Results 5,341-5,360 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: To be honest, my initial concern and view was that if there was to be any unrest it would potentially be at one of the centres. This was my initial thought and it was early on in the day. I do not know the exact time. As I said, I was on a lot of phone calls. I spoke to the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. I spoke to the Commissioner a number of times. My initial concern was...

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

Helen McEntee: I do not accept that gardaí did not respond in the best way possible, so no-----

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

Helen McEntee: I have very clearly stated that it was not safe for a period of time. Buses were on fire and people were looting and rioting. With regard to control being lost, gardaí responded in the most appropriate way possible. How do we stop people if they want to loot and riot? Where the situation escalated to that point gardaí responded in the most appropriate way. For a period of time...

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

Helen McEntee: They were unprecedented. I had not seen that before nor, I believe, had most gardaí who responded. I repeat that what we had was the largest mobilisation of public order units and not just in the response we saw on O'Connell Street. It was in a very small area but this could have expanded right across the city. It was contained in a very small area. It was horrific to look at, never...

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

Helen McEntee: A public order unit of 25 Garda members were on the scene immediately and there was a second public order unit. I know that the Garda Commissioner went through this and it is not for me to give the exact timelines but a second public order unit was there when a group had gathered at the Garden of Remembrance, which was relatively calm. As things started to escalate, resources were...

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

Helen McEntee: First, on the spent convictions, it had been everyone's view, wrongly unfortunately, that it could be sponsored by other Deputies. That is not the case now. I have a particular plan on legislation marked out which I am working through and it has to be incorporated into that. It is a matter then of trying to identify a time to be able to do that but that is still being worked through. As I...

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

Helen McEntee: I would like to see progress on it at some point, yes, but I will have to work with the Senator and to engage further on it. On the engagement with Twitter, it was said to me in more than one station and by gardaí working on the ground. I was asked a question directly about it and that is why I gave that answer. As I said, I will have a report from the Commissioner which will...

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

Helen McEntee: I was asked a question about it in the Dáil and I responded based on the experience of gardaí who had been working on the ground. I will have a further report outlining that more but this information was received directly from gardaí who were working on the day on what they explained to me had happened. That is simply what I relayed.

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

Helen McEntee: If I may add to that, we want the young girl and her carer to make a full recovery and I wish them well.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The project was part of a wider PPP project with Macroom and Hammond Lane family court complex in Dublin. Those projects have since been separated so Macroom and Clonmel are now progressing separate to the court. That progress will continue. Money has been allocated and construction will begin next year.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: These amendments follow on from previous amendments made to the Bill in the Dáil arising from proposals made by Deputies on the issue of the prominence of the Irish language in the names of newly established bodies. The Bill already provides for Irish language names for the various policing bodies, in line with the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. I did not include the reformed...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator. At the outset, I understand why she is proposing this amendment. The overall objective is to make sure nobody is left out of the terminology used. What we have tried to do, and I will say similar about some of the other amendments, is not be so prescriptive as to potentially exclude people. In this particular section, the term "vulnerable" is used in conjunction with...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I will speak to amendments No. 4 and 5 because both relate to the independent examiner and the role he or she will be given in adjudicating. While the independent examiner has many important and significant roles under this Bill, I do not think it is appropriate for him or her to have this particularly expanded determination focus. The remit of the examiner relates to security only, whereas...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I too welcome the visitors in the Gallery. I am not sure we will get to that section. We are working through the Bill anyway and are obviously committed to working with all of them as the Bill progresses and beyond. Obviously the amendments collectively are relating to policing principles. I will speak to the first one and then group the others together. Amendment No. 7 proposes to add...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Senator alluded to it in her last comment. Community safety can mean different things to different people. To her last point, it can mean somebody who takes the law into his or her own hands, or tries to because of his or her perception of a person or group of people in that individual's community. Nobody is above the law. That is why we have An Garda Síochána; to make sure...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for the amendments. Again, all of them are particularly focused on the functions of An Garda Síochána under section 9. In amendment No. 12, the Senator is proposing to insert the phrase "preserving safety and security in our communities." If one looks at the section and the objectives of An Garda Síochána - and I know the Senator is saying that it...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I cannot accept the amendment because it is actually provided for elsewhere in the Bill. In section 30(4)(ii) of the Bill it confirms that the Garda Commissioner is accountable to the board for the performance of his or her functions. The function of the Garda Commissioner then in section 33 of the Bill includes the function "to assist and cooperate with the Authority and the Police...

Immigration: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes: — that, as a nation who over centuries saw so many Irish people emigrate to find safety or work, the Irish people understand what it means to be a migrant, and know how much Irish emigrants contributed to the social and economic fabric of the United States, the United...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Middle East (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 119 together. I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department is working closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure a co-ordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Visiting Committees (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act 1925 provided for the statutory establishment of Prison Visiting Committees for each prison. Rules relating to the specific functions and operation of such Committees are set out in the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1925, and the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1972. Appointments to Prison Visiting Committees are...