Results 3,921-3,940 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Not along the Border, no. It is the case that one would have checks in the normal way in surrounding areas where there are normal Garda checks or checkpoints. This would be part of the checks that take place.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: It depends on where the person has been identified. If any person is in the country seeking asylum and does not have papers or a right to be here, it is a criminal offence. It is the case that people have been charged recently, having arrived at our borders or ports of entry. If somebody is apprehended or stopped by a member of An Garda Síochána in transit, the same would apply...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: We have a agreement with the UK in terms of returns. Due to the common travel area, we have had extensive engagement to make sure that we have an efficient system that works both ways, obviously. Where we can return somebody to the UK, as I mentioned there are challenges that have arisen which we will rectify through amendments in the coming weeks related to the High Court ruling.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: It will be a short miscellaneous Bill. It will rectify the ruling where it was identified that we had not set out properly whether somebody might not be a risk if he or she was returned to a country. That applies to the UK.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The UK passed legislation last night. I will not comment on its policy and what happens there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Absolutely. If somebody arrives here from the UK, we have to have an effective system of returning them to the country from where they have come. I am absolutely certain that we have to have such a system, and I will ensure that we have it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The objective is to achieve that timeline. We have a percentage that we have to reach within that time. We will obviously endeavour to go beyond that figure overall. We will try to deal with anybody who is applying through the border procedure or where the border procedure applies to him or her within that timeframe. There is a way in which our interviews take place. The people who do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I apologise but I am finding it difficult to hear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Absolutely not. They will have the same ability to appeal as any others. It is about the timeframe. There would be designated accommodation for those in the border procedure. They would be separate. This is not about locking people up. Rather, we are talking about having a designated area for accommodation where people would stay. It would not be a detention type setting. There may be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: They will not be in detention centres. They will be in accommodation and free to come and go. We will not put barbed wire, fences or security around them. There will be a designated centre to make sure that we can apply this in the quickest way possible. That is what this procedure is about. If somebody comes without documentation, with false documentation or is highlighted as a security...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: We have already signed up to certain measures whereby we have to adhere to conditions and certain measures. We will have to reach a percentage within those timelines. We will then address the remaining figure within the timeframe. If it is the case that a significant number of people come to this country and we are not able to complete the process within the timeframe, we can then apply...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: That is recent - it was in the past three years - but it has increased.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: In some instances, yes, but a lot of people have transited through the EU before they get to the UK. Under this new procedure, before they even reach the UK they will be screened and then come up on a system. The UK would not necessarily be the first designated country. It could be another European country. A lot of people start in another EU country and go to the UK and we might see...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I do not have those figures to hand, but it is the case that those numbers have increased significantly in recent months. I will have to get the figures.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I agree with the Deputy's initial point. It was made clear under the Lisbon treaty that security issues and migration are a European competence, but we fought to ensure we had the opt-in so nothing would be forced upon us. What we are now talking about is no different from any of the other measures we have already opted in to. It is an upgrading of many of the options we are already a part of.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: We are choosing to opt in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: That is the number originally identified by the Commission.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is the minimum number, so it definitely can increase. It would have to increase with the approval of all member states. Again, it is only the reallocation. It is not reflective of the overall figure, but the only way this will work is if we also look at the preventative side. The pact is to respond to those who are already coming to Europe and seeking protection, but we need to make...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: No, we are not.