Results 2,541-2,560 of 15,062 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. In particular, my Department continues to take steps to increase the number of interviews scheduled, and the number of cases completed in the International Protection Office...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so is committing a criminal offence, and can be arrested without warrant if they come into contact with An Garda Síochána. Such an order remains on the person’s record permanently – it means they cannot legally enter Ireland again in future, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (23 Jul 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: International Protection (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the State is required to examine the application of anyone who presents at the borders of the State, or is in the State, and indicates that they wish to make an application for international protection. This is in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law and the Government takes those commitments very seriously. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: Under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), persons are eligible to apply for labour market access permission if: • They are an international protection applicant; and • They have waited at least 5 months from their “Application Received” date for their first instance recommendation; and • They are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Development Projects (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to improving safety and wellbeing for the community in Drogheda. As the Deputy will be aware, the Drogheda Implementation Plan outlines 73 actions to support community safety and chart a path to improved community wellbeing in and around Drogheda. The Drogheda Plan is an example of the power of cooperation and community. We have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. An Garda Síochána has been allocated unprecedented funding of over €2.35 billion for 2024 – this is a 25% increase since 2020. This funding will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is the accounting officer of An Garda Síochána and is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including human resource matters such as the recruitment of civilian staff. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am assured however, that Garda management keeps the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. Community policing is also fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model which is currently being rolled out across the country, and is fully commenced in 14 Garda divisions. The new model will provide more frontline...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, last year I secured funding of €9m to increase the fees payable to legal professionals for criminal legal aid by 10% from 1 January 2024. This 10% increase was the starting point in a wider process. It was the first step on a pathway to further engaging with the profession and with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. I have also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (23 Jul 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: Court Judgments (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy but it was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: A central element of delivering on the Zero Tolerance goal of the Third National Strategy was the establishment of Cuan, the statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) agency, at the start of this year. Cuan has a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the strategy across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: A key action of the Third National Strategy 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 Committee was initially chaired by the Department of Justice,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am sure the Deputy will agree that healthcare workers from outside Europe make an enormous contribution to the Irish health service. There are several different legal pathways available to healthcare workers who wish to work in Ireland and the entitlement to family reunification varies depending on the permission granted. Healthcare workers who are residing in the State under a Critical...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: In just over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications in 2023 and has already made more than 16,000 decisions to date in 2024. As the Deputy may be aware, over 10,000 people were naturalised at the Citizenship Ceremonies held across June 2024. The previous backlogs in application...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware as Minister for Justice, I have no role in the exercise of Probate functions. The Probate Office is an office of the High Court, and management of the courts is the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. Probate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: Community safety is about people being safe and, importantly, feeling safe in their own communities. At the heart of this policy is the principle that every community has the right to be and feel safe in order to thrive and flourish. Our approach to community safety is a whole-of-Government one. We want to bring the relevant social service providers and the Gardaí together with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: A key action of the Third National Strategy 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 Committee was initially chaired by the Department of Justice,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Citizenship Division of my Department have corresponded directly with person referred to by the Deputy via their solicitor on 11 July 2024, and will continue to communicate directly regarding their application for Naturalisation. In a little over two years Citizenship Division has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications. This 66%...