Results 2,441-2,460 of 16,227 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: Security clearance is an important element of the State's national security framework. Cases do arise where it is simply not possible to provide the required security clearance. As the Deputy will appreciate, as Minister for Justice I cannot comment on any individual case.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, engineering consultants were engaged by the Irish Prison Service in late 2023 to carry out a detailed assessment of the old Cork Prison facility and to provide a feasibility report on the site with various options for its use. The draft report was received by the Irish Prison Service in October last year and it is currently being considered by them. The site...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Racial Profiling (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: Ireland is, in general, a diverse and welcoming country, but regrettably there is a small minority who subject others to abuse or attack resulting from their own prejudice. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on individual cases but this behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated. Anyone subjected to attacks of the nature outlined in the correspondence should report it to...

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

Helen McEntee: I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department has worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance. While a specific admission programme in respect of Gaza...

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

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. All...

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 continues to be processed by my Department. This application is based on Section 16 'Irish Association', which can take typically longer to process than applications based upon residency. Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be...

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: In making appointments to State boards, I can advise the Deputy that my Department, and agencies operating under its aegis, ensure compliance with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform’s Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2016). I can also state that particular attention is paid to the Code’s Annex on Gender Balance, Diversity and...

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

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the training of its members. As Minister, I have no role in the matter. I am informed by the Commissioner that there is a five-level...

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

Helen McEntee: I am happy to inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer the Visa was issued on 14 January 2025. Entry into the State is solely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry. The onus is on the individuals to have all documentation relating to their reasons for entering Ireland for presentation to the Immigration Officer to gain entry. The...

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

Helen McEntee: I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and 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. Processing times for these applications are influenced by a number of factors including the type and complexity of application, individual...

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

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

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

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, which includes the management of the Garda Vetting system. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. The legal obligation on a Scheduled Organisation to notify the National Vetting...

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

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, which includes the management of the Garda Vetting system. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. The legal obligation on a Scheduled Organisation to notify the National Vetting...

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

Helen McEntee: Any person arriving into Ireland who has been convicted of a sex offence is required to notify An Garda Síochána of their name and address for a period deemed by the court to reflect the seriousness of the offence, even if no prison sentence was imposed. It is a criminal offence not to do so. An Garda Síochána engages extensively with other police services in...

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

Helen McEntee: I am happy to inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer the Visa was issued on 14 January 2025. Entry into the State is solely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry. The onus is on the individuals to have all documentation relating to their reasons for entering Ireland for presentation to the Immigration Officer to gain entry. The...

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

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. There are no provisions for the spouse or partner of an Irish citizen to acquire Irish citizenship...

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

Helen McEntee: The application from the person referred to by the Deputy was approved on 19 November 2024. A letter of the same date issued to the person concerned granting them temporary permission to remain in the State on Stamp 3 immigration conditions for a period of 12 months. The person concerned should make arrangements to register their permission as soon as possible if they have not already done...

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

Helen McEntee: Immigration officials of my Department have checked their records and advised that they cannot locate any applications for the person cited in the details supplied by the Deputy. However, if the Deputy can provide any additional information via my Department's Immigration Oireachtas service, I will arrange for a further response to the Deputy. As an Oireachtas member, you can request the...