Results 2,321-2,340 of 15,060 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1105, 1112 and 1128 together. I can advise the Deputy that over 10,000 people were naturalised at the most recent Citizenship Ceremonies held across June 2024 and that, regretfully, due to the large numbers involved there was some delay in issuing certificates as a result. Information is not collated on the average waiting time for the receipt of a certificate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is unable to publish any information that would identify any person as being an international protection applicant. This is a separate matter to the law dealing with data protection matters more generally. My officials and I are legally obliged, under section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, to ensure that the identity of any person who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: Where it appears to the International Protection Office (IPO) that an applicant is a minor, the person in question is referred to Child and Family Agency (TUSLA). TUSLA undertakes an assessment for eligibility for services and, for those deemed to be unaccompanied minors, TUSLA support the young persons in making an international protection application. There have been cases where TUSLA have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. For security reasons and to protect the integrity of the immigration system, my Department does not comment on operational procedures of the Border Management Unit or the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). I can advise the Deputy, my Department and the GNIB are working...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Statutory Instruments (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: Changes to the Road Traffic Act rest under the remit of my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Transport, as does responsibility for road safety policy. 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. As Minister, I have no role in such matters....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: Parliamentary Question No. 323 of 2 July sought an update on the publication of the operational code of practice for the installation and operation of community CCTV schemes, as well as the 36 community CCTV schemes that have been approved for grant funding by my Department to date, and the current status of each project. In providing that answer to the Deputy, I noted that the parts of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm to the Deputy that certificates of naturalisation have been issued via registered post for any person who was conferred with Irish citizenship at the June ceremonies. Over 10,000 people were naturalised at the Citizenship Ceremonies held across June 2024 and I appreciate there was some delay in issuing certificates as a result. My Department has recently implemented new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Regulations (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1115 and 1116 together. The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purpose of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments (MUDs) and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owner management companies (OMCs). The Programme for Government contains a commitment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Official Travel (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that I have not taken any flights to or from the airports in question since my appointment as Minister for Justice.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 is the principal legislation concerning guardianship. While under that Act, a father of a child who is not married to the mother of the child does not automatically become a guardian of the child from birth, the Act has been amended over the years to include additional measures to facilitate non-marital fathers who have an on-going relationship with their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that I remain committed to strengthening efforts to counter and prevent migrant smuggling and, separately, trafficking in human beings. What begins as smuggling may become a trafficking situation when a person who has been smuggled is then subjected to exploitation through force, coercion, deception, etc., during or after the smuggling event. Criminals involved in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: A key action of the Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is the doubling of refuge space numbers available during the lifetime of the Strategy to 280 refuge spaces. As the Deputy is aware, prior to the establishment of Cuan, an Inter-Departmental Group was set up to manage and oversee progress on the delivery of additional refuge units. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to in the Deputy's query submitted an application for permanent residence under the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) (Citizens’ Rights) Regulations 2020, was received by EU Treaty Rights Division on 13 July 2023. The permanent residence application relates to the person’s claim to have an entitlement to a permanent residence document based on their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: A coroner is an independent office holder who performs a public service by making inquiries into reported deaths. The Coroner Service comprises a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. To ensure the integrity of the coronial function, investigations into deaths by coroners must happen without interference from any third party. While I recognise the significance and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: 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 is aware, from previous questions, of the circumstances that have delayed its completion....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: 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. It is important to note that no two applications are the same and some take longer than others to process. The previous...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parole Boards (9 Sep 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 independently from me as Minister for Justice and has a dedicated email address for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that my Department provides indicative processing timeframes for certain immigration applications on the immigration website, www.irishimmigration.ie. It is important to note that these are business targets for the immigration service. Processing times for these applications will vary depending on the type and complexity of applications, individual circumstances, peak...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that if the published processing dates for applications remain unchanged this does not indicate the processing of these applications has halted overall. The date published on the website referenced by the Deputy is the oldest date of application currently being processed under a given category. However, it should be noted that the Visa team continue to process and make...