Results 4,721-4,740 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (31 Jan 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, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters, nor can I direct the Commissioner with regard to them. As referred to by the Deputy in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Under Section 4 of the Immigration Act 2004, an Immigration Officer must determine whether a non-EEA national should be granted leave to land and gain entry to the State. In performing their duties, an Officer is required to consider all of the circumstances relating to the individual at the time of entry. Section 4(3) of that Act sets out the full range of grounds on which a passenger may be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. I am taking a number of steps to improve how our International Protection system works. In increasing capacity and speeding up decision making, we can ensure that those who have a right to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Access to the labour market for international protection applicants is provided for under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230/2018), amended in 2021 by the European Communities (Reception Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 52/2021) which reduced the waiting period to be granted labour market access from 9 months to 6 months. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. Community policing is also fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model which is currently being rolled across the country and is fully commenced in ten Garda divisions. The new model will provide more front-line...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service and my Department are committed to enabling people in custody to benefit from education and training opportunities to support their rehabilitation and access to employment post-release. As the Deputy will already be aware, the majority of people in custody, almost 70%, are early school leavers. The median school leaving age of those who are committed to custody...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (31 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. As Minister, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual IIP applications. All project proposals which are the subject of investment by IIP applicants are examined in great detail by an Independent Evaluation Committee...

Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland: Statements (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The script is there-----

Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland: Statements (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I did not.

Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland: Statements (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Do not lie.

Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland: Statements (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Without question, immigration is a topic that is at the forefront of many of our minds at this time. We are reading about it in the newspapers, seeing posts online and speaking about it with our family and friends. I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak about it in the House. I want to leave Members in no doubt as to my view of immigration, which is that it has been good for this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 421 together. As the Deputy is aware, earlier this year the Government established Cuan, a new statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency has a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392, 393 and 394 together. I will write to the Deputy in relation to this matter when an answer is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Agreements (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department is familiar with the issues referred to by the Deputy. The re-entry visa requirements for children under 16 were suspended in 2022. The processing of these applications required customers to submit their passports and suspending these requirements for children under 16 allowed my Department to minimise or avoid potential disruption to customers and their travel plans. Children...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. On the issue of participation in EU measures, Ireland made a declaration when the Lisbon Treaty entered into force stating its firm intention to take part in the adoption of measures pursuant to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The information requested is currently being compiled and I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy was granted De Facto Partner Permission by the Immigration Service of my Department on 2 February 2018. Their application for renewal was refused as the person concerned requires a new permission letter from the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department. The person concerned should write to the Domestic Residence and Permissions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that one of the companies she has referenced was contracted by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, following an open tender competition, to conduct an organisational review which was funded by my Department. I understand the cost of this work was €175,939 and a report was completed and published in 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 411 together. A key purpose for the 2017 Sexual Offences Act was to provide additional protection to persons involved in prostitution, especially vulnerable persons and victims of human trafficking. It allows those engaged in prostitution to provide information to Gardaí, for instance if they were subjected to violence by clients, without fear of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. A letter regarding this application issued to the applicant on 2 January 2024. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish...