Results 5,181-5,200 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I support Senators in their contributions and agree with them that the reserve plays a really important role in supporting An Garda Síochána and in assisting gardaí in their work. The workforce of An Garda Síochána includes front-line gardaí, civilian staff and our reserve and we need to look at the overall numbers for all three areas. Senators are right to say...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: During the most recent recruitment campaign, over 5,000 people applied so the Public Appointments Service has a significant number of people to go through. It is obviously not just dealing with An Garda Síochána but the entire public sector. I know there have even been difficulties in recruiting people to the Public Appointments Service so its capacity to deal not just with its...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: It is not possible to give a definitive timeline. If a significant number apply at the same time, they must go through the initial process but there may be an issue with someone failing the fitness test or medical, or an issue with vetting abroad. We cannot say whether someone will come back from another police jurisdiction in a matter of weeks or months. It is very difficult to put a...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: To respond to Senator Keogan's point, I do not think we have any stations sitting idle or that are not being used or are not necessary. We are renovating and reopening stations not only in Dublin but throughout the country.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: How do we look at who takes up this accommodation? It is not something being actively looked at with regard to how it would be applied, who would get the accommodation, for what length of time and whether it would apply only to gardaí. A series of questions would have to be answered. A question was asked on pensions. This comes under the remit of the Department of Finance or the...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: There may be a further technical amendment to this section and I would like to flag it now. Amendments Nos. 37 and 38 relate to section 54 of the Bill on the appointment of members of Garda staff. By way of background, the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommended that Garda staff be recruited directly into An Garda Síochána and that An Garda Síochána...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am as keen for negotiations and engagement to start as both Senators present, and most importantly, as the staff. As recently as last week when I engaged with them, the challenge was finding dates that suited everyone. A number of bodies need to be around the table and the dates that had been set or proposed were not matching others' availability.It is a matter of trying to identify the...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: While I cannot give an exact date, the next Stage of the Bill will be weeks away and I have every intention of making sure negotiations start, or that dates are set, well before that.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: All the amendments in this grouping relate to pension matters. Section 55 provides for the making of a superannuation scheme or schemes by the Garda Commissioner for members of Garda staff where such members of Garda staff do not become members of the single public service pension scheme. Section 112 will perform a similar function with regard to the national office for community safety....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the position in regard to applications for family reunification is set out in the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which is available on my Department's Immigration Services website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-do cument-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf The Policy Document, which was last amended in 2016, is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for international protection has been made in the State. If a person is in the international protection process, there is a legal requirement under the International Protection Act 2015 to maintain full confidentiality at all times. Therefore the Department is unable to publish any information...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

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 tendering for, and purchase of equipment. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Earlier this year I announced a further €10 million for Garda overtime in Dublin. This additional allocation is being spent, to provide consistent high visibility policing in the capital. The allocation of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024 includes provision for a 25% increase in the overtime budget for An Garda Síochána, to €131...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As you are 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 matters relating to the Garda estate. In addition, the Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the provision and maintenance of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Passport Services (12 Dec 2023)

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. Where a parent is unable to prove residency for 3 of the 4 years prior to the birth of the child, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of €2.31 billion to An Garda Síochána in 2023 and 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, 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. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is a highly...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Temporary Protection Certificate (TPC) issued to all Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection is a temporary permission to remain in Ireland and is renewable on an annual basis, as long as the Temporary Protection Directive remains in force. Beneficiaries of temporary protection are granted access to the labour market and to Government supports, as required under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to condemn in the strongest possible terms any attack on a member of An Garda Síochána or any front-line worker. The rioting and violent disorder in Dublin on 23 November was disgraceful and I commend Garda members and all emergency services for their quick response. I am informed by the Garda authorities that 12 incidents of assault whereby a Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (12 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 (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €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...