Results 4,521-4,540 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: The sudden loss of Shane O'Farrell at such a young age, with his whole life ahead of him is a desperate tragedy for all those who knew and loved him and one, which will always be an immense source of grief in their lives. The report of Judge Gerard Haughton arising from the Scoping Exercise into the circumstances surrounding the death of Shane O'Farrell, aged 23 in August 2011 was published...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I acknowledge the Deputy’s ongoing interest in this work. It is generally recognised that prostitution is inherently exploitative of vulnerable persons, mainly women and girls, and that many people are forced into prostitution through trafficking, drug addiction, homelessness and poverty. A key purpose for the 2017 Sexual Offences Act was to provide additional protection to persons...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the training and education of the solicitor profession is the statutory function of the Law Society of Ireland under the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 2008. I have no role in that process. I am, however, aware that the number of solicitors in Ireland has grown significantly in recent years with 23,323 solicitors on the Roll of Solicitors maintained by the Law Society in...

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

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. An Garda Síochána has been allocated unprecedented funding of over €2.35 billion for 2024, a 25% increase since 2020 allowing for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. As the Deputy is aware, it is the responsibility of Garda management to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pardons (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, a detailed application for posthumous Presidential pardons for the two individuals referenced by the Deputy was submitted by the Castleisland District Heritage incorporating the Michael O’Donohue Memorial Project in December 2021. An internal review within the Department with regard to the application has been completed and an independent expert in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government Legislation Programme for the Spring 2024 Session was published on 16 January. As set out in the Legislation Programme, my Department has five priority Bills for publication as follows: Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill.This Bill will codify certain police powers and procedural rights of suspects. It aims to rationalise and modernise those powers to take account of...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service does not have the option of refusing committals and must accept all people committed by the courts and the prison system is under increasing pressure. On 16 February 2024, there were 4,783 prisoners in custody, of whom 122 were accommodated on mattresses on cell floors. While the provision of single cell accommodation is not something...

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...