Results 4,561-4,580 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government is fully committed to the fight against racism, prejudice and bigotry, and strongly condemns the actions of those who abuse and attack others because of their own prejudices against a person’s religion, ethnic origins, sexual orientation or any other part of their identity as a human being. Ireland is a diverse and tolerant country, and such behaviour is not acceptable....

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 and 222 together. I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to all of those who apply for it. I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating and disruptive for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Abuse (22 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government takes the issue of sexual exploitation of children very seriously and there is comprehensive legislation in place to deal with these offences. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act was enacted in early 2017. It is a wide-ranging piece of legislation which significantly enhances laws to combat the sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children. Specific offences have been...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes Garda HR matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. The Government has consistently sought to support the mental and physical wellbeing of Gardaí in...

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

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate the importance of this task and the need for it to be carried out thoroughly and correctly. Vetting is carried out by An Garda Síochána in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (21 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department is acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and 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 working with the recently evacuated Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance. In line with the confidentiality provisions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Electric Vehicles (21 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 (‘MUDs Act’) facilitates 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 as apartments. It is important to note that it is the owners of the apartments or residential units in a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (21 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. This application was received 5 July 2023. Clarification was requested in relation to details provided on the application. Citizenship Division has received this clarification and processing of the application has resumed. I understand the extended wait times can be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (21 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: 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: Immigration Status (21 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: An Garda Síochána has oversight of the first registration and renewal of immigration residence permissions for non-EU/EEA/UK nationals residing outside of the Dublin area. I have no role in regard to the scheduling of these appointments. The waiting time for appointments outside of Dublin is dependent on the demand for registrations in each office, and fluctuates based on seasonal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (21 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Garda authorities that there is no structured field in the PULSE system that will identify that an arrest was specifically arising from road closures in a particular location. An arrest will generally be associated with a crime incident, which in turn will have an associated location. The Garda authorities further advise that there were 28 arrests recorded since 1...

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

Helen McEntee: If a person arriving at a port of entry to the State indicates or is identified as being in need of international protection they are admitted to the international protection process. The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. This is especially important in the context of persons who enter the Irish State for the...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate the enforcement of road traffic legislation is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. In addition, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is fully independent in her functions under Section 2 (5) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). As the Office of the DPP is not an agency under my remit as Minister for Justice, I have no role...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes all operational policing decisions regarding the Garda estate. This includes the opening of any individual Garda station. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions which are a matter for the Commissioner. The Office of Public Works...

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

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that an incomplete travel document application was received, from the person referred to, on 17 November 2023. The application will be returned shortly with instructions on how to complete the application. They should also be aware that the cost of the travel document has decreased to €55 per application. In recent times the Unit has experienced a very high...

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together. The murder of Detective Colm Horkan is a stark reminder of the considerable risks that every Garda member places themselves in their daily work on our behalf. I would like to, again, extend my thoughts to the family and loved ones of Detective Colm Horkan. In carrying out his duties he displayed the courage and commitment to duty which is...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, retirement of members of An Garda Síochána is governed by law, which sets the mandatory retirement age for all members at 60 years of age. Members of An Garda Síochána who joined prior to 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension at 50 years of age once they have served at least 30 years. Those who joined on or after 1 April 2004 may retire on full...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (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: 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 all human resource matters and recruitment. As Minister for Justice, I have no role in such matters. I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that the estimated annual...