Results 3,661-3,680 of 15,298 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) was established by Government in 2012 to stimulate productive investment in Ireland. The Programme enables non-EEA nationals outside of the State, and their families, who commit to establishing a high potential start-up (HPSU) business in Ireland to acquire a secure residency status in the State. The programme is particularly aimed at start-up...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government 2020 contains a broad range of policies and proposals that represent a coherent approach to enhancing and sustaining a more just and safe society, with a specific commitment to review policy options for prison and penal reform. In respect of delivering on this commitment, the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 was published in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that on 24th April 2024, there were 909 people held in prison custody solely on a remand or trial warrant. The number of prisoners on remand/trial by Prison as of 24th April 2024 is set out in the table below. Prison Number in Custody Number on Remand/Trial Mountjoy 870 27 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) was established under the Prisons Act 2007 and is independent in how it carries out its functions. The Inspector's role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons. As part of this work the Office of the Inspector of Prisons carry out inspections comprising General Inspections and Thematic Inspection (i.e. inspection of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Restorative Justice (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the recommendations made in the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform, published in August 2022, are very much focused on the appropriate use of alternatives to detention, which in some instances, are more effective in diverting offenders away from future criminal activity. As part of the work of implementing the recommendations of this review,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Bail Supervision Scheme offers courts an alternative option to detaining a young person who comes before them by providing them the possibility of granting bail with intensive supervision. By reducing the need for remand places, this also provides an opportunity to focus on developing successful community resources designed to prevent young people being detained in a youth justice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Housing First Service is a model of homeless provision which centres on the provision of permanent housing as the first step in tackling homelessness for individuals with complex needs. The Housing First Service is administered by the Housing Agency who are an agency under the aegis of the Department Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The provision of a tenancy is accompanied by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Programme for Government (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016, provides for certain convictions to become spent once 7 years have passed since the date of conviction. In general, and in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the following convictions may become spent: All convictions in the District Court for motoring offences which are more than...

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

Helen McEntee: I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably, this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy directly once it is to hand.

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

Helen McEntee: 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 Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. The unprecedented allocation of over €2.35...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Regulatory Impact Assessments (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol Bill intends to modernise our existing licensing laws in line with the expectations and needs of today’s society, and to encourage the development of a modern and diverse night-time economy. The proposed legislation endeavours to strike a balance between maintaining strict controls and safeguards in relation to the sale of alcohol, while...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Both I and my Department takes very seriously the role it has in protecting the best interests and welfare of unaccompanied minors arriving at ports of entry, in the international protection process and the wider immigration system. The information sought by the Deputy with regard to the number of unaccompanied minors (UM) who arrived at Dublin Airport and indicated they wished to register...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Constitutional Amendments (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, referendums were held on 8th March 2024 on the Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023 and the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023. Officials from my Department, as in others, gave detailed consideration to issues within Departmental responsibility to inform and assist the drafting the proposed amendments. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in 2021 I announced the creation of the Community Safety Innovation Fund (CSIF) to reinvest proceeds of crime funds returned to the exchequer by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) back into communities, in order to fund innovative local projects aimed at building stronger, safer communities. The fund had an initial allocation of €2m in 2022, which increased...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Advertising (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that my Department has not engaged the services of the company in question, and neither has it funded or supported that company in any capacity. I can also inform the Deputy that neither I, nor officials from my Department, have engaged with personnel from that company.

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Budget 2024 provided a budget allocation of more than €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána. A 25% increase on 2020, this will allow for the sustained recruitment of Garda recruits. Recruitment is gathering real momentum. The number of recruits in the Garda training college continue to increase with a total of 747 trainees last year. That was the highest intake since...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Approximately 40% of the applicants in the most recent campaign were over the age of 35. It has had a significant impact on those applying. A steering group has been established to see what more we can do around the Garda numbers around the Garda College and whether there is more that we need to do by examining hybrid training moving outside of Templemore. That might not be the answer...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): International Protection (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department has taken a significant number of measures to increase the capacity of the international protection system. Reforms to this process will continue this year and beyond. In November 2022, I introduced an accelerated procedure for international protection applicants from designated safe countries of origin. This now applies to ten countries, with Botswana and Algeria added...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): International Protection (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I will continue to be clear that this pact is not being forced on anyone. It was first presented in 2016, with a second iteration in 2020. During every stage of the debate, be it in the European Parliament, the European Council, the committee of justice or the European affairs ministers Council, which I was a member of a number of years ago, opportunities were available to Members of this...