Results 4,481-4,500 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that I have been absolutely committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources need to make sure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. In 2024, I have provided a budget allocation of over €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána. This is a 25% increase since 2020 and will allow for the sustained...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The formation of a Mediation Council of Ireland is a component of the Mediation Act 2017 and the overall development of mediation throughout Ireland. The Council will play an important role in promoting public awareness of mediation, maintaining and developing mediation standards – including continuous professional development – and establishing a national register of mediators....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that community safety is a top priority for me as Minister and this Government as a whole. The Department's community safety policy is about people being safe and, importantly, feeling safe in their own community. This whole-of-government approach aims to bring together the relevant social services providers, including the Gardaí, to work...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the State is required to examine the application of anyone who presents at the borders of the State, or is in the State, and indicates that they wish to make an application for international protection. This is in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law and the Government takes those commitments very seriously. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Substance Misuse (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) which includes the recording of information on, and the maintenance of, the PULSE system. The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of charges created for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Middle East (22 Feb 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 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. My Department is in regular contact with the Embassy of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that I have been absolutely committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources need to make sure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. In 2024, I have provided a budget allocation of over €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána. This is a 25% increase since 2020 and will allow for the sustained...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Substance Misuse (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Adult Caution Scheme is a non-statutory scheme agreed between, and administered by, An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions. Both the Garda Commissioner and the Director of Public Prosecutions are independent in their functions and I, as Minister, have no role in the setting of criteria used when administering the Scheme. However, I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.35 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out its vital policing work. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the Courts. As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time. Where the number of people in custody exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, the Irish Prison Service make every effort to deal with this through a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Freedom of Speech (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government is conscious that powerful individuals and companies can attempt to misuse defamation laws to prevent journalists reporting in the public interest on their activities, and indeed to target public participation more broadly. Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation – known as SLAPPs – are recognised, both here and internationally, as a significant challenge...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy may be aware that the former Cork Prison facility was built in the early 1800s and operated as a prison from 1972 to 2016. The prison was deemed no longer appropriate for use as prison accommodation due to the condition of the facilities, the size of the cellular accommodation and the lack of in-cell sanitation. The facility was closed in February 2016 following the construction...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, and 199 together. I can assure the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department is committed to providing as many opportunities as possible for applicants to complete the naturalisation process. Last year Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of ceremonies available to applicants with 15 held over the course of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. No language proficiency requirements apply with respect to naturalisation applications. I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I understand that Parliamentary Question No. 506 of 30 May 2023 refers to the number of people arrested for burglaries in each county in the State in each of the past five years, in tabular form. I can confirm that a response issued to the Deputy on the 29 June 2023 which is set out at the link below for information. ">Response issued 29 June 2023

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: 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 system works. In increasing capacity and speeding up decision making, we can ensure that those who have a right to international...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that it is in it is inherently difficult to estimate the number of persons living in the State without permission owing to the nature of irregular migration. As a consequence my Department is not in a position to provide a reliable estimate of their number.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove themselves from the State. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) is responsible for carrying out deportations. The below table sets out the number of deportations ordered...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Border Management Unit of my Department is responsible for frontline Immigration at Dublin Airport only, as such the below figures reflect the position at Dublin Airport. Other airports and other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and data as requested is not collated in this manner for other ports of entry. Dublin Airport ...