Results 10,241-10,260 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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 and it is open to anyone to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria. Details...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (12 Dec 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 number of international protection applications last year was 13,650, a significant increase on recent years. It represents a 186% increase on the number received in 2019, the most recent year in...

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

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities – and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and a further €2.31 billion for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (12 Dec 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 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 particular...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative and educational programmes to those in custody that aim to offer purposeful activity to those serving a sentences and encourage them to lead law abiding lives on release. These programmes are available to people in custody and all are eligible and allowed to use the services, including those who are first-time offenders. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the Irish Prison Service does not have the option of refusing committals and must accept all people committed by the Courts Service. The prison system is under increasing pressure with factors such as ongoing population growth, increasing Garda and Judicial resources, and more frequent Court sittings, all contributing to a rising prison population. I can advise...

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

Helen McEntee: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the total number of women in all ranks of An Garda Síochána as of the 31 October 2023, the latest date for which figures are currently available, was 3,952. This represents over 28% of total Garda strength. For context, this compares favourably with the total of 3,130, or 21.7%, on 31 December 2008. For the Deputy's information the...

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

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received on time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

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

Helen McEntee: In accordance with section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the direction and control of An Garda Síochána. In exercising this function the Garda Commissioner ensures that relevant policing developments in other jurisdictions are reviewed on an on-going basis so that international best practice can be identified and,...

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

Helen McEntee: I am sure the Deputy will agree that we are all immensely grateful to An Garda Síochána for their outstanding dedication and commitment and for the important role that they play in our society, all too frequently putting themselves in real danger. I would like to condemn in the strongest possible terms any threats against members of An Garda Síochána or any front-line...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I fully support the proposal to amend the Constitution to provide for a more inclusive concept of family in Article 41. The realities of family life in Ireland in 2023 are vastly different to those in 1937 when Irish law and our society only recognised the traditional model of the family based on marriage. The results of census 2022 clearly demonstrate how family life changed in the 20th...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Paramilitary Groups (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Independent Reporting Commission is the body established under the Fresh Start Agreement 2015 to report on measures aimed at ending paramilitarism. The Commission submitted its first Report to the UK and Irish Governments in 2018 and its sixth and most recent report on 5 December. Both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have welcomed the reports of the Commission. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is an important independent statutory body established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. I want to emphasise the vital role that GSOC plays in providing the necessary oversight of An Garda Síochána. GSOC is completely independent in its functions, and as Minister I cannot comment on any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department is committed to ensuring that all applicants who attend a ceremony receive their certificates of naturalisation in a timely manner. At present, certificates are posted to successful applicants after they attend a ceremony and perform their Oath of Allegiance. The majority of these certificates are issued to applicants within six weeks of the ceremony taking place. I can...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the applications referred to were granted on 6 December 2023. Any non EU/EEA nationals who wish to remain for longer than 90 days must register with their local immigration office and apply for further permission to remain before their initial permission to remain expires. Full details of the Registration process can be found at the link below:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Middle East (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department is acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and is working closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. The Department of Foreign Affairs provides consular assistance to Irish citizens abroad. Since the start of the current crisis, the Department of Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Missing Persons (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 to 166, inclusive, together. I am deeply conscious of the ongoing distress for the families and friends of persons who go missing. The disappearance of any person is traumatic for their family and friends. My Department is committed to working with all relevant state bodies to help more families find their missing relatives. Last week, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service continually monitors the staffing requirements of, and vacancies that arise in, the organisation and recruitment or promotion campaigns are put in place as required. The recruitment of Recruit Prison Officers by the Irish Prison Service has been ongoing since 2017 and has regard to such factors as organisational needs and exit levels, with more than 1,000 Recruit...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána 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. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Since my appointment as Minister for Justice I have led a programme of reform which is set out in the Programme for Government and in each annual Justice Plan since my appointment. I have increased investment into An Garda Síochánato the highest ever level. This has allowed for sustained, ongoing investment into Garda Recruitment after the forced closure of the Garda College during...