Results 4,681-4,700 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (7 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, issuing visas and residence permits are the responsibility of my Department while the criteria and conditions for obtaining employment permits are set by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Both Departments work closely together to ensure that Ireland's labour market migration arrangements are fair, efficient, and responsive to the needs of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (7 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 (DFA) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 28/11/2023. Supporting documentation was received in the New Delhi Visa office on the 11/12/2023. The application is currently awaiting comprehensive examination. Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer the Visa was granted on 30 January 2024. Entry into the State is solely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry. The onus is on the individuals to have all documentation relating to their reasons for entering Ireland for presentation to the Immigration Officer to gain entry. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Inspector of Prisons is a statutory office holder, independent in the performance of his functions, in accordance with the Prisons Act 2007. Section 31(1) of the Prisons Act 2007 places an obligation on the Inspector of Prisons to carry out regular inspections of prisons in Ireland. Under section 31(2) the Inspector may, and shall if so requested by the Minister for Justice,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I note that an acknowledgement of the application being received by Citizenship Division issued to the person concerned on 11 January 2024. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: Regrettably, the information sought by the Deputy is still awaited from the Garda authorities. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The application for a Change of Name Licence from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed. The Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department are currently awaiting an interdepartmental report that is required for all Change of Name Licence applications. Upon receipt of this interdepartmental report, the Division will be in further contact with the person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 16/11/2023. Supporting documentation was received in the New Delhi Visa office on the 01/12/2023. The application is currently awaiting comprehensive examination. Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 321 together. The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. Unfortunately, the applications for Naturalisation of the children of this applicant cannot be located. If more information is provided by the Deputy, the Citizenship would be happy to re-examine the request. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of €2.3 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 vital policing work. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: From the Seanad (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The amendments in this grouping are technical in nature and were required to update references to the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 with reference to this Bill, when enacted. They also serve to continue certain CCTV schemes set out under section 38 of the 2005 Act until such time as the new scheme to be rolled out under the...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: From the Seanad (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: These amendments relate to the amendments to the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011. Section 6E of the 2011 Act permits An Garda Síochána to access cell site location data providing the geographic location of a mobile phone generally within the last 48-hour period in what are emerging cases. Access to this data may be granted where urgently needed to protect a person from...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: From the Seanad (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Garda has said it is causing difficulty, given the level at which the officer has to attend court. By reducing it to inspector, it will be much easier for the Garda to use it. It is proving difficult for its members and by reducing it to the rank of inspector, there will be more flexibility and an ability for them to attend court in the way they need. It does not take away any of the...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: From the Seanad (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The amendment relates to section 201, which provides for the establishment of arrangements for the handling of complaints which the police ombudsman has deemed suitable for resolution by An Garda Síochána. The amendment relates specifically to subsection (3)(g), which provides that the arrangements established under the section shall include, "the provision, where appropriate, of...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: From the Seanad (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Under the term "guidance", not "advice", yes.

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: From the Seanad (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Section 208 provides for the appointment of a designated officer to undertake investigations of admissible complaints and other specified matters where the police ombudsman is required to undertake such investigations or has determined such investigation is warranted. This minor amendment is required to correct a cross-reference which referred to section 204(2), when it should have been more...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: From the Seanad (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: This amendment is required to correct an error identified in section 215(1)(a)(iii). Section 215 deals more broadly with the provision of reports to the Garda Commissioner by the police ombudsman on foot of a police ombudsman investigation. As previously drafted, the subparagraph in question applied only to members of An Garda Síochána and not to members of Garda staff. This is...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: From the Seanad (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The amendment concerns section 224, which provides that the police ombudsman can review certain decisions made relating to the inadmissibility of a complaint or the discontinuation of an investigation. The amendment was required following a request from GSOC to reconsider subsections (6) and (7) of section 224, which set out how a person should be notified of a decision that a complaint made...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: From the Seanad (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: This amendment relates to section 228, which deals generally with transitional complaints and investigations of GSOC when moving from the 2005 Act to the new regime under this Bill. My Department was informed there was a GSOC examination ongoing under section 106 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. That section allows GSOC to examine the practices, policies or procedures of An Garda...