Results 5,321-5,340 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to those in custody. These programmes include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes are available in all prisons and all people in custody are eligible to use these services. The average monthly school attendance in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Firstly, I want to you congratulate all those who have received an invitation to attend a Citizenship Ceremony. I am sure it is a cause of celebration for them and their family. Citizenship ceremonies were first introduced in 2011 and have been universally well received, marking the grant of Irish citizenship in a solemn, dignified and appropriate manner. I can assure the Deputy that, for all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that on 1 December 2023, there were 946 people held in prison custody solely on a remand or trial warrant. I can further advise the Deputy that this figure does not include people who are serving a sentence, and who also have a remand or trial warrant that will become active once the sentence expires. The process to identify people in custody...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The coroners service comprises of 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. Coroners are independent quasi-judicial office holders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. My Department does...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: At the outset, I would like to assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities in our towns and cities and in rural Ireland. Everybody has the right to feel safe and to be safe in their homes and on their land and property. I have prioritised the enactment of a series of laws intended to increase the safety and security of communities. Recent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: An application for a Change of Status was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 30 March 2023 and continues to be examined by my Department. An acknowledgement of receipt of documents issued on 09 May 23 from my Department to the person's legal representative in respect of all documents sought by letter dated 12 April 23. My Department endeavours to process all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (7 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: Residency Permits (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy holds a Stamp 3 immigration permission valid until 24 July 2024. There is no open application with the Immigration Service of my Department for the person concerned. However, it remains open to them to apply for a change of immigration status if they meet the criteria for doing so. The person concerned can write to the Immigration Service setting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: My apologies; our Cabinet meeting went on a bit longer than anticipated. If it is helpful, I can read the statement to the committee. I think members would have heard a lot of the information over the last few days anyway. If it is helpful, we can take it as read.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy has said, a lot of work is under way looking to the year ahead. This is not just in terms of new laws and legislation but also in terms of overall resourcing and structural changes in An Garda Síochána, focused on policing, not just in the city centre, but also more broadly. We introduced and passed body-worn camera legislation last week in the Dáil. A pilot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: First, the Garda Commissioner obviously engaged with me before that decision was taken. I of course supported that decision, but it is not my decision. I want to be very clear on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am very clear here. My decision is not to bring gardaí out early.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: First, I have never claimed to be able to bring gardaí out of Templemore early. I am very clear on that. The response to your question is the response you would have gotten, irrespective of any other posts. The Garda Commissioner of course engaged with me before that decision was taken and it is a very positive decision. Instead of 153 members coming out on 12 January, 153 will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I will come back on the other questions because you have raised points around the Policing Authority and Twitter. Very soon after the riots on the Thursday night, I met members of An Garda Síochána in a number of stations across the city. I was in Pearse Street, Store Street, Bridewell and Heuston Station where gardaí monitor a lot of CCTV footage. What was said very clearly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: People might have an idea in their head of what law and order is, but I have a particular idea and it is not just about how we can police more and have stronger powers for the Garda. That is part of it, and it is important, when we see more Garda members being assaulted on our streets when doing their job and protecting all of us, that they be protected, that the laws be strong and that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: That is a whole-of-government response and it is a matter of making sure that communities are supported. Senator Ruane will see even in the most recent budget that so much focus was placed on making sure that those communities that are most impacted by the cost of living, the increase in energy costs and the increase in costs more generally are directly supported and that we see those...