Results 4,121-4,140 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Probation Service, which is an executive agency of the Department of Justice, has an important role to play in diverting people, in particular young people, away from criminal behaviour, supervising community sanctions imposed in lieu of a custodial sentence by the courts, as well as supervising people post release. The work that they do contributes significantly to reducing reoffending...

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 Garda business, including the training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in the specific training provided to any Garda member to undertake any part of their duties. I am advised by the Garda authorities that no Garda members travelled to the UK for training in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, earlier this year the Government established Cuan, a new statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency has a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Community safety is a top priority for my Department and everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe in their communities. Community CCTV plays a vital role in achieving this goal. As the Deputy may be aware, since 2017 my Department has administered a grant-aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area. The CCTV grant scheme was...

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

Helen McEntee: In 2021, in accordance with the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 Act, I asked the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) to prepare and submit a report on the possible creation of a new profession of conveyancer. This was instigated under section 34 of the Legal Services Regulation Act, which makes specific provision to address this remaining area of legal services reform. The report,...

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

Helen McEntee: The application from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department on 09 February 2024. A request for further documentation was made to the person concerned on 28 March 2024. Once these documents have been returned the application can be further examined. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration...

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

Helen McEntee: The Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act 1986 governs the recognition of foreign divorces granted on or after the coming into operation of the Act on 2 October 1986. Section 5 of the 1986 Act provides that a foreign divorce may only be recognised in Ireland if it was granted in the country where either spouse was domiciled on the date the divorce proceedings were instituted. The...

Seanad: EU Regulations (Police Co-operation on Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings): Motion (11 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the House for facilitating this motion today. I welcome the opportunity to address the Seanad on Ireland's opt-in to a new EU proposal for a regulation on enhancing police co-operation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, and on enhancing Europol's support to preventing and combating such crimes and amending...

Seanad: EU Regulations (Police Co-operation on Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings): Motion (11 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Senator will have an opportunity in the coming weeks when the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 comes before the House. More broadly, I thank colleagues for their support of this motion in order that we can opt-in at the earliest stage. When we opt-in early, it means we can shape the regulation and we can be as involved from the earliest stage possible. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (11 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, in November 2022 I set out in the First Family Justice Strategy an ambitious vision for a family justice system that will focus on the needs and rights of children and which will assist their parents in making decisions that affect all of the family. This will be achieved through the implementation of over 50 actions across nine goals, with timelines for delivery up...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (11 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department is working closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance. Where cases are highlighted by DFA for assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (11 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Coroners are independent office holders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. Neither I, nor my Department have any role in the coronial function. Currently, there is no established complaint procedure in respect of the Coronial function. A person who is dissatisfied with a decision of a Coroner may, however, apply...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that legislation extending the retirement age for Garda members lies within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, and is being drafted by his Department. My Department is continuing to work in tandem on the additional legislative changes that will be required to enact this change for Garda Members. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (11 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, on the 20th of March, I published the Sheriff Review Group Report. The Joint Review Group, established by my Department and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, focused on the future role of Sheriffs, and endeavoured to establish if the role currently operates in line with best international practice, or if there is a more efficient and cost effective...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Bodies (11 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As an EU Member State, Ireland is invited to participate at the Frontex Management Board in a non-voting capacity and can, should it wish to do so, seek to participate in certain training and joint operations co-ordinated by Frontex on behalf of EU Member States. Frontex Management Board meetings are held five times a year and Ireland is represented at these meetings by a member of the Garda...

EU Police Co-operation: Motion (10 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank Deputies for their contributions. Many topics were raised but specifically with regard to the regulation, the timing between St. Patrick's Day and Easter meant we were a little tight for time on this. I appreciate that it is always better to be able to come forward as soon as possible. As I said at the end of my initial contribution, the overall objective of the regulation is to...

Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion (10 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the Dáil of 29th March, 2023, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer, following those set down to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence: Minister for Justice Minister for Social...

EU Police Co-operation: Motion (10 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (10 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 113 together. The Programme for Government includes a clear commitment to reform gambling legislation, with a focus on public safety and well-being from both an online and in person perspective. The Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new, independent statutory body –...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (10 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, when an International Protection claim is being examined by the International Protection Office (IPO), the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) under the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is responsible for the provision of accommodation and related services to applicants who wish to accept such services. The...