Results 4,541-4,560 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the procurement, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda equipment. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The Government is, however, committed to ensuring An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were...

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

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €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. I am informed €10 million has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including the training of its members and civilian staff and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am informed by the Commissioner that there is a five-level suite of competency based driving (CBD) courses, with each level...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: Management of the courts, along with related operational matters and logistical functions, are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and through the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: If any applicant requires further time in order to gather and submit requested documentation they can make a written request for an extension directly to Citizenship Division.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. Citizenship Division wrote to the person concerned on both 24 November 2023 and 2 January 2024 explaining that their application cannot proceed as a spouse of an Irish National as they were not married 3 years before submitting their application. However, Citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: In accordance with the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 Act, I asked the Legal Services Regulatory Authority to prepare and submit a report on the possible creation of a new profession of conveyancer. Section 34 of the Legal Services Regulation Act makes specific provision to address this remaining area of legal services reform. The report, including recommendations, will be published...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Taoiseach recently established a Working Group on Conveyancing and Probate to carry out a review of current conveyancing and probate processes and identify scope for greater efficiency and streamlining. The group comprises various experts including a solicitor, an auctioneer, consumer advocates as well as officials from the Department of the Taoiseach, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: My thoughts are with the victims in this case and I want to thank them for coming forward. I also want to acknowledge the work of the Gardaí. As I have indicated previously, I intend to make no further comment on the matter until the case is finalised and sentencing completed.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. As of Close of Business (COB) on 31 January 2024 there were 514 Type D long stay applications awaiting an appeal decision where the applicant is a spouse, De Facto partner or other family...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes all decisions related to the provision of Garda equipment. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Medical Bureau of Road Safety is responsible for the supply, maintenance and...

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

Helen McEntee: The Registration Office, which is part of Immigration Service Delivery in Burgh Quay, is responsible for first time registrations and the renewal of immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only. Appointments for first-time registration are booked via a dedicated appointments service and are normally available within 1 week, depending on seasonal demands. There...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 440 together. I can advise the Deputy, that there were 3,729 naturalisation applications received between 01/01/22 & 31/03/2022. Of these, 2,267 have received a final decision on their application. There are a further 339 applications where a decision has been reached but the Certificate fee and further documentation are awaited, and there are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (20 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 Service. I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service and my Department are committed to providing safe and secure custody for all people committed to prison while ensuring a safe working environment for staff. Officials in the Irish...

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

Helen McEntee: Under section 72 of the International Protection Act 2015 the Minister for Justice may make an order designating a country as a safe country of origin. A country may only be designated as a safe country of origin where satisfied that, on the basis of the legal situation, the application of the law within a democratic system and the general political circumstances, it can be shown that there:...

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

Helen McEntee: 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. As the Deputy is aware, there are no physical border controls on the land border between Ireland and...

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

Helen McEntee: An application for a Spouse of Irish National (SOIN) permission was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 31 January 2024. In order to be fair to all applicants, applications are dealt with in chronological order. My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of...

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

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy received their naturalisation certificate on 8 June 2007. Citizenship Division of my Department has not received any recent correspondence from the person concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Referendum Campaigns (20 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As set out in my response to Parliamentary Question 255 dated February 14, 2024, all recipients of grants from my Department, including Non Government Organisations (NGOs) are bound by a signed grant agreement which specifies the purpose of the grant. These grants do not provide funding for NGOs to campaign in referenda. The Department undertakes a number of checks to ensure that...