Results 4,201-4,220 of 9,052 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Proceeds of Crime (Investment in Disadvantaged Communities) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is a good shift. I thank the Deputies for introducing this Bill and their contributions this evening. Organised crime has destroyed lives and undermined communities all over Ireland. It affects every community but those that are already disadvantaged have borne the brunt of the harm. It is absolutely right, therefore, that we recognise and seek to alleviate that harm through increased...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. As part of the programme for Government commitments we have established a high-level task force on the mental health and addiction challenges of persons interacting with the criminal justice system. This is a key goal within the justice plan 2021. As Deputies know, the task force is chaired by Ms Kathleen Lynch, a former Minister of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Work is ongoing on early intervention and the multidisciplinary approach. As I said the pilot crisis intervention team is being developed in a Limerick Garda station, along with the high-level task force to which I alluded. Gardaí are provided with training throughout their career in dealing with people who have mental health issues. All trainee gardaí are trained over two days...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am aware of the annual report of the Mental Health Commission and the use of section 12 of the Mental Health Act by An Garda Síochána. As the Deputy will understand, the proportion of applications for involuntary detention reflects the unfortunate reality that gardaí often encounter persons with severe mental health issues and will be called upon by members of the public, or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The roll-out of community CCTV schemes across the country has benefitted many communities, helping people to feel safer in their local areas. It is a priority of mine to ensure that community groups continue to be supported in their valued contributions to their local CCTV schemes while ensuring sufficient, proportionate oversight of statutory data protection considerations. Since 2017,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: On the matter of funding being provided to Carlow, since the establishment of the grant aid scheme in 2017, the Department has provided funding to one community CCTV scheme in County Carlow, namely, the scheme at St. Mullin's. The Deputy's question was in relation to additional Garda CCTV cameras being provided in Carlow. I understand there are currently 14 CCTV cameras in Carlow town...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy. As I said, these are matters for the Garda Commissioner as they are operational matters. To update the Deputy, as of 31 May 2021 there were 337 gardaí assigned to the Kilkenny-Carlow division. This represents an increase of almost 19% since December 2015 when there were 284 Garda staff members assigned to the division. A detailed breakdown of the Garda workforce...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Data Protection (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy will be aware, the commission of investigation, which is investigating the extent to which organisations, including State bodies and individuals, were aware of the child sexual abuse committed by an individual during the 1980s, is an independent body. The Minister and I do not have any role in the conduct of its investigation. I understand that, for its convenience, the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Data Protection (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I regret the upset and anger caused by this breach. In particular, I regret that those concerned found out through the media, as the Deputy rightly outlined. To avoid this and as a courtesy, those concerned should have been notified of the loss at the time that it occurred. I understand that the then Minister, Deputy McEntee, met victims and their legal representatives in April of this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Data Protection (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I understand the frustration with the delays to the commission, partly due to the Covid-19 crisis. These frustrations have been discussed previously with the former Minister, Deputy McEntee, and myself. The commission has undertaken considerable preparatory work and is endeavouring to advance its work in areas where separate criminal proceedings will not be jeopardised. The Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Modernisation of the courts system, which includes jury reform, is a priority area in Justice Plan 2021, which was published in February last. My Department’s Plan to modernise the courts system will build on a number of important reforms over the last decade, including changes to jury service: - removal of the upper age limit for eligibility to serve on a jury; -...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Projects (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy is aware, the Government approved the publication of the general scheme of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill which, as recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, redefines policing to include prevention of harm to those who are vulnerable and supports the human rights of all people throughout Ireland to be and feel safe in their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Projects (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, which redefines policing to include prevention of harm to those who are vulnerable and supports the human rights of all people throughout Ireland to be and feel safe in their communities. It does this by making prevention of harm, protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy is aware, the Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative supports and services to prisoners. These include education, employment, work training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and chaplaincy services which are intended to provide purposeful activity and to encourage and equip individuals to lead law-abiding lives on release. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The rollout of community CCTV schemes across the country has benefitted many communities, helping people to feel safer in their local areas. It is a priority of mine to ensure that community groups continue to be supported in their valued contributions to their local CCTV schemes whilst ensuring sufficient, proportionate oversight of data protection statutory considerations. Since 2017,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am aware of the annual report of the Mental Health Commission and the use of section 12 of the Mental Health Act by An Garda Síochána. As the Deputy will understand, the proportion of applications for involuntary detention reflects the unfortunate reality that Gardaí often encounter persons with severe mental health issues and will be called upon by members of the public or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am aware of the annual report of the Mental Health Commission and the use of section 12 of the Mental Health Act by An Garda Síochána. As the Deputy will understand, the proportion of applications for involuntary detention reflects the unfortunate reality that Gardaí often encounter persons with severe mental health issues and will be called upon by members of the public or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I welcome the excellent work done by the Irish Prison Service over the last 16 months to keep prisoners and staff as safe as possible in very difficult circumstances. Nonetheless the unwinding of prison restrictions and the resumption of physical visits is a priority for the IPS and my Department. As the Deputy will appreciate, this is kept under review subject to a number of critical...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As I have previously informed the Deputy, the Government committed to an audit of how responsibility for measures to combat and prevent domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is segmented across different government agencies. I am pleased to report that this has been undertaken by external consultants in consultation with NGOs and frontline service providers, with input from the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (8 Jul 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this matter and I can assure the Deputy that protecting and supporting victims of crime is a key priority for me. Justice Plan 2021 has a number of actions including to strengthen community safety, reduce reoffending, support victims and combat domestic sexual and gender-based violence. The implementation of Supporting a Victim’s Journeyis...