Results 10,801-10,820 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Alcohol Sales (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: All of the facts the Deputies have outlined occur in an environment where we have a restrictive regime, where pubs are closing every week. We have about 70 nightclubs left in the country. A couple of years ago there might have been that number in three or four counties. Alcohol is a problem for many people but we need to invest in education to change people's behaviours and attitudes....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: An Garda Síochána is committed to investing in leadership at all levels of the organisation through a clear understanding of requirements and focused development. Effective leadership enables the organisation to respond to changing demands with agility and to positively impact the culture of the organisation, obviously filtering down through it. Extensive provision is made for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I agree with the Deputy. There is always more we can do. One of the biggest challenges in providing training over recent years has been ensuring gardaí have the time to take up courses, either during their working time or outside of that. It is about investment in Garda members and ensuring we have the capacity and the ability for members to take time off. This is hugely important....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I agree with both Deputies. It is absolutely vital that people at senior levels, such as sergeants, inspectors, superintendents, chief superintendents and those at the top or the higher end of the organisation, have the ability to lead and have those qualities and skills. Members often have to make split-second decisions. Obviously, this is easier for those who have the training and have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Immigration Policy (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 26 together. I am sure we all agree that migration plays an essential and very positive role in our society and economy. It is vital to addressing labour shortages at all skill levels across the economy and has been a key driver of growth in this country. As the Deputy will be aware, and as he just mentioned, issuing visas and residence permits is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Immigration Policy (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I agree that spouses or partners of those with intra-company transfer employment permits should be allowed to work. Otherwise, they will be just here. If they can contribute, and many of them have significant jobs and roles, they could contribute whatever it is while they are here. The Deputy is absolutely correct that it is a factor attracting people to come to a country and that we are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Immigration Policy (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I would expect that any changes on this will be much quicker than those in respect of any of the other aspects I referred to. The more medium-term changes will take about 18 months and they will certainly make us more attractive, even for others who come without spouses or partners, but the longer term objective involves the combining of two systems, which will take a little longer. My...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: If a person arriving at a port of entry to the State indicates or is identified as being in need of international protection they are admitted to the international protection process. The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. This is especially important in the context of persons who enter the Irish State for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate the enforcement of road traffic legislation is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. In addition, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is fully independent in her functions under Section 2 (5) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). As the Office of the DPP is not an agency under my remit as Minister for Justice, I have no role...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes all operational policing decisions regarding the Garda estate. This includes the opening of any individual Garda station. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions which are a matter for the Commissioner. The Office of Public Works...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that an incomplete travel document application was received, from the person referred to, on 17 November 2023. The application will be returned shortly with instructions on how to complete the application. They should also be aware that the cost of the travel document has decreased to €55 per application. In recent times the Unit has experienced a very high...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together. The murder of Detective Colm Horkan is a stark reminder of the considerable risks that every Garda member places themselves in their daily work on our behalf. I would like to, again, extend my thoughts to the family and loved ones of Detective Colm Horkan. In carrying out his duties he displayed the courage and commitment to duty which is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, retirement of members of An Garda Síochána is governed by law, which sets the mandatory retirement age for all members at 60 years of age. Members of An Garda Síochána who joined prior to 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension at 50 years of age once they have served at least 30 years. Those who joined on or after 1 April 2004 may retire on full...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Feb 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 all human resource matters and recruitment. As Minister for Justice, I have no role in such matters. I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that the estimated annual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters. I understand that the "Q District" referred to by the Deputy relates to Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Feb 2024)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Feb 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 the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The unprecedented allocation of over €2.35...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pathology Service (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Office of the State Pathologist (OSP) provides the State with a national forensic pathology service and a forensic pathologist is on duty, twenty-four hours a day, each day of the year. In response to the Deputy, the budget allocation for the OSP from 2022 to 2024 is set out below: Budget allocation for OSP 2022 -2024 2022 2023 2024 ...