Results 2,901-2,920 of 15,062 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I want to assure the Deputy that I am conscious of, and hugely committed to, tackling the devastating impact that illegal drugs have on communities across the country. My Department is steadfast in working to address the harms caused to families and communities by the activities of transnational organised crime groups and, as part of this, all the laws and powers available to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: The new competition to join the Garda Reserve represents a real opportunity for anyone wishing to learn more about and support An Garda Siochana and make a contribution to their communities. Reserves serve a very valuable role in assisting Gardai with local patrols, crime reduction initiatives and administration. They also assist in the policing of major incidents and events, and provide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I am sure the Deputy would want to join me in paying tribute to the rapid response on 23 November of An Garda Síochána and the other emergency support services, which brought the unrest to a halt and quickly restored order to the city which has been successfully maintained since. As the Deputy will have noted, the Gardaí continue their investigations and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Middle East (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis unfolding before us in Gaza. My Department is working 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. The Embassy of Ireland in Israel is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (20 Jun 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: Departmental Policies (20 Jun 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: Residency Permits (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that with effect from 8 July 2024, responsibility for first time registrations and renewals of Irish immigration residence permissions for non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss nationals residing in counties Cork and Limerick, will transfer from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) to the Registration Office of the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of my Department. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is a priority for the Government to ensure that the courts are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively. To ensure the sufficient resourcing of all courts, Government committed to a historic increase in the number of judges in February 2023, following the publication of the Judicial Planning Working Group report. The current legislative provision is for 197 judicial...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. I am ramping up investment at every level of the international protection system, including in the International Protection Office (IPO). In recent years, the IPO has expanded its processing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: Eligibility for civil legal aid is determined by reference to an applicant’s means, and the merits of their case. In relation to means, the Legal Aid Board calculates financial eligibility with reference to the applicant’s disposable income and disposable assets after certain allowances are applied to both. Currently, the disposable income threshold is €18,000 while the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for international protection has been made in the State. If a person is in the international protection process, there is a legal requirement under the International Protection Act 2015 to maintain full confidentiality at all times. Therefore the Department is unable to publish any information...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is an independent statutory body established in 2007 under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. Its primary role is to provide independent investigation of complaints against members of An Garda Síochána and, as required, to undertake other investigations relating to the conduct of Garda members. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that EU Council Implementing Decision 2022/382 applied the provisions of the Temporary Protection Directive to persons displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including persons recognised as refugees in Ukraine. At a meeting of EU Home Affairs Ministers on 13 June 2024, political agreement was reached to extend the Temporary Protection Directive until March...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy has been approved. The person concerned is a minor and their naturalisation certificate will be issued by registered post shortly. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters, nor can I direct the Commissioner with regard to them. The unprecedented allocation of over...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy was issued a letter refusing permission to remain in the state on 7 November 2019. In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the persons concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department has no role in the issuing of visas to enter the Schengen Area. Any queries relating to Schengen visas should be addressed to the immigration authorities of the country the person intends to visit. All travellers should check with the carrier (airline or ferry company) to ascertain what documents they require for travel.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (20 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: Based on the information supplied it has unfortunately not been possible identify records for either person referred to by the Deputy. If they have not yet received their Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) letter they should visit a Ukraine Support Centre. There are currently 3 Ukraine Support Centres in Dublin, Limerick and Cork. They are at the following locations: Citywest Hotel,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (20 Jun 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...