Results 11,001-11,020 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parole Boards (6 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware the Parole Board, as provided for under the Parole Act 2019, was established on 31 July 2021. The 2019 Act placed the parole process on a statutory footing and established an independent, statutory Parole Board to decide on parole applications. The Parole Board makes its decisions to grant or refuse parole independently from the Minister for Justice and as such does...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably, this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy directly when it is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (6 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department ensures that staff/management exit packages are managed in compliance with the requirements of DPENDR Circular 09/2018 which sets out standards for arrangements for the offer of severance terms in the civil and public service. Severance terms sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure, NPD Delivery and Reform are based on salary, aligned to civil service pay scales,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (6 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department has acknowledged the seriousness of spiking and the potentially devastating effects on victims. Spiking is already a criminal offence under Section 12 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. This provides for a general offence of administering a substance capable of interfering with the victim’s bodily functions. Where spiking is committed with intent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (6 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that all De Facto Preclearance applications are processed in the Dublin Visa Office. The Dublin Visa Office are currently processing De Facto (unmarried) Partner of Irish National applications received, in the Dublin Visa Office, on 13 November 2023. The Dublin Visa Office are currently processing De Facto (unmarried) Partner of Critical Skills Employment Permit...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government works closely with all EU Member States in relation to migration matters, which cut across a number of Government Departments. The challenges presented by migration and asylum cannot be effectively addressed by any state acting alone in a globalised and interdependent world. It is the case that Europe has seen a significant increase in the number of people seeking protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Afghan Admission Programme which was designed as a specific response to the situation in Afghanistan closed for applications on the 11th of March 2022. However, it is important to say that all current immigration avenues remain open for new applications, including visa, employment and family reunification applications. Afghan nationals are visa required...

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

Helen McEntee: My Department's community safety policy is about people being safe and, importantly, feeling safe in their own community. This whole of government Community Safety Strategy aims to address issues relating to community safety by bringing together the relevant social service providers and the Gardaí to work together with the community in a collaborative manner by focusing on tackling the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (7 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, prosecutions are a matter for the Director of Prosecutions, who is fully independent in her functions under Section 2(5) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). As Minister I have no role in the operations, functions, governance or oversight of the Office of the DPP and am unable to provide any information or statistics relating to the Director's...

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

Helen McEntee: I can confirm to the Deputy that there are no plans to amend or alter the current guidance governing Joint Policing Committee membership. At present, this guidance is a matter for the independent Policing Authority to consider, after consulting with myself and my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government as outlined under section 35 (1) of the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (7 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy has no valid immigration permission to remain in the State. Where a person remains resident in the State without an immigration permission, I encourage them to contact the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) or their local immigration office and to take all appropriate steps to regularise their status. Any application submitted should explain their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (7 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy held a Stamp 4 immigration permission, which expired on 15 December 2023. An online registration renewal application was submitted on 24 November 2023. Further documentation was requested from the person concerned. Upon receipt of the requested documents, the application will be considered further. Queries in relation to the status of individual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (7 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Family Reunification application for the person referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department and continues to be processed at this time. All applications are processed in chronological order. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and all applicants for Family Reunification would wish to have a decision on their application without delay....

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for international protection has been made in the State. If a person is in the international protection process, there is a legal requirement under the International Protection Act 2015 to maintain full confidentiality at all times. However, if an application for international protection has...

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

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application for 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: Asylum Seekers (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 795 and 966 together. 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...

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

Helen McEntee: Family reunification as provided for in S56 of the International Protection Act 2015, allows people granted International Protection to apply for certain family members to join them in the State. IN 2023, 820 primary applicants applied for 2,330 members and at end year 932 primary applications for 2,924 family members were awaiting a decision. The average processing time for decisions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the deputy that my Department has not provided assistance, financial or otherwise to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection to transport their personal vehicles to Ireland since the outbreak of hostilities with Russia in 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that my Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of the processes is maintained at all times. Last July, I published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. This programme involved unparalleled investment in staff,...