Results 13,781-13,800 of 15,969 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a distribution model is used which takes into account all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The review of the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which was last amended in 2016, is examining a wide range of matters relating to applications for family reunification, including the nature and suitability of current income thresholds and waiting periods. My Department has consulted with a wide variety of stakeholders and the expectation is that the review will be brought...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2025)

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. Section 3(3) of the Act states that the Board shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, be independent in the exercise of its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the expenditure of the Garda budget. As Minister I have no role in how the budget is allocated. The Garda Commissioner is also responsible for the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. I am advised by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Department of Justice has responsibility for the regulation governing the importation and use of explosive materials, which includes the importation, sale, storage and use of fireworks and I am very aware that every year in the run up to Halloween, there are concerns among communities about the illegal use of fireworks. The legislation governing the importation, storage, transport and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: Road safety is a shared responsibility, and while led by the Department of Transport, it is one which is taken very seriously across Government. I continue to engage with colleagues across Government to ensure that every effort is made to increase safety on our roads. Road traffic laws are enforced by both Roads Policing Gardaí and as part of the day-to-day duties of uniformed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 such matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that, on examination of fixed charge penalties issued by Roads Policing members, they are unable to provide the requested...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that planning is underway for citizenship ceremonies to be held in Dublin in the first quarter of this year. My Department is committed to providing regular opportunities for applicants to complete the naturalisation process. My Department held 24 citizenship ceremonies last year, an increase from the 15 ceremonies held in 2023, and the 6 that were held in 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in determining the dates for when Garda recruitment campaigns are run, as these matters rest under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Investigations (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, on 18 April 2024, the jury at the inquests into the fire at the Stardust nightclub in Dublin in 1981 returned verdicts of unlawful killing in respect of all 48 of the deceased. Following the verdicts, the Taoiseach delivered a State apology in Dáil Éireann to the families of the victims of the Stardust Fire. Subsequently, individual letters of apology...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner determines the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions and am unable to direct the Commissioner in any operational decisions. However, to be of assistance I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy has been received by the Citizenship division of my Department, but has not yet been registered. Citizenship Division are currently registering applications from August 2024. Once registered, a Personal ID and Citizenship application reference number will formally issue. When the applicant submitted the online...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: Matters relating to eligibility criteria and access to further education and training (FET) courses are the responsibility of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). I have been informed by that Department that access to FET courses for those who are not citizens of Ireland, or citizens of a member state in the European Economic Area, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Artificial Intelligence (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department complies with the “Interim Guidelines for Use of AI in the Public Service” issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform (DPENDPR) in February last and also with guidance issued to all Government Departments in June 2023 by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in relation to the cyber security...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: DNA Database (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that the Family Reunification Unit (FRU) of my Department will engage with the solicitor of the person cited in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Independent Review Mechanism (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The sudden loss of Shane O'Farrell at such a young age, with his whole life ahead of him, is a desperate tragedy for all those who knew and loved him and one which will always be an immense source of grief in their lives. The report of Judge Gerard Haughton arising from the Scoping Exercise into the circumstances surrounding the death of Shane O'Farrell, aged 23 in August 2011 was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that where the Visa services of my Department receive requests for visas in time-sensitive genuine emergency circumstances that such applications are treated sympathetically and facilitated whenever possible. In those circumstances, the applicant should follow the standard on-line application process using the AVATS system , and indicate as part of that process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Security (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that the Government affords the highest priority to the State’s security. Ireland, like any other democratic state, is not immune from the risk posed by espionage or other activities aimed at compromising the security of the State. Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, An Garda Síochána are responsible for protecting the security of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: Both the International Protection Office (IPO) and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) are fully independent in deciding whether or not to grant international protection. Each application is examined individually on its own merits, in line with national and international asylum law. An applicant for such protection status, or their legal representative, should contact...