Results 10,701-10,720 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I have asked An Garda Síochána to provide any information of relevance to the Deputy’s question. I will contact the Deputy once An Garda Síochána have responded to my request.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (7 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to all of those who apply for it. I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating and disruptive 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 (7 Feb 2024)

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 child is born to an Irish citizen either in Ireland or abroad then that child is an Irish Citizen...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 to 379, inclusive, together. Under section 72 of the International Protection Act 2015 the Minister for Justice may make an order designating a country as a safe country of origin. A country may only be designated as a safe country of origin where satisfied that, on the basis of the legal situation, the application of the law within a democratic system and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (7 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, issuing visas and residence permits are the responsibility of my Department while the criteria and conditions for obtaining employment permits are set by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Both Departments work closely together to ensure that Ireland's labour market migration arrangements are fair, efficient, and responsive to the needs of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (7 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department is working closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance. My Department is in regular contact with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, since 2017 my Department has administered a grant-aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area. The CCTV grant scheme was extended in 2019 to cover not only new CCTV systems, but to also provide funding for the extension or upgrade of existing CCTV systems which are incomplete or obsolete. Applicants may now also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Bus Services (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246, 253, 254, 255 and 256 together. It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (8 Feb 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 of 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 refused....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. An Garda Síochána has been allocated unprecedented funding of over €2.35 billion for 2024 – this is a 25% increase since 2020. This funding will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: Fraud is a crime which can affect anybody but which particularly targets vulnerable people and businesses who may not be aware of or vigilant to the risks of online and telephone fraud in particular. The proposed shared fraud information database for the banking sector is an initiative brought forward by the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, who have engaged with my Department and with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 09 May 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Athens office on the 30 May 2023. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 16 June 2023 where it awaits examination and processing. Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. As of Close of Business (COB) on 31/01/2024 there were 997 Type D long stay applications awaiting a first instance decision. The table below provides the average time that a Type D long stay...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are 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. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: Unfortunately, it has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly in the coming days when the information is to hand

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 to 260, inclusive, together. I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Irish Prison Service. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that I have received a copy of a report entitled “The human and financial cost of clinical negligence claims: The case for pre-action protocols" (January 2024), and I have asked my Department to examine it. My Department is developing draft pre-action protocol regulations the purpose of which will be to encourage early resolution of clinical negligence actions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Coroner Service comprises of a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. Coroners are independent office holders whose function under the Coroners Act 1962, as amended is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can issue. The Coroners Act 1962 confers on a Coroner a general duty to hold an inquest where a body is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only. An Garda Síochána has oversight of the first registration and renewal of immigration residence permissions for non-EU/EEA nationals residing outside of the Dublin area. I have no role in regard to the scheduling of these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (8 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Multi-Unit Developments (MUDs) Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments, and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). Well-functioning OMCs are key to maintaining and sustaining higher-density residential developments, such...