Results 10,621-10,640 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (31 Jan 2024)

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, nor can I direct the Commissioner with regard to them. As referred to by the Deputy in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Under Section 4 of the Immigration Act 2004, an Immigration Officer must determine whether a non-EEA national should be granted leave to land and gain entry to the State. In performing their duties, an Officer is required to consider all of the circumstances relating to the individual at the time of entry. Section 4(3) of that Act sets out the full range of grounds on which a passenger may be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (31 Jan 2024)

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. I am taking a number of steps to improve how our International Protection system works. In increasing capacity and speeding up decision making, we can ensure that those who have a right to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Access to the labour market for international protection applicants is provided for under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230/2018), amended in 2021 by the European Communities (Reception Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 52/2021) which reduced the waiting period to be granted labour market access from 9 months to 6 months. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. Community policing is also fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model which is currently being rolled across the country and is fully commenced in ten Garda divisions. The new model will provide more front-line...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service and my Department are committed to enabling people in custody to benefit from education and training opportunities to support their rehabilitation and access to employment post-release. As the Deputy will already be aware, the majority of people in custody, almost 70%, are early school leavers. The median school leaving age of those who are committed to custody...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (31 Jan 2024)

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. As Minister, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual IIP applications. All project proposals which are the subject of investment by IIP applicants are examined in great detail by an Independent Evaluation Committee...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 28/11/2023. Supporting documentation was received in the New Delhi Visa office on the 11/12/2023. The application is currently awaiting comprehensive examination. Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer the Visa was granted on 30 January 2024. Entry into the State is solely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry. The onus is on the individuals to have all documentation relating to their reasons for entering Ireland for presentation to the Immigration Officer to gain entry. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Inspector of Prisons is a statutory office holder, independent in the performance of his functions, in accordance with the Prisons Act 2007. Section 31(1) of the Prisons Act 2007 places an obligation on the Inspector of Prisons to carry out regular inspections of prisons in Ireland. Under section 31(2) the Inspector may, and shall if so requested by the Minister for Justice,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I note that an acknowledgement of the application being received by Citizenship Division issued to the person concerned on 11 January 2024. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: Regrettably, the information sought by the Deputy is still awaited from the Garda authorities. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The application for a Change of Name Licence from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed. The Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department are currently awaiting an interdepartmental report that is required for all Change of Name Licence applications. Upon receipt of this interdepartmental report, the Division will be in further contact with the person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 16/11/2023. Supporting documentation was received in the New Delhi Visa office on the 01/12/2023. The application is currently awaiting comprehensive examination. Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 321 together. The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. Unfortunately, the applications for Naturalisation of the children of this applicant cannot be located. If more information is provided by the Deputy, the Citizenship would be happy to re-examine the request. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of €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...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The additional €28 million for overtime is welcome. That will not just be allocated in our capital city, where there has been a particular focus; it is to have a benefit right across the country. It must be taken in the context of a number of other changes. First and foremost, the way we can respond to issues as they arise is by ensuring we have as many gardaí to respond as...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: On the last question, I do not have any sense of the difference yet. I have an idea of the overall number who have applied to date. I will not state that until after the closing date. I am very interested in seeing the final figures. I never expected that we would have thousands, perhaps over the age of 35, applying at the same time. I certainly believe there will be interest. It was an...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: And older, perhaps. We need to make it worth everybody's while, at the same time. On transport, the allocation will be in addition to what we have. The aircraft will be of higher capability, particularly in dealing with our international partners and having the ability to focus on particular types of criminal activity that we cannot focus on given the types of aircraft we have. As I...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: At this stage, all members have access to the Garda apps and the mobility devices. As the Deputy said, they are working really well. Gardaí do not have to go back to stations but are able to access information from the car or from wherever they are working. They are able to identify information about individuals if they are stopped or otherwise. There has been a body of work under...