Results 4,881-4,900 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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.

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

Helen McEntee: I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested, regrettably this was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand.

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

Helen McEntee: The Border Management Unit of my Department is responsible for frontline Immigration at Dublin Airport only, as such the below figures reflect the position at Dublin Airport. Other airports and other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). Data on this subject is not available in respect of such other ports of entry. Immigration officials...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to inform the Deputy that, following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa applications referred to were issued on 17 January 2024 and 22 January 2024. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie) which has been specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Sign Language (24 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am informed that between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023, 46% of posts made on my Department's social media accounts contained video in some format. Of the total amount of videos posted 97% included text-based content and/or captioning/subtitles. Irish Sign Language (ISL) was not used, however, there is an ISL translator at all live-streamed events. The social platforms in use by my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales (23 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol 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: Departmental Staff (23 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security. The Department has significantly enhanced its cyber security capabilities in recent years and continues to evolve this dynamically and systemically. To this end my Department engages specialist security third parties to further support its internal resources. I hope the Deputy will appreciate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Jan 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 the deployment of specialist units. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda Air Support Unit is a national resource based at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including training and HR matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am informed by the Garda authorities that one...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (23 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that Temporary Protection in Ireland applies to the following groups of people who have had to flee Ukraine due to the invasion by Russia: a)Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022; b)Nationals of a third country (other than Ukraine) or a stateless person who would have benefited from international protection (for example: Refugee...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (23 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of land or buildings from one person to another. Major legislative reforms in recent years to conveyancing law include the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Acts 2009-21. The Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 (‘2009 Act’) was a major piece of reforming legislation, which repealed a large number of outdated laws...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (23 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Government is committed to facilitating easier, speedier access to justice for both individuals and businesses. However, Summary judgments are covered by Rules of Court and are therefore a matter for the Courts Service and the judiciary, who are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (23 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 417 together. A 10% increase in criminal legal aid payments came into effect from 1 January 2024 for work undertaken subsequent to 1 January. The Criminal Legal Aid Scheme also needs to be modernised, which the Department is currently working on, before a further increase in fees can be agreed.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (23 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: When an individual presents at a port of entry without proper documentation, e.g. an accepted travel document such as a passport, or without a valid visa for entry if required, they are generally refused leave to land and returned to their country of origin as soon as is practicable. If an individual indicates or is identified as being in need of international protection they are admitted to...