Results 2,341-2,360 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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...

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

Helen McEntee: We need to come at this from a number of different angles. There is not one single solution to resolve what is a problem not just in Ireland but right across the world. We need to continue to invest in and support An Garda Síochána to work with its partners across the globe to try to tackle at source the organised crime groups and those who are responsible for producing this. We...

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

Helen McEntee: I agree that the impact organised crime and those involved in organised crime can have on our communities is devastating. They intimidate and inflict violence and misery on all parts of our community. It is a top priority for me, my Government and this Department to take swift action supported by and supporting the Garda Commissioner and his team. This includes increasing the maximum...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy rightly said, a great deal of work is being done but we can always improve the service overall and the timelines for people. We are responding and trying to make these changes while at the same time seeing an increase in the number of applications overall. In 2023, we had over 166,000 visa applications submitted and approximately 140,000 of those were granted. These figures...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: To the latter question, as the Deputy rightly said, last May I jointly announced with my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Peter Burke, that a project to adopt the single permit to work and live in Ireland would be developed. There is a two-stream process now. The outcome of this initiative will streamline this process for applicants coming to Ireland to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: Depending on the country, there are differences in the numbers of applications and ways in which embassies in the original countries are operating. While I do not have the exact times, I can tell the Deputy that the top ten nationalities in terms of the short-stay visa grants are India, China, Turkey, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, the Philippines, Egypt, Colombia and Saudi...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: One of the important ways we will do this is through investment in technology.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: We have already seen the investment in the normal visa structures but also in the international protection system and how this has allowed us to process many more applications.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his interest in this very important issue. As he has mentioned, one of the overarching goals of the Zero Tolerance strategy is to ensure that everyone across the country who needs a refuge space will have access to one. Our commitment to double what we currently have represents the fastest ever expansion of refuge accommodation in this country. Earlier this month,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: The ambition is to double the number in the lifetime of the strategy, which is only two years into its progress. We have not achieved that yet but I am confident that we will achieve it over the lifetime of the strategy. We are also developing safe houses. This is not just about providing wraparound support within the refuge itself. It is also about making sure that there are step-down...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputies. I have said this many times and I will say it again; I believe we are dealing with an epidemic. It is in every town, village and corner of our society. More women are coming forward. It is mainly women although men are, of course, also victims. It is a very positive thing. We need to be able to respond with resources and supports. It is not just about providing...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Guardian Status (26 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. All of us in recent times have seen far too many incidents like the one referred to by the Deputy. This is why my Department undertook a review of familicide. This report was published in May 2023. It was commissioned by my Department to effectively respond to a very challenging but also complex area and one that I feel we have...