Results 4,641-4,660 of 16,285 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (25 Apr 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: Citizenship Applications (25 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: An application under the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme by the person referred to by the Deputy was refused on 05 September 2023. An appeal by the person concerned under the Scheme has been received and continues to be processed. It is not possible to provide a guideline as to when processing of all appeals will be completed. It should be noted that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (25 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 257 together. As the Deputy is aware, my Department is leading an ambitious programme of family justice reform set out in the first Family Justice Strategy, which I published in November 2022. The Strategy sets out a vision for a family justice system of the future - a system that will focus on the needs and rights of children and which will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: A Change of Status application from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division on 31 October 2023 and continues to be processed by my Department. To be fair to all applicants, applications are dealt with in chronological order by date received. My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: An application for a Change of Status from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division on 31 October 2023 and continues to be processed by my Department. To be fair to all applicants, applications are dealt with in chronological order by date received. My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The persons referred to by the Deputy currently hold a Stamp 2 immigration permission valid until 01 July 2024. As the Deputy may be aware, when a non-EEA national comes to Ireland to undertake a course of study, be that an English language course or a course at level 6 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), a Stamp 2 student immigration permission will be granted....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (25 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together. The persons referred to by the Deputy were issued letters refusing permission to remain in the state on 04 November 2022. In response to notifications pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the persons concerned. These...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) was established by Government in 2012 to stimulate productive investment in Ireland. The Programme enables non-EEA nationals outside of the State, and their families, who commit to establishing a high potential start-up (HPSU) business in Ireland to acquire a secure residency status in the State. The programme is particularly aimed at start-up...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government 2020 contains a broad range of policies and proposals that represent a coherent approach to enhancing and sustaining a more just and safe society, with a specific commitment to review policy options for prison and penal reform. In respect of delivering on this commitment, the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 was published in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that on 24th April 2024, there were 909 people held in prison custody solely on a remand or trial warrant. The number of prisoners on remand/trial by Prison as of 24th April 2024 is set out in the table below. Prison Number in Custody Number on Remand/Trial Mountjoy 870 27 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) was established under the Prisons Act 2007 and is independent in how it carries out its functions. The Inspector's role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons. As part of this work the Office of the Inspector of Prisons carry out inspections comprising General Inspections and Thematic Inspection (i.e. inspection of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Restorative Justice (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the recommendations made in the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform, published in August 2022, are very much focused on the appropriate use of alternatives to detention, which in some instances, are more effective in diverting offenders away from future criminal activity. As part of the work of implementing the recommendations of this review,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Bail Supervision Scheme offers courts an alternative option to detaining a young person who comes before them by providing them the possibility of granting bail with intensive supervision. By reducing the need for remand places, this also provides an opportunity to focus on developing successful community resources designed to prevent young people being detained in a youth justice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Housing First Service is a model of homeless provision which centres on the provision of permanent housing as the first step in tackling homelessness for individuals with complex needs. The Housing First Service is administered by the Housing Agency who are an agency under the aegis of the Department Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The provision of a tenancy is accompanied by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Programme for Government (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016, provides for certain convictions to become spent once 7 years have passed since the date of conviction. In general, and in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the following convictions may become spent: All convictions in the District Court for motoring offences which are more than...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Apr 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 once it is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. The unprecedented allocation of over €2.35...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Regulatory Impact Assessments (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol Bill intends to modernise our existing licensing laws in line with the expectations and needs of today’s society, and to encourage the development of a modern and diverse night-time economy. The proposed legislation endeavours to strike a balance between maintaining strict controls and safeguards in relation to the sale of alcohol, while...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Both I and my Department takes very seriously the role it has in protecting the best interests and welfare of unaccompanied minors arriving at ports of entry, in the international protection process and the wider immigration system. The information sought by the Deputy with regard to the number of unaccompanied minors (UM) who arrived at Dublin Airport and indicated they wished to register...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Constitutional Amendments (24 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, referendums were held on 8th March 2024 on the Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023 and the Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023. Officials from my Department, as in others, gave detailed consideration to issues within Departmental responsibility to inform and assist the drafting the proposed amendments. The...