Results 11,261-11,280 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (11 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, on the 20th of March, I published the Sheriff Review Group Report. The Joint Review Group, established by my Department and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, focused on the future role of Sheriffs, and endeavoured to establish if the role currently operates in line with best international practice, or if there is a more efficient and cost effective...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Bodies (11 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As an EU Member State, Ireland is invited to participate at the Frontex Management Board in a non-voting capacity and can, should it wish to do so, seek to participate in certain training and joint operations co-ordinated by Frontex on behalf of EU Member States. Frontex Management Board meetings are held five times a year and Ireland is represented at these meetings by a member of the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy a Working Group on Conveyancing and Probate was established by the then Taoiseach last year to carry out a review of current conveyancing and probate processes and identify scope for greater efficiency and streamlining. The group comprises various experts including a solicitor, an auctioneer, consumer advocates as well as officials from the Department of the Taoiseach,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (16 Apr 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. There is no automatic right to Irish Citizenship for the children of Non-EEA national parents resident...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 21 April 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Kampala office on the 26 May 2023. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 13 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: Visa Applications (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Dublin. The reason for this decision was set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant on 21 November 2022. An appeal of this decision was received on 18 January 2023. A decision will be issued to the applicants as soon as full consideration has been given by a Visa Appeals Officer. It should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by Citizenship Division of the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) that the decision remains as stated in a letter dated 28 November 2023. The reasons for the refusal have been communicated to the person cited by the Deputy. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, EU Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA on the mutual recognition of custodial sentences establishes the conditions and procedure for the transfer of a custodial sentence between EU member states. This Framework Decision has been implemented in Ireland by the Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2023 (the “2023 Act”). The 2023...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to tackle anti-social behaviour and its causes. A number of priority actions are contained in the Programme for Government to reduce instances of such behaviour and help people to be safe and feel safe in their local communities. These include the establishment of the Anti-Social Behaviour Forum, which is chaired by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Agreements (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 to 498, inclusive, together. I am committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. The EU Asylum and Migration Pact will significantly reform the current approach to migration and asylum both in Ireland and across the EU by providing a robust legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Staff (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible, under section 33 of the Act, for determining the deployment of the Garda Síochána throughout the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021. The 1995 Act was amended by Section 54 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 which gave the Board the additional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Peace Commissioners are appointed by the Minister for Justice in accordance with section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. The appointment of a Peace Commissioner is entirely at the discretion of the Minister for Justice and the fact that an applicant or nominee may be suitable for appointment does not, in itself, provide any entitlement to appointment as a Peace Commissioner because...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Peace Commissioners are appointed by the Minister for Justice in accordance with section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. The appointment of a Peace Commissioner is entirely at the discretion of the Minister for Justice and the fact that an applicant or nominee may be suitable for appointment does not, in itself, provide any entitlement to appointment as a Peace Commissioner because...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Under the International Protection Act 2015, an international protection officer is responsible for the examination of the relevant facts and circumstances that apply to each international protection application. An international protection officer is obliged to examine each application for international protection for the purpose of deciding whether the applicant is given either (a) a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) is an independent body responsible for the regulation of the legal professions under the provisions of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. Subject to the 2015 Act, the Authority shall be independent in the performance of its functions. Since the commencement of the relevant complaints related provisions of the 2015 Act on 7 October 2019,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pension Provisions (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that entitlement to a Garda Spouses’ pension is based on the deceased Garda’s membership of the An Garda Síochána Spouses’ and Children’s Superannuation Scheme. All members of An Garda Síochána who were attested after November 1984 are members of the Spouses and Children’s scheme. Membership prior to 1984 was not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, management of the courts, along with related 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 through the separation of powers in the Constitution. It should be noted that the Department does not record data...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act, 1962, is the primary legislation covering the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and gives effect to the Constitutional right that legal aid may be granted for the defence of people with insufficient means in criminal proceedings. Furthermore, the European Convention on Human Rights provides that every person charged with a criminal offence is...