Results 5,121-5,140 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time.I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, a detailed application for posthumous Presidential pardons for the two individuals referenced by the Deputy was submitted by the Castleisland District Heritage incorporating the Michael O’Donohue Memorial Project in December 2021. An internal review within the Department with regard to the application has been completed and an independent expert in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: An application for a Spouse of Irish National (SOIN) permission from the person referred to by the Deputy was deemed incomplete by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department. This decision was relayed to the person concerned by letter dated 06 September 2023. As such, the person concerned has no valid immigration permission to remain in the State. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (14 Dec 2023)

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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Shoplifting is obviously a matter for the courts. Some decisions are taken where there is post-monitoring, or areas that certain individuals cannot go into after they have been prosecuted. More broadly, retail theft is up approximately 14% since the Covid pandemic. That is why we are working with the Department of enterprise; with the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister of State,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: On the last question, the new Garda Reserve campaign will open in the new year and will be the first such campaign since 2017. Disciplinary matters are very much for the Garda Commissioner and are not something for which I am responsible.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. Only this morning, I updated the family justice development forum on a number of actions that have been undertaken to improve the family justice system not just for parents but also for children. One of those actions related to a report I received just this week on court assessors. It looks at ensuring we have a number of actions in place in the short, medium and long...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I apologise; I know the Senator has heard me say a number of times that I understand the intention. The concept of fairness in the legislative process is subjective and it is not generally used. In fact, I do not think the word “fair” is in any legislation that has gone through the Houses compared to the concepts that are here, namely lawful, professional, punctual and prompt,...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: While I again agree with what is being proposed here in terms of the overall objective, I need a little more time to engage with IHREC to be sure it is happy to be a body to be engaged with. I suggest we return to this on Report Stage and I will be able to do that in the interim if the Senator is agreeable.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As I said, I will come back on this particular amendment as I have to engage with the organisation. What we are suggesting in this particular section is that we would have bodies that absolutely have to be engaged with, but who the authority would then decide to engage with beyond that is a matter for the authority. It could be any type of body or organisation. The way in which it decides...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Garda Commissioner represents rank-and-file gardaí. That is why he will be consulted. The role of the Minister is to act on behalf of the Government, having been appointed Minister, to approve the priorities in consultation with the other bodies represented. That is laid before the Houses, as has been set out.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: This is very similar to what we have in the 2005 Act. It means that if an issue were to arise, it allows the authority to be able to respond and create new priorities if necessary. It ensures the system is not static. This allows for issues that may arise in this area.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The National Security Analysis Centre is under the Department of An Taoiseach. It engages with all relevant Departments, including my Department, the cybersecurity office, the Army and An Garda Síochána. What we have in the legislation is similar to what we had in the 2005 Act. It was looked at and it was decided not to establish a separate agency or body.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Section 62(2) states that before determining security priorities under section 62(1) or specifying performance targets, the Minister shall consult with the Garda Commissioner and such other persons as he or she considers appropriate. When it comes to security matters, the Minister tends to be guided by the Garda Commissioner and the authority that sits under the Department of An Taoiseach...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: We take this matter seriously. Following from the Commission on the Future of Policing, the National Security Analysis Centre was established in the last number of years. The Commission on the Future of Policing also considered whether to recommend the creation of a separate agency with powers going beyond analysis and intelligence co-ordination to include, for example, a capacity to...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Yes.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am not sure what information the Senator is looking for.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can outline it again.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can provide the full report for Members as I am sure they would like to read through all of it. We have carefully considered whether to recommend the creation of a separate agency with powers going beyond analysis and intelligence co-ordination to include, for example, the capability to develop its own intelligence sources, such as the security service in the United Kingdom, or even full...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: This is the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report that was finalised in 2018. It was approved by the Government and this Bill is the culmination of that report. This is what we are doing with that report.