Results 5,421-5,440 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 420 together. Funding is provided by my Department to NGOs that support victims of crime through services such as emotional support, court accompaniment, and accompaniment to Garda interviews, to sexual assault treatment units and referral to other services. Under Budget 2024, an increased budget of €7.57 million is being made available. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The formation of a Mediation Council of Ireland is a component of the Mediation Act 2017 and the overall development of mediation throughout Ireland. The Council will play an important role in promoting public awareness of mediation, maintaining and developing mediation standards – including continuous professional development – and establishing a national register of mediators....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Advertising (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The ‘Let’s Have the Consent Conversation’ campaign – which is running on TV, cinema, local and national radio, digital and social media, and elsewhere – seeks to get people talking and thinking about sexual consent, and to normalise it as a foundation for all healthy sexual relationships. The campaign fulfils key actions in both Surviving Supporting a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Information and Communications Technology (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The State has a duty to protect its borders and to ensure that all arriving passengers are entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise of State sovereignty, which is necessary to protect the security of the State and to prevent illegal immigration. The Border Management Unit (BMU) of the Department has responsibility for frontline immigration duties at Dublin Airport only....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all operational policing matters, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Commissioner is also the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote under the Act, and is responsible for the economy and the efficiency of the Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the visa application referred to was granted on 20 November 2023. Notification of this decision was issued on 21 November 2023. The visa sticker will issue as soon as the applicant attends the relevant Visa Office/Embassy/Consulate. The applicant should be advised that entry into the State is solely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were released...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Outcomes of Court proceedings, including the recording of convictions and collation of related data, are under the remit of the Courts Service. Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (5 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. The specific information requested by the Deputy is not currently compiled in the format required,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 414 to 416, inclusive, together. Last month, the Justice Committee agreed with my proposal to remove the provisions of the Bill in relation to knowledge of consent in rape from the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences & Human Trafficking) Bill 2023. The provisions in question stem from recommendations of the Law Reform Commission (LRC) in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together. The unprecedented allocation of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024 demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring Gardaí have provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. This includes funding for up to 900 new Gardaí and a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together. My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. The number of international protection applications last year was 13,650, a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 395 together. My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. Both the International Protection Office (IPO) and the International Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 397 together. As the Deputy is aware, this once in a generation scheme was designed to give long-term undocumented residents the opportunity to regularise their status, access the labour market legally and begin their path to citizenship. A total of 6,548 applications were submitted in respect of 8,311 people under the scheme. As of 29...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the State is required to examine the application of anyone who presents at the borders of the State, or is in the State, and indicates that they wish to make an application for international protection. This is in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law and the Government takes those commitments very seriously. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove themselves from the State. Where a Deportation Order is made, that person then has no legal basis to remain in the State. However, persons in receipt of a Deportation Order...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Labour Activation Measures (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Since its introduction in June 2018, under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), the labour market access permission issued by my Department, has had a very positive impact for international protection applicants and employers alike. Since January 2021 nearly 22,000 first-time applications and renewal applications have been received by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained at all times. In July this year, I published a report on the international protection modernisation programme for 2023 and 2024. This programme is implementing measures to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 403 together. My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. Both the International Protection Office (IPO) and the International Protection...