Results 5,041-5,060 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. Where an international protection application, encompassing the three component elements of refugee status, subsidiary protection and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove themselves from the State. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) is responsible for carrying out deportations. It should be noted that the numbers of Deportation Orders effected by GNIB does not take...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the naturalisation applications of the people referred to in the query have recently been approved by my Department. 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 at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 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 for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 Jan 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 and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Justice, I have no role in the exercise of Probate functions. The Probate Office is an office of the High Court, and management of the courts is the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. Probate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: 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 prosecution for selling sexual services. Section 27 of...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Direct Provision System (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. Where an international protection application, encompassing the three component elements of refugee status, subsidiary protection and...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I fully support the proposal to amend the Constitution to provide for a more inclusive concept of family in Article 41. The realities of family life in Ireland in 2023 are vastly different to those in 1937 when Irish law and our society only recognised the traditional model of the family based on marriage. The results of census 2022 clearly demonstrate how family life changed in the 20th...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Appointments to State Boards (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The State is required to examine the application of anyone who presents at the borders of the State, or is in the State, and indicates that they wish to make an application for international protection. This is in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law and the Government takes those commitments very seriously. The number of international protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 to 388, inclusive, together. A key goal of the Zero Tolerance Strategy to address domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV), is ensuring that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and I am committed to working with my Government colleagues and those working in the sector to achieve this. As the deputy is aware, the Government will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Legislation providing for the establishment of the statutory domestic, sexual and gender based violence (DSGBV) agency completed its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas last month. The agency, which will be called Cuan, will fall under the remit of my Department and will be dedicated to tackling and reducing DSGBV and supporting victims and survivors. The Agency is expected to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024 demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring Gardaí have provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. This includes funding for up to 900 new Gardaí and a 66% increase in the Garda training allowance to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Government will establish Cuan, the statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence next month. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Unfortunately it has not been possible to collate the requested information in the time requested. I will revert to the Deputy when the information is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

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. In July this year, I published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. This programme is implementing measures to improve efficiencies and throughput as well...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Female Genital Mutilation (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department is responsible for examining all international protection applications received and, under the International Protection Act 2015, each application is assessed individually on its merits. An applicant’s gender must be taken into account when assessing persecution. Section 7(2)(f) of the International Protection Act 2015...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Under the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024, there is a commitment to conduct a review of remission and temporary release to improve rehabilitation and reduce reoffending and overcrowding in prisons. As the Deputy will be aware, prisoners sentenced to a definite term generally qualify for one quarter remission on the basis of good behaviour. In the current...