Results 2,661-2,680 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: There is an action under the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence for the Department of Health to examine and review the rationale for the disclosure of counselling notes as part of court proceedings, including a victim/survivor perspective. By way of background for the Deputy, the issue of the disclosure of counselling records at trial is recognised as a...

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1131 to 1133, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes all operational and investigative policing decisions. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to such...

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1135 and 1136 together. As the Deputy will be aware, appointments of special advisers are made in line with the Public Service Management Act, 1997 and subject to Government approval - the formal appointment of a Special Adviser requires a Government Order and a copies of which are available in the Statutory Instruments section of the Irish Statute Book...

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: 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: Naturalisation Applications (9 Sep 2024)

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 longer to process than applications based upon residency. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation...

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: Residency Permits (9 Sep 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department has no record of having received an immigration application on behalf of the spouse and children of the person referred to by the Deputy. If the person is in the State without an immigration permission, they must engage with the authorities if they wish to be permitted to remain here legally. Therefore, I would encourage them to contact the Immigration Service of my Department...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, by law, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for all operational policing matters, including policies which govern pursuits. As Minister, I have no role in these matters, but I am assured that the Garda authorities keep all such operational policies under review, in light of emerging crime trends. The Deputy will be aware that the legislation governing our roads...

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

Helen McEntee: A Stamp 0 immigration permission is provided to persons who are: retiring to or live in Ireland as a person of independent means, a visiting academic at an Irish university or college, living in Ireland as the elderly, dependent relative of an Irish National, or of a non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizen. A Stamp 0 indicates that a person has permission to stay in Ireland for a temporary period,...