Results 3,681-3,700 of 15,298 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: The people did vote for this. They voted for it in the form of the Lisbon treaty.

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

Helen McEntee: The treaty clearly sets out that migration is an EU competence. What we fought for was the option to opt in. The only obligation from a constitutional perspective is that both Houses agree this. That is exactly what we are doing. To be clear, nothing is being forced upon us. We are deciding to opt into a set of measures that we are already a member of. We have been part of a common...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is absolutely the case that certain local authorities in the past, prior to any issues arising around GDPR, were more proactive in applying for the funding and putting up the CCTV. It may be the case now that a similar pattern will emerge but it is important for local communities to know that it is there. It is important for local councillors and representatives in this House to know...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this. He has raised it previously. I do not want to outline what he knows already exists but for those who potentially do not, the commission was established under the Fresh Start agreement to report on measures aimed at ending paramilitarism. The commission has submitted six reports to the UK and Irish Governments to date, the most recent of which was last...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am sorry that I cannot provide any greater clarity or report progress from when we discussed this before. I assure the Deputy that it is not off the agenda. It is very much being discussed. There has been a lot of back and forth between my Department, the Irish Government and the UK Government. Also there had been previous conversations with the Assembly in Northern Ireland. I have met...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I hope that we can come back with positive progress. On the Deputy's initial point, I cannot speak highly enough of the members of the commission and the work they do. I commend their commitment to removing violence from the communities in Northern Ireland but also their commitment to developing, enhancing and supporting communities that have been impacted for many years and working with...

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

Helen McEntee: On a Dublin allowance, I do not think that could be applied to gardaí on their own. Deputy Ó Ríordáin reflected that it would have to apply across the board. It is something that we have looked at, which is not to say there are not challenges with it. How do we decide who gets it? If somebody is working in Dublin but living in the commuter area, do we put a parameter...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Community safety is a top priority for me and my Department. Everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe in their communities. Community CCTV can play a vital role in achieving this goal. I think we will have all heard not just from community groups but from local representatives and gardaí as well just how important CCTV is. As the Deputy is aware, since 2017 my Department has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: People are free to apply to the scheme now. This part of it is applicable to those who are applying. To outline how people can apply, the details are available on my Department's website at gov.ie. There are technical specifications, application forms and guidance notes. For any community group that has an interest in this, it is a matter of contacting local Garda management, their local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is my intention to progress the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill to enactment to protect those who are most vulnerable and who, sadly as we have seen, are attacked simply because of who they are, where they came from or because of some other part of their identity that is, quite frankly, nobody else's business. I am determined to enact strong,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy is right. It is not just a case of people feeling unsafe; they are unsafe simply because of who they are. We have had quite sinister attacks. While I do not want to get into particular cases, very serious incidents have taken place. We do not have to look too far to find somebody who has been the victim of some form of hate crime, motivated simply because of the colour of their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I had outlined that it was my intention to bring forward amendments after Easter but, obviously, we have had a lot of things going on. While there has been a slight delay, it is still my intention to bring forward amendments in the coming weeks. It is really important that we say what this legislation does, as well as what it does not do. This is about protecting those who are most...

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

Helen McEntee: I am absolutely committed to working with all members of An Garda Síochána at all ranks and levels to address the issues of concern to them. That will continue, irrespective of any meetings this week or otherwise. I have made that very clear to the representative organisations. I am committed to working with the Garda Commissioner as well to make sure gardaí have the...

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

Helen McEntee: It is important to note that policing is a career that people are choosing. Across the recruitment campaigns this year and last year, we had 11,500 people apply to join An Garda Síochána. At a time of full employment, that is a significant number of people who still want to join. Obviously, that does not negate the fact that people are leaving on the other side. As well as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Attorney General's advice is never published. In voting for the Lisbon treaty, we did so in the full knowledge that migration is an EU competence and that we can choose to opt into measures. We cannot opt out but we choose to opt in to these measures. There is nothing being forced upon us, so there is no need for a referendum. With the figures we have for the distribution, if we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The issue to date has not been space. The classes have been incrementally moving upwards and the most recent class of 186 is the highest we have had, so it is not the case that we do not have enough space in Templemore. In the last year or two, it has actually been about gathering the momentum so we can get to the point where we are nearly reaching the figure of 200 and beyond. That is not...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: There are a number of things that we need to do here. I have referenced some of them, for example, increasing the age at which people can apply so we have even more applying; making sure that those who want to stay on can do so, which is why increasing the retirement age is very important; and making sure that those who want to become members but potentially cannot do so because of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: No, I would not rule out another venue.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that our international protection system is robust and rules-based and that our borders are protected. A core part of my role as Minister for Justice is, of course, to uphold the Constitution at all times and I will always do so. I believe the new EU asylum and migration pact is a game changer for Ireland. It was agreed in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy said, the people voted for the Lisbon treaty. What they voted for was the right for Ireland to opt in. The only constitutional requirement following on from that vote is that both Houses would adopt or vote on any decision taken to opt into any measure. We have done that on one occasion in the last few weeks when, with regard to people smuggling or human trafficking, we opted...