Results 14,561-14,580 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As I stated, we have secured increased funding under budget 2022 to continue the progress made in our work to support the victims of crime and to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. In the past year, we have already delivered several key actions to make the criminal justice system more victim-centred and to improve how we support and protect vulnerable victims, including the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy is correct that we need everybody to work together. That is what makes a difference and provides results. As regards a refuge centre for Carlow-Kilkenny, the accommodation review that I understand Tusla is finalising has examined the current level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services and unmet need. It has also done an analysis of proximity to refuges by local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy O'Dowd for raising the matter. I know he has put a huge amount of work into it. As the Deputy will be aware, the publication and implementation of the recommendations of the Drogheda scoping report are key actions in my Department's justice plan 2021. I am grateful to the former director of the Probation Service, Mr. Vivian Geiran, who made over 70 recommendations in his...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I am disappointed to hear the HSE is not engaging with the Red Door Project. Grants have been provided to the Red Door Project. My Department is engaging with the HSE on the provision of funding to the family addiction support network. I wish to assure the House that the whole of Government is committed to supporting the implementation of the plan...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank both Deputies for raising these issues. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, who will return on 1 November, is absolutely committed to this implementation plan for Drogheda. It is something on which she has worked very hard. I also acknowledge the work of Martin O'Brien, the CEO of Louth and Meath Education and Training Board. It has agreed to facilitate and support the implementation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue regarding safety at Hallowe'en. I am very aware of the distressing impact the improper use and misuse of fireworks has on our communities. Every year, as Hallowe'en approaches, my Department runs a safety awareness campaign aimed at highlighting to the public the very real dangers of illegal fireworks and bonfires. As the Deputy may be aware, I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I know the Garda works closely with communities. Operation Tombola is directly targeted at delivering a range of initiatives to tackle the sale of fireworks and to prevent associated public disorder and antisocial behaviour through the incremental deployment of Garda resources. It engages with communities and through the various fora. It will encourage people not to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputy. The local government sector messages on Hallowe'en, working with the Garda Síochána, place emphasis on fire safety issues with fireworks and encouraging the public to report if they are aware of people gathering pallets or other materials for bonfires in order that they can be safely removed before Hallowe'en, emphasising the environmental damage and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Victim Support Services (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. While the Garda is committed to ensuring that all victims of crime receive information, protection and support throughout the criminal justice process, responsibility for notifying victims of crime of the release of a perpetrator from prison rests with the victim liaison office in the Irish Prison Service. The information currently provided by the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Victim Support Services (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy Tully for raising this issue because it is only through open discussion that we get the message out there to people that those supports are there. Ensuring that victims are better supported by the criminal justice system, including by ensuring that they are fully informed of their rights, is a priority for the Government. A significant part of the work to implement...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Victim Support Services (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Acting Chairman. Under budget 2022, €4.9 million is being allocated to support victims of crime. The contact that the victim of crime really needs to make is with the victim liaison office. This can be done by telephone, email or online via the Irish Prison Service website. I agree with the Deputy that it is no harm to do an awareness campaign around this so that people...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Gabhaim buíochas. I thank the Deputy again for raising this issue. I wish to assure the Deputy that I also, as do others in this House, recognise the ongoing pain and anguish of the O'Farrell family on the tragic death of Shane and I deeply sympathise with them on their loss. As the Deputy will be aware, a highly respected retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, has been conducting a scoping...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his question and thank him also for the work that he has done on this issue. It is, of course, open to the judge to recommend the establishment of a statutory or non-statutory inquiry. I will await the recommendation of Judge Haughton in his final report before making any decision on further inquiries into this matter. I do not wish to pre-empt any advice which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the right to protest peacefully is enshrined in the Constitution and under the law. It is an essential part of our democracy. An Garda Síochána, through its human rights-led approach to policing, seeks to uphold and protect the right to freedom of assembly and protest, while also upholding the law and protecting the public and businesses.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, Budget 2022 provides for the establishment of the new Community Safety Innovation Fund. It is intended that this fund will support investment in projects which will improve community safety. The fund, which is expected to grow in the coming years, will have an initial outlay in 2022 of €2m. A call for funding proposals will issue seeking applications...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in its functions. However, in order to be of assistance, I have had enquiries and the Courts Service has provided me with the following update on Wicklow Town...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, Budget 2022 provides for the establishment of the new Community Safety Innovation Fund. It is intended that this fund will support investment in projects which will improve community safety. The fund, which is expected to grow in the coming years, will have an initial outlay in 2022 of €2m. A call for funding proposals will issue seeking applications...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, all prisoners with a sentence to which remission applies qualify for one quarter remission on their sentence on the basis of good behaviour.  In addition, prisoners who have engaged in authorised structured activity may apply to receive enhanced remission of greater than one quarter, but not more than one third, of their sentence. There is no automatic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased that Budget 2022 reflects the commitment of the Government that every community has the right to be safe and that An Garda Síochána has the resources to be an effective and trusted policing service. The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.952 billion for 2021. Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pardons (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, a local group gathered a considerable amount of material relating to this case, and I know the Deputy has taken a very close interest in this application. As the Deputy will also be aware, in early 2020, the then Minister for Justice and Equality engaged an expert on nineteenth century trial law in Ireland for their expert opinion on the safety, or...