Results 4,821-4,840 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I could propose that I come back on this. I know I cannot come back specific to today, but this will relate to the regulations. There is nothing in the next section, section 104, to prevent me from adding this to the list of public service bodies for the purpose of section 3 in setting out the regulations. While the intention is not specifically to name drug and alcohol task forces as one...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: It will be.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: It will be but it will not be specific because every county has different organisations and different groups. We could not list them and say, "X organisation must be on all them." There might not be such an organisation in every county. It is a membership of 30 and at least five of those will be designated for community alone, so-----

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is for the purpose of this section only and just to name the statutory organisations. We refer to partnerships in the next section.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: None of it is named in this because it is all in regulations, so for the membership of the partnership-----

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Because they are the statutory organisations, that is, the statutory bodies: the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána and the Probation Service. A task force is not designated as a statutory organisation.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: This section is simply a definition of certain words and terms under this Part. There are lots of different elements of the Bill that relate specifically to community groups and community representation. Because community groups as a whole are not a statutory body or a statutory organisation, they are not listed specifically in this section. They are later on as part of the partnerships....

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: While we are specifically speaking to amendments Nos. 61 to 63, inclusive, I will respond to some of the comments more broadly. I, too, am an advocate for councillors and absolutely support the work of councillors. Not only that, I champion the work they do. I personally think we have some of the finest councillors in County Meath, and I am sure that everybody here will say that they have...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I want to make sure I respond to each individual amendment. We are talking to quite a number of them. As Minister, I have always been happy to engage with every colleague in this House on any legislation. This section has grasped many people’s attention for obvious reasons. I have been happy to engage with all colleagues. I was happy to have the meeting with Fianna Fáil...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: All 30 will be equal.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: All 30 will be equal.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Obviously, this is to be agreed upon and worked through, but at the moment the intention is that there would be 30 members in total, with one chair, 19 other specified members according to the allocation I outlined, and then the ten others would be any ten others. What is in the legislation is that we would try to have a gender balance and that we would have a diversity of views and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Victorian-era laws that were repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 caused immeasurable harm to generations of gay and bisexual men, criminalising and stigmatizing them simply because of their sexual orientation. I am deeply conscious that people who were criminalised by these laws, and their families, are hopeful that a disregard scheme can be put in place in the near...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: A Peace Commissioner (formerly known as Justice of the Peace) is appointed and may be removed from that appointment by the Minister for Justice under section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. The office of Peace Commissioner is an honorary one for which there is no remuneration or compensation by way of fees or expenses for their services. A person who wishes to be considered for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government 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 Government approved the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 161 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the prosecution of offences in these instances are a matter for An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions, who are independent in the exercise of their functions in this regard; as Minister I have no role in such prosecutions.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: In May 2022, my Department launched its formal blended working policy, which is closely aligned to the Blended Working Framework for the Civil Service. The policy indicates a minimum requirement for staff whose role has been deemed suitable for blended working to attend at the office on 2 days per week, to ensure team connectivity and collaboration. However, given the diverse nature of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (24 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: Immigration Policy (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all operational policing matters and the maintenance of Garda IT systems. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. The Schengen Information System (SIS) went live in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (24 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.