Results 10,441-10,460 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1137 and 1147 together. I am advised by the Citizenship Division of my Department that a Certificate of naturalisation for the person referred to by the Deputy was issued in November 2023. The Citizenship Division have informed me that they have made direct contact with the person concerned in relation to the issue raised and they should continue to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 Jan 2024)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation applications from the people 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Long Stay Join Family visa and permission applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification which may be accessed at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-do cument-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Jan 2024)

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, including to invest in recruitment, in equipment and technology and in buildings. Budget 2024...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. Where an international protection application, encompassing the three component elements of refugee status, subsidiary protection and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove themselves from the State. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) is responsible for carrying out deportations. It should be noted that the numbers of Deportation Orders effected by GNIB does not take...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the naturalisation applications of the people referred to in the query have recently been approved by my Department. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Jan 2024)

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 for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €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 Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 Jan 2024)

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: Courts Service (17 Jan 2024)

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: Legislative Reviews (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: A key purpose for the 2017 Sexual Offences Act was to provide additional protection to persons involved in prostitution, especially vulnerable persons and victims of human trafficking. It allows those engaged in prostitution to provide information to Gardaí, for instance if they were subjected to violence by clients, without fear of prosecution for selling sexual services. Section 27 of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. Where an international protection application, encompassing the three component elements of refugee status, subsidiary protection and...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the amendments are grouped, I have a more general response. Amendment No. 50 relates to section 72. It sets out the standard terms under which the Commissioner is required to appear before the committees. Amendment No. 51 is similar and sets out the terms under which the Commissioner is required to appear before a committee other than the public accounts committee. Amendment No. 66...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: This amendment concerns section 75 of Bill, which sets out the functions of the audit committee of the proposed new Garda board. Its purpose is to align the provisions in subsections (1)(c) and (2)(b) with those in subsection (1)(a) with regard to what matters the audit committee will provide advice on. As currently drafted, the committee will advise the Garda Commissioner on governance and...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator. I do not accept amendment No. 54 because the number and nature of something is inherent to statistics and statistical information. I do not want to duplicate what is already encompassed within the term in this Bill. It is the case that the number and nature of offences will be taken on board and captured. On amendment No. 55, the general terms used in this provision...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for outlining the proposed amendment. The objective is to expand the code of conduct - to not just look at the code of conduct but at what happens if somebody breaches it. I understand the reasoning behind it. However, it would be better for it to be taken into consideration as part of the regulations specific to what happens next. Section 257 provides for the making...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I agree with what the Senator is trying to achieve here but it is covered in what we already have. Subsection (3) provides for actions by the appointed person, that is, the person who has been appointed to undertake the special inquiry. Where there has been an inexcusable delay or some sort of delay on the part of the person who is supposed to comply with the direction, the appointed person...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Section 101 provides that the Garda Commissioner is liable to an action for damages in respect of damage resulting from an actionable wrong committed by a member of An Garda Síochána acting in the course of performing the member's functions. It restates section 48 of the 2005 Act, subject to amendment, to substitute the Garda Commissioner for the State. The section confirms the...