act itself has to assume compliance with the ten days. In extreme circumstances, one would go to the board and issue what I am not sure would be a warning but it would be assumed that if the Minister directed something to be done within the ten days that it would happen, or that reasonable...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Paragraphs (a) to (f) very specific, and (g) are simply to make provision to allow for "any other matters that the Board thinks fit" in producing the annual report. I cannot imagine that the report would have a reference to hospitals, shops, retail or any other matter that does not involve the role of An Garda Síochána. It is intentionally open in that regard, and it has to be....

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Regarding some of the questions, again, it is stipulated in the Bill as to how the Minister would lay this before the Houses. Section 75 clearly outlines the fact that it will be made online means that is being made available to the public. I have no doubt though that if somebody wanted a hard copy, they could get it printed off in the library. On the overall Bill itself, I think many in...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: It is not provided for in the Bill but if obviously comes under the Irish language Act, which means it could be available in the Irish language.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the position in regard to applications for family reunification is set out in the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which is available on my Department's Immigration Services website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-do cument-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf The Policy Document, which was last amended in 2016, is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (12 Dec 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: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 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 tendering for, and purchase of equipment. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Earlier this year I announced a further €10 million for Garda overtime in Dublin. This additional allocation is being spent, to provide consistent high visibility policing in the capital. The allocation of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024 includes provision for a 25% increase in the overtime budget for An Garda Síochána, to €131...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As you are aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including matters relating to the Garda estate. In addition, the Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the provision and maintenance of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Passport Services (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Where a parent is unable to prove residency for 3 of the 4 years prior to the birth of the child, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of €2.31 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. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is a highly...