Results 2,001-2,020 of 15,060 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (1 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for her interest in this issue. As you aware, my Department commissioned an independent consultant to undertake the statutory review of Part 4 of the Act but, due to a number of reasons, it was not possible for the review to be completed within the desired timeframe. I acknowledge that the report is now significantly overdue and the Deputy will be aware of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (1 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from 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. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (1 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: An application from the person referred to by the Deputy is currently under consideration by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department. A decision is expected to issue shortly. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (1 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for a join family visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. The date published on the website referenced by the Deputy is the oldest date of application currently being processed under a given category. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (1 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy presently has not been registered yet. The Citizenship Division of my Department are currently registering applications from April 2024. Once registered, a Personal ID and Citizenship application reference number will formally issue. However, when the applicant submitted the online application for Naturalisation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 348 together. The Deputy has been provided with a response to these questions by the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, on 19 September in response to parliamentary questions 137 and 138 of that date. The Deputy was informed that the provision of dog kennels at the homes of dog...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (1 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from 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. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Oct 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: An Garda Síochána (1 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm to the Deputy that I have received the necessary information from An Garda Síochána and a reply will issue to the Deputy shortly. The annual report from the designated judge under the Communications (Retention) of Data Act 2011 was laid before the Oireachtas on 11 July 2024. The report contains a thorough review on the operation of the Act.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Oct 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 the distribution of Garda members between the various Garda stations. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Official Engagements (1 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that neither I nor Minister of State Browne have met with any Minister or official in the Israeli Government. In the past year, I received a meeting request from the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland which was provisionally scheduled for February 2024. However ultimately this meeting did not take place. My Department remains keenly aware of the grave humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Consultations (1 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: There has been no expenditure by my Department in the years referred to on external communications or public relations experts or consultancy companies relating to briefings or advice to Ministers, special advisers or senior officials.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the previous Deputy just mentioned, we have joined the EU migration pact and, obviously, there is a significant amount of planning under way to make sure we are ready to fully join the pact within the two-year timeframe when it becomes operational. As part of that, we are exploring, as we have been doing and investing in recent years, new and innovative ways in which we can expand our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: It has always been my view that members of An Garda Síochána should have access to and be wearing body-worn cameras for two very clear reasons. First, I believe it helps in keeping them safe. As the Deputy rightly said, it is important they have that ability to capture an incident as it occurs and have a real picture as to what happened as opposed to an edited or potentially...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is so important that the pilot is finished and these are rolled out right across the country for all the reasons I have acknowledged.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Garda hopes to have that analysis done by the end of the year and then, obviously, it will look to what will be needed beyond that. The new digital evidence management system has to be developed to be able to back up all of this information. It is a huge amount. We have a budget of €155 million for ICT alone this year. That is assisting in the development and roll-out of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: I believe these will be a game-changer. In the short space of time in which we have seen them rolled out, the positive feedback has been exceptional. I have had no negative feedback. There have been no incidences that I have been told about or made aware of where cameras have not worked or have been defective. They are very different, however. Some of them can actually show the picture...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: In recent years, I have increased investment at every level of the international protection system, including in the International Protection Office, to deal effectively with the increase in applications. As a consequence, there are now more than 500 staff based at the Mount Street premises, involved in all stages of the international protection process, from initial registration, through to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan. It is for the reason he has outlined and I have outlined, which is a significant increase in the number of international protection applicants, that a second centre has been opened. Almost 50% of applicants who would have been going to Mount Street are now going to Citywest. I believe it is a more appropriate location, particularly when women and children are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: This is not an issue that we can deal with alone and that is why An Garda Síochána has significant engagement and very strong links with Interpol and Europol. We have worked very closely with the Maritime Analysis and Operation Centre - Narcotics, based in Lisbon. We have deployed Garda liaison officers to specific countries which we know are problematic where drugs are coming...