Results 5,561-5,580 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Nov 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: Legal Aid (21 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: In its over forty years of operation, the Civil Legal Aid Scheme has been a significant and beneficial public service, providing legal aid and advice to people of limited means in civil disputes, including family law. However, since the Scheme was set up, Irish society has changed, and the demands on the service have grown. In June 2022, I established the Civil Legal Aid Review Group to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (21 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of non-EEA students. My Department regularly consults and engages with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, among other key sectorial stakeholders, in this area. Since April 2001,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (21 Nov 2023)

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. Section 3(3) of the Act states that the Board shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, be independent in the exercise of its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (21 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The detailed guidance for visa applicants, provided by my Department, sets out that all visa applicants are advised not to pay for a travel ticket before they receive a decision on their visa, as there is no guarantee that any individual application will be successful. This is information is outlined on my Department's website immigration.ie. I am advised by the visa office of my Department,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department adheres to the principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts when acquiring goods and services. This is requirement of EU law in accordance with the EU Procurement Directives. Central to these procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders following advertising of the tender competition on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (21 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that it is neither feasible nor appropriate to detail all circumstances in which engagement or involvement with other jurisdictions may have arisen. This is particularly the case in relation to security matters. I am also informed that is not possible to determine whether any company based elsewhere in the world who is involved with my Department or agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (21 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, under the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017, if you are the victim of a crime in Ireland you have the right to interpretation and translation services. I'm informed that, in circumstances where a need arises, An Garda Síochána engage the services of an interpreter for interviewing victims of crime, providing legal rights and procedures to a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (21 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I understand that the charitable organisation in question is working closely with Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth regarding their current financial difficulties. I would urge them to maintain this contact as colleagues in Tusla/DCEDIY will be best placed to assist. It is not intended that counselling for children will transfer from Tusla to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (16 Nov 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. A person subject to a deportation order has no legal basis to remain in the State. Their case to remain in the State has been considered in detail and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (16 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: 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 coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance. Where via applicants are missing important...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Nov 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: Departmental Data (16 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is happy to engage with Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on this matter. To date, we have not been contacted about this study.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (16 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 187 and 188 together. The information requested by the Deputy on the number of prisoners who have been convicted of a sexual offence, by prison, gender and age, is set out in table 1 below. On 31st October, there were 598 individuals currently serving a sentence where their most serious offence was categorised as a sexual offence. The additional details...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (16 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Ensuring that we have a victim centred criminal justice system that supports and protects victims for the duration of their journey through it has been a priority for me since I took office as Minister for Justice. Zero Tolerance, the Government’s Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), builds on the important reforms already introduced under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Advertising (16 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I believe that when a victim engages with the justice system, they should know what to expect, be confident they will be treated respectfully and sensitively, know what their legally enforceable rights are and what supports are available at every step in the process. As the Deputy is aware, my Department is running a campaign to raise awareness of the rights provided for in the Victims of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (16 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The importance of raising awareness of domestic, sexual and gender based violence in all its forms and working at a societal level to change problematic behaviours and to encourage and empower victims to reach out for help and support, is a key objective of our Zero Tolerance Strategy. As the Deputy will be aware, in 2021 I commenced Coco’s Law or the Harassment, Harmful...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (16 Nov 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 (16 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: 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 66 per cent increase in the Garda training allowance...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (16 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person concerned holds a Stamp 4 immigration permission valid until 15 December 2023. A Stamp 4 immigration permission provides that the holder can reside and work in Ireland for a specified period, subject to conditions. Any period spent on a Stamp 4 permission is considered as reckonable residence when applying for citizenship by way of naturalisation. All renewals for immigration...