Results 2,721-2,740 of 16,227 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent, body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means in the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (“the 1995 Act”) and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996, as amended. Section 3(3) of the 1995 Act provides that the Board...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Illicit Trade (5 Nov 2024)

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: Illicit Trade (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Revenue Commissioners are responsible for tackling the production and sale of illegal tobacco products in the State. Revenue Commissioners are under the responsibility of the Minister of Finance; as Minister for Justice I have no role in this matter. I can assure the Deputy that targeting the work of organised crime groups who inflict intimidation, violence...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that a snapshot analysis of the prison population is conducted on the last day of each month. The most recent analysis was conducted on 31 October 2024. I can advise the Deputy that on 31 October 2024, there were 97 individuals over the age of 70 in custody across the prison estate.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Nov 2024)

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 (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including Garda resources. This includes the allocation of Garda members to a given Division, District or Station across the State. As Minister, I have no role in this process and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to same. I am informed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that a foreign marriage certificate may be submitted to my Department for consideration in support of applications for visas to join family members in Ireland. If the certificate is in a foreign language, an official translation or a translation from a recognised translation agency should be provided. The visa application referred to by the Deputy was created on 26...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. The Immigrant Investor Programme was established over a decade ago during a time of unprecedented economic difficulty to stimulate investment in Ireland that would be of strategic and public benefit to the State. Since its inception, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Services (5 Nov 2024)

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 (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As you 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, including Human Resourcing matters. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I can, however, assure you that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the Courts. As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time. On 1st November 2024, there were 5,064 people in custody with 257 people sleeping on mattress on the floor.

Family Courts Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Ceann Comhairle and all Deputies for the broad support for this Bill. I think we all agree there needs to be an overhaul of our family court structures or a change to how they operate. While I firmly believe a huge number of wonderful people work in the system, from our Judiciary to legal practitioners, those in the courts and beyond, we need to put in place the building blocks...

Family Courts Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to introduce the Family Courts Bill in this House today. Bringing this Bill before Dáil Éireann represents a major milestone on the path to achieving the commitment in the programme for Government to enact a Family Courts Bill to create a new dedicated family court within the existing court structure and provide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (24 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that Article 42A.4 of the Constitution requires that provision be made by law that in the resolution of all proceedings concerning the guardianship or custody of, or access to, any child, the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration. Section 3 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 provides that the best interests of the child shall be the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (24 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 provides that the President, on the advice of the Government, may grant Irish Citizenship as a token of honour to a person or to the child or grandchild of a person who has done honour or rendered distinguished service to the nation. It has, due to its exceptional nature, been bestowed on a very limited number of people. A Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (24 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the deputy, the Border Management Unit of my Department is responsible for front-line Immigration at Dublin Airport only. Other airports and other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. Immigration officials conduct...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Division. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that personnel...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion to An Garda Síochána, a 27% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (24 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for the compilation and publication of official crime statistics. To be of assistance to the Deputy, the table below outlines the number of burglaries in the Mayo Division for the period 2016 to Q2 2024 (the latest published figures). This information is available on the CSO website. Mayo Division ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Terrorism Measures (24 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate the interpretation of the law is a matter for the Courts. The Government is committed to the protection of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, consistent with the State's obligations in the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. However, it is important to note that there are boundaries to such protections. There are a range...