Results 3,021-3,040 of 15,062 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (12 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, Cuan, the new statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, was established earlier this year. The agency has a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Communications (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for raising such an important issue. This is something that is much more prevalent in our society than most people realise. There are people that we engage with on a daily or weekly or monthly basis who may be victims of trafficking and we are not even aware of it. It is really important that we not only reach out to victims to encourage them to come forward and that is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Communications (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: The implementation plan is ongoing, and I think this needs to be just part of that ongoing action. The final pieces of the legislation will be enacted before the end of summer. My objective, beyond that, is that we will be able to have a targeted, focused campaign. We have a budget coming up and we have to look at the available resources. However, every year since I have been in the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for continually raising this issue. The only way and the most important way in which the welfare of a child can be heard in family proceedings is through the various welfare reports and voice of the child reports. I have undertaken a review of those reports. I am pleased to say that review has come to Cabinet. There are 20 recommendations, separated between welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I understand the Deputy's question relates to people seeking International Protection. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: The case referred to by the Deputy relates to an individual convicted for attempted murder, who has served the sentence handed down for that crime, but is now being separately detained, for a concurrent, but longer period of detention in the Central Mental Hospital on foot of an unrelated criminal offence. This means that while the victim in the attempted murder case is entitled to be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: One of the key actions in the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence is doubling the number of refuge spaces available during the lifetime of the Strategy to 280 spaces. The 2024 implementation plan sets out the following deliverables for safe home and refuge delivery by Q4 of 2024:Active planning and engagement underway for the delivery of 150 additional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: The current legal framework providing for community CCTV schemes, which has been in place since 2006, requires that any proposed scheme must:be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee,have a data protection impact assessment prepared,have the prior support of the relevant local authority, which must act as a joint data controller with An Garda Síochána and a joint data...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: Protecting and supporting victims of sexual violence is a priority for me and my Department and I am keenly aware of the devastating physical and emotional consequences such crimes have on victims. The issue of the disclosure of counselling records is a complex one. On the one hand, there is the victim’s right to personal privacy and on the other, the accused person’s right to a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, last year my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth published the Government’s National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) 2023-2027. One of the actions outlined in the Plan is for all public sector employers to introduce mandatory and continuing anti-racism education, including cultural competency and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Gifts (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government decided in 2011 that former Office Holders, including former Taoisigh, would no longer as a matter of routine be supplied with official cars or personal protection officers but that such transport would be made available to them, if required, on important State occasions. The Deputy should note that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Government Legislation Programme for the Summer 2024 Session was published on 16 April. As set out in the Programme, there are currently four Bills being progressed through the Houses by my Department: 1) the Gambling Regulation Bill 2) the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 3) the Family Courts Bill 2022 4) the Criminal Justice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (11 Jun 2024)

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. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation can only be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: Improving victims' experiences of navigating the criminal justice system has been a priority for me since taking office. As the Deputy will know, in 2020 I published my Supporting a Victims Journeyplan, which was the implementation report for the 57 recommendations of the O’ Malley Review, commissioned to consider how to best guarantee protections for vulnerable witnesses during...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (11 Jun 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: Visa Applications (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department. As with all visa services worldwide,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I understand that the person referred to by the Deputy has received an invitation to attend a Citizenship Ceremony to be held on the 20 June 2024. 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 has been specifically established for this purpose. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 530 and 531 together. I can advise the Deputy that the then Taoiseach established a Working Group on Conveyancing and Probate in December 2023, to carry out a review of current conveyancing and probate processes and identify scope for greater efficiency and streamlining. The group comprises various experts including a solicitor, an auctioneer, consumer...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Jun 2024)

Helen McEntee: I understand that Parliamentary Question No. 201 of 1 May 2024 refers to the current number of Roads Policing vehicles; and the number equipped with technology in ANPR and interconnection with Garda mobility devices. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda...