Results 5,001-5,020 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were released...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: Mar is eol don Teachta, faoi fhorálacha an Achta um Sheirbhís Chúirteanna, 1998, is ar an tSeirbhís Chúirteanna, atá neamhspleách ag feidhmiú a feidhmeanna di, atá freagracht as bainistiú na gcúirteanna. Ina theannta sin, is faoi Uachtaráin na gCúirteanna agus na breithiúna ceannais go huile is go hiomlán atá...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: There are currently 70 judges appointed to the District Court, 32 of whom are female and 38 of whom are male. As at 19 July, there are two vacancies in the court and my Department is working to fill both of these vacancies. I can further inform the Deputy that the Courts Service of Ireland publishes a list of current judges of the District Court and all other jurisdictions, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (23 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is a priority for my Department to ensure that the courts are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively. The Government endeavours to fill judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity. Following the publication in February 2023 of the final report of the Judicial Planning Working Group, the Government committed to an historic increase of the number of judges to...

Seanad: Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The amendments in this grouping are amendments Nos. 1, 3 and 4 and Seanad amendment No. 1. Amendment No. 1 provides for a change to the Long Title to reflect the fact that the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 is to be amended by the Bill. Amendment No. 3 provides for changes to the Bill’s commencement provisions owing to the insertion of amendments on Committee Stage in...

Seanad: Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senators for their points. It is clear this is not a new law that, de facto, will suddenly create a two-tier system or different system. This is a law that has existed since 1956. It is already there and has been used sparingly. As we have heard, it has been used eight times. It is not thrown about willy-nilly. It was challenged and we know the Damache outcome. It was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280, 286, 287, 290 and 291 together. As the Deputies will be aware, the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which was last amended in 2016, is currently under review. The review is examining a wide range of matters relating to applications for family reunification including the nature and suitability of current income thresholds and waiting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The coroner’s service comprises a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. All coronial districts, with the exception of Dublin, are the responsibility of the relevant local authority. The Department has direct responsibility for providing financial and administrative supports to the Dublin District Coroner’s Office since 1 January 2018. Remuneration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the provision of improved court facilities at Galway is one of the Courts Service projects included in the National Development Plan. The Courts Service is seeking a suitable site in Galway on which to develop a new courthouse facility. It has engaged with the Land Development Agency (LDA) and Galway City Council (GCC) in relation to the potential for the inclusion...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I sought the figures requested by the Deputy but they were not available in the time permitted. Once the figures have been received, I will provide them directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Orders (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the overarching principle of criminal justice is that the defendant must receive a fair trial, with the default position being that a person should know the identity of the witness testifying against them. However, both our domestic courts and the European Court of Human Rights have recognised that, in certain circumstances, and where it does not compromise the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: An application for a Spouse of Irish National (SOIN) permission from the person referred to by the Deputy is currently under consideration by the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of my Department. I am informed that a decision will issue to the person concerned shortly. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that all persons who wish to receive a statement to the effect that they do not hold Irish citizenship are required to submit a questionnaire to my Department's Citizenship Division. The Citizenship Division have advised me that the relevant questionnaire was issued to the person referred to by the Deputy in February 2024. However there is no record of it being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application of the person referred to by the Deputy has been approved and they will be invited to attend a future Citizenship Ceremony to complete the naturalisation process. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department has no record of having received an immigration application on behalf of the person concerned. If the person is in the State without an immigration permission, they must engage with the authorities if they wish to be permitted to remain here legally. Therefore, I would encourage them to contact the Immigration Service of my Department or their local immigration office and to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (11 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused by the Visa Office in Dublin. The reasons for these decisions were set out in the refusal letters sent to the applicants on 24 January 2023. Appeals of these decisions were received on 08 March 2023. All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel...

Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: Section 8 provides the Minister for Justice with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform with the power to make regulations relating to the retirement of prison officers, including specifying a retirement age greater than the current age, which is 60. Existing minimum retirement ages contained in primary legislation are not affected....