Results 4,021-4,040 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are 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. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, management of the courts, along with related operational matters and logistical functions, are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and through the separation of powers in the Constitution. It should be noted that the Department does not record data...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Consultations (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As Minister, I do not comment on individual IIP applications. However, I can confirm that my Department has and will continue to engage with the representatives of the organisation concerned directly in this regard. I can advise the Deputy that updated information in relation to the winding down of the Programme and the processing of applications has recently been published on my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the estimated full year cost of employing 185 new Recruit Prison Officers, as per the most recent PPC pay scales of 1 January 2024, is approximately €11 million. These pay costs reflect salary and other allowances such as Operational Allowance (8% of annual salary). They also reflect other premium payments and the allocation of up to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales (23 Apr 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 general management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including liquor licensing inspections. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have made enquiries with Garda management. The table...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 to 441, inclusive, together. A central element of delivering on the Zero Tolerance Strategy is the establishment of a statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) agency, and I was delighted to establish Cuan at the turn of the year. Cuan has a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the strategy across Government, bringing the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that the Irish Prison Service must make the best use of all available prison capacity, particularly at this time when severe overcrowding is being experienced. Sex offenders, both sentenced and remand, were previously accommodated at 4 locations – Midlands Prison, Arbour Hill Prison, Castlerea Prison and Mountjoy Training Unit. However, due to limitations...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The legislative basis for temporary release is set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003. All applications for temporary release are assessed on a case-by-case basis. It is important to note that the safety of the public is paramount when decisions on temporary release are being made. Before a final...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that Community Teams within the Probation Service are structured into 7 operational regions, 5 geographical regions and two national regions. Below we have included details of the operational regions and the counties which they cover. Dublin North/North East: Dublin North including counties Meath and Louth Dublin South/Wicklow: Dublin South including county Wicklow...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 together. I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Irish Prison Service. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to provide 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: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation of Garda resources, in light of operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of equipment among the various Garda divisions. As Minister, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 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 administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including boats or specialist equipment for the Garda Water Unit. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The Garda Water Unit is a national resource based at Santry Garda Station, Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Seized Property (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all Garda Operations. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters. I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that Operation Meacan was initiated within the DMR South Division in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, funding for An Garda Síochána is provided through Vote 20, the Garda Vote and is not accounted under my Department's Vote. The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and is accountable for the economy and the efficiency of the Garda Síochána in using its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the activation of the EU Temporary Protection Directive is an emergency provision designed to quickly and humanely respond to the mass displacement of Ukrainian people by Russian aggression. Ireland participates in this EU measure, which is given legal effect under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. In September 2023, the European Council...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The State has a duty to protect its borders and following examination, ensure that all arriving passengers are entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise of State sovereignty, which is necessary to protect the security of the State and to prevent illegal immigration. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so is committing a criminal offence, and can be arrested without warrant if they come into contact with An Garda Síochána. Such an order may remain on the person’s record permanently subject to review by the Minister on request by the person concerned....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The current maximum retirement age of 60 years for Prison Officers is set out in Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 and the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. As the Deputy may be aware, the Government recently approved increasing the mandatory retirement age to 62 years of age in a number of the uniform services,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 was signed into law by the President in February 2024. Part 7 of the Act provides for the establishment of an Independent Examiner of Security Legislation. The establishment of an Independent Examiner was a key recommendation of Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, which recognised that responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the persons referred to be the Deputy were granted Temporary Protection (TP) on 05 April 2022. The Temporary Protection Certificate (TPC) issued to all Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP) is a temporary permission to remain in Ireland and is renewable on an annual basis, as long as the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) remains in force....