Results 4,241-4,260 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: While no specific guidelines have been published in respect of the provision referred to, I can assure the Deputy that significant effort is being made by Immigration Officials to ensure compliance by carriers with their obligations. This includes actively engaging with airport authorities and airlines at a senior level to underscore the importance of passengers possessing correct...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, earlier this year the Government established Cuan, a new statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, which is up and running since 1 January. 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: Independent appeals officers are appointed under Section 17 of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016. Under Section 17 (3)(a), an appeals officer holds office for a term of 3 years and may be reappointed as an appeals officer. A recruitment campaign for suitably qualified individuals to be appointed as appeals officers took place in the summer of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: In its over forty years of operation, the Civil Legal Aid Scheme has been a significant and beneficial public service, providing legal aid and advice to people of limited means in civil disputes, including family law. However, since the Scheme was set up, Irish society has changed, and the demands on the service have grown. In June 2022, I established the Civil Legal Aid Review Group to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Prisoners Abroad (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that no application has been received from the named person. If an application is received by the Irish Prison Service, it will commence consideration of that application without delay. As the Deputy will be aware, EU Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA on the mutual recognition of custodial sentences establishes the conditions and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Orders (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: The current legislation on maintenance, the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976 as amended, provides several mechanisms to deal with cases where a person fails to comply with court-ordered maintenance obligations. However, I recognise that enforcement is a challenging issue for those seeking to enforce maintenance orders. The Deputy may be aware that my Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: Under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), persons are eligible to apply for labour market access permission if: They are an international protection applicant; and They have waited at least 5 months from their “Application Received” date for their first instance recommendation; and They are cooperating with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Strategies (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Multi-Unit Developments (MUDs) Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments, and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). Well-functioning OMCs are key to maintaining and sustaining higher-density residential developments, such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2023 underwent pre-legislative scrutiny in February of this year. At present, the Bill is undergoing drafting, and officials in my Department are engaged with their colleagues in the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. It is my intention to publish the Bill as soon as practicable after the drafting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only. An Garda Síochána has oversight of the first registration and renewal of immigration residence permissions for non-EU/EEA nationals residing outside of the Dublin area. I have no role in regard to the scheduling of these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources, the equipment and the technology necessary to do their jobs in protecting people from harm and saving lives. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act was signed into law by the President on 5 December 2023. The Act provides for body worn cameras, Garda CCTV, automatic number plate recognition, and Community...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill is a priority for me. At present, the Bill is undergoing drafting, and officials in my Department are engaged with their colleagues in the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. It is my intention to publish the Bill as soon as practicable after the drafting process is complete, in order to introduce...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Joint Policing Committees (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department's community safety policy is about people being safe and, importantly, feeling safe in their own communities. This is part of a whole-of-government Community Safety Strategy, which aims to address issues relating to community safety by bringing together the relevant social service providers (including An Garda Síochána) to work together with the community in a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traveller Community (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably, this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy directly when it is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 835 to 838, inclusive, 841 and 890 together. I can confirm that my Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. I am taking a number of steps to improve how our International Protection (IP) system works. In...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: Matters relating to accommodation are the responsibility of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. I can however advise the Deputy that my Department notifies the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) when an application for international protection made by an IPAS resident has been finalised. Such cases can be finalised by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for material supports for international protection applicants are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. When an International Protection claim is being examined by the International Protection Office (IPO), the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) under the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 842, 843, 844, 845 and 855 together. In July 2023, I published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. This programme is implementing measures to improve efficiencies and throughput as well as improving the application, interview and decision-making process for applicants. Reforms to the international protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Mar 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 846 to 853, inclusive, and 857 together. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) is a statutorily independent body and exercises a quasi-judicial function under the International Protection Act 2015. The Tribunal consists of a Chairperson, two Deputy Chairpersons, and ordinary members appointed on either a whole-time or part-time capacity. ...