Results 5,201-5,220 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (3 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, murder can be one of the most complex crimes to investigate and it can take some time before a suspect is identified and prosecuted. Therefore I am informed that, until that happens, it is not possible to fully determine if there is any relationship to the victim, so there is a time lag in data regarding familial relationships being collated from PULSE. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (3 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021. The Board engages private solicitors to supplement the services provided by Board solicitors in certain areas of law on a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community-based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour. YDPs are run by community-based organisations and are a vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme. A top...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (3 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: At the outset, it is important to clarify that criminal legal aid and civil legal aid are separate services. Under the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, it is the Courts, through the judiciary, that are responsible for the granting of legal aid. The Criminal Legal Aid Scheme is demand-led and the fees and expenses due to legal practitioners are paid in accordance with the terms and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (3 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service (IPS) is a non-statutory executive agency of the Department of Justice responsible for the secure custody, care and rehabilitation of people serving a sentence in each of Ireland’s 12 prisons. The IPS is the second largest agency in the criminal justice system, with a budget of €453m in 2024 and €422m in 2023....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (3 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 06 May 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Pretoria office on the 28 September 2023. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 06 October 2023 where it awaits examination and processing. Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (3 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently approved increasing the mandatory retirement age to 62 years of age in a number of the uniform services, including in An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service. This increased mandatory retirement age will need to be facilitated by amendments to the relevant primary legislation and by related secondary legislation. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Courts Service (2 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I mentioned the overall change because this is all part of the work that is being done. This is linked to last year’s 10% increase and is part of improving the overall system, which includes fees, so I would like to think that the action I have taken to date shows my good faith commitment to restoring fees. This is not just about the 10%, but a potential further 8% and another 8% on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Courts Service (2 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank all three Deputies for raising this important matter. I appreciate the important role that our legal profession, our barristers and solicitors, play in the administration of criminal justice. I am aware of the proposed withdrawal of services on 9 July, 15 July and 24 July. Like everyone here, I hope this can be avoided. My Department has commenced a review of criminal legal aid....

Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (2 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I do appreciate the Deputies who are here and have raised points. I will always take them on board and engage where issues have been raised. To clarify, I was shaking my head in relation to the comment on the Seanad because I attended the Seanad and there were no Opposition Senators there to discuss or debate any elements of this Bill. In terms of this being a miscellaneous provisions...

Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (2 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: You are not getting away with that.

Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (2 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the opportunity to introduce the Bill. I take the opportunity to thank Senators for their contributions on this Bill last week during Second and subsequent Stages. No amendments were made to the published Bill on Committee Stage in the Seanad. The Bill introduces a number of important reforms in the law across a broad...

Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (2 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I apologise. It should have been here. One example of where a prosecution might be sought in this regard is where an airline allows someone who requires a visa for Ireland to board a flight to Ireland without the required visa. This Bill amends the maximum fine increasing it from €3,000 to a Class A fine which has a maximum of €5,000. This more closely aligns the fines...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fire Safety (2 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: Last December, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien T.D announced the opening of the Interim Remediation Scheme (Scheme) for Fire Safety Defects in Eligible Apartments and Duplexes. The Scheme provides for the funding of emergency fire safety defect works in order to provide an acceptable level of fire safety in buildings, pending completion of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (2 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The vast majority of members of An Garda Síochána uphold the values of the organisation and serve the State with integrity each and every day. Of course, for the public to have absolute confidence in An Garda Síochána, they must have faith that when the law is broken by the people entrusted with upholding it, the same laws and processes will be applied without fear or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (2 Jul 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. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The Garda Air Support Unit is a national resource based at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Co. Dublin and is under the direction and control of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Injury Claims (2 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is in place to help those who have suffered personal injuries as a result of a violent crime committed against them. The Scheme is administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal which is independent in making decisions on individual applications and in its decisions on appeals. Concerning a review of the operation of the Scheme, there...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (2 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that the Irish Prison Service must make the best use of all available prison capacity. Sex offenders, both sentenced and remand, were previously accommodated at 4 locations – Midlands Prison, Arbour Hill Prison, Castlerea Prison and Mountjoy Training Unit. However, due to limitations at these locations and rising sex offender committals to prison, it was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (2 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that in the coming weeks my Department will publish its Statement of Strategy 2024-2026, which builds upon the significant progress achieved over the past four years. I am proud of these achievements which include such a broad range of policy and legislative reforms. I am dedicated to our shared mission of a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland. This strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (2 Jul 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 303 together. I recognise the important role played by barristers and solicitors in the administration of criminal justice – both in the context of working to defend those accused and working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of prosecutions. The Department of Justice has commenced a review of Criminal Legal Aid...