Results 4,101-4,120 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to tackle anti-social behaviour and its causes. A number of priority actions are contained in the Programme for Government to reduce instances of such behaviour and help people to be safe and feel safe in their local communities. These include the establishment of the Anti-Social Behaviour Forum, which is chaired by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Agreements (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 to 498, inclusive, together. I am committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. The EU Asylum and Migration Pact will significantly reform the current approach to migration and asylum both in Ireland and across the EU by providing a robust legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Staff (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible, under section 33 of the Act, for determining the deployment of the Garda Síochána throughout the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021. The 1995 Act was amended by Section 54 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 which gave the Board the additional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Peace Commissioners are appointed by the Minister for Justice in accordance with section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. The appointment of a Peace Commissioner is entirely at the discretion of the Minister for Justice and the fact that an applicant or nominee may be suitable for appointment does not, in itself, provide any entitlement to appointment as a Peace Commissioner because...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Peace Commissioners are appointed by the Minister for Justice in accordance with section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. The appointment of a Peace Commissioner is entirely at the discretion of the Minister for Justice and the fact that an applicant or nominee may be suitable for appointment does not, in itself, provide any entitlement to appointment as a Peace Commissioner because...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Under the International Protection Act 2015, an international protection officer is responsible for the examination of the relevant facts and circumstances that apply to each international protection application. An international protection officer is obliged to examine each application for international protection for the purpose of deciding whether the applicant is given either (a) a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) is an independent body responsible for the regulation of the legal professions under the provisions of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. Subject to the 2015 Act, the Authority shall be independent in the performance of its functions. Since the commencement of the relevant complaints related provisions of the 2015 Act on 7 October 2019,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pension Provisions (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that entitlement to a Garda Spouses’ pension is based on the deceased Garda’s membership of the An Garda Síochána Spouses’ and Children’s Superannuation Scheme. All members of An Garda Síochána who were attested after November 1984 are members of the Spouses and Children’s scheme. Membership prior to 1984 was not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (16 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: Legal Aid (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act, 1962, is the primary legislation covering the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and gives effect to the Constitutional right that legal aid may be granted for the defence of people with insufficient means in criminal proceedings. Furthermore, the European Convention on Human Rights provides that every person charged with a criminal offence is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, I published both the majority and minority reports of the Independent Review Group appointed to examine all aspects of the Offences Against the State Acts following consideration by Government last year. The Offences Against the State Acts are Ireland's primary counter-terrorism legislation. They have served, and continue to serve, the State well in tackling both...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As you may be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. The table below gives details of the number of Gardaí who completed the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 to 513, inclusive, together. 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 the distribution of Garda members and Garda vehicles between different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to has made a request to have their deportation order revoked, pursuant to the provisions of section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). This request was received on the 26 March 2024 and will be considered as soon as possible. It should be noted that this request is amongst many to be considered at present and, as such, it is not possible to provide a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 515, 529 and 530 together. I am committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. The EU Asylum and Migration Pact will significantly reform the current approach to migration and asylum both in Ireland and across the EU by providing a robust legislative framework to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As you will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I can, however, assure you that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the training of Garda members. As Minister I have no role in this matter. The Garda Inspectorate Report on Public Order Policing, published in April 2019, contains four recommendations that reference training. I have been advised by An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Budget 2024 provided an unprecedented budget of €2.35 billion for the Garda Vote, a total increase of 25% since 2020. The unprecedented level of investment into An Garda Síochána has enabled: The roll out of the highest number of mobility devices ever allowing all Gardaí to conduct certain policing tasks on the move. At the end March 2024 there were 3,513 vehicles...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As you will appreciate, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and works in relation to Garda accommodation are progressed by the Garda authorities in close cooperation with the OPW. As Minister I have no role in such matters. I have made enquiries with An Garda Síochána and I am informed by the Garda...