Results 5,601-5,620 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Official Engagements (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I have not spoken directly to the UK Home Secretary in the last three months. The last meeting between our Departments at ministerial level took place in London on 11 May. While the Permanent Secretary met with my Secretary General in Dublin, in September. I can assure the Deputy that my officials engage very regularly with counterparts across the UK Government system, to discuss and support...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 319 together. The Government is fully committed to the fight against racism, prejudice and bigotry, and strongly condemns the actions of those who abuse and attack others because of their own prejudices against a person’s religion, ethnic origins, sexual orientation or any other part of their identity as a human being. Ireland is a diverse and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gender Recognition (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service must provide safe and secure custody for all people committed to its care and safe working conditions for all of its staff. I have been advised by the Irish Prison Service that consultation with stakeholders to develop a policy is continuing and that it is intended to publish it once it has been completed and approved.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the recruitment and training of Garda members. This includes the administration of the Garda College, Templemore and the dates for attestation ceremonies. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. Numbers in Templemore continue to increase, with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). This includes all operational policing matters and, as Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I can assure the Deputy, however, that I and the Government are absolutely...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I have sought the information requested from the Garda Commissioner and I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that Temporary Protection in Ireland applies to the following groups of people who have had to flee Ukraine due to the invasion by Russia: a. Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022; b. Nationals of a third country (other than Ukraine) or a stateless person who would have benefited from international protection (for example: Refugee...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 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: International Protection (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. The number of staff in the International Protection Office (IPO) has increased by 89% this year. The extra resources assigned have already seen a doubling of decisions in the IPO this year. In addition...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Since January 2021 nearly 22,000 first-time applications and renewal applications have been received by the Labour Market Access Unit of my Department and nearly 20,000 have been granted. With effect from 9 February 2021, the waiting period to be granted labour market access for international protection applicants was reduced from 9 months to 6 months. The validity of the permission was also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 328, 329 and 330 together. Immigration officials conduct passport checks on arrival to ensure passengers are properly documented in accordance with Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights. The establishment of a person’s identity and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Time Zones (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Since 2001, summer time arrangements in the EU have been governed by EU Directive 2000/84/EC which sets out the obligation on all Member States to switch to summer time on the last Sunday of March and to switch back to their standard time (winter time) on the last Sunday of October. Following a resolution of the European Parliament in 2018, the European Commission proposed a change to this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Building Regulations (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments, and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). Well-functioning OMCs are key to maintaining and sustaining higher-density residential developments, such as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that my Department does not collate data on average processing times for the Afghan Admission Programme (AAP). This Programme opened for applications on 16 December 2021. The Programme closed for applications on the 11 March 2022. A total of 528 applications in respect of 1,492 potential beneficiaries were received under the Programme. My Department issued the first...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly and efficiently, as part of the broader Government response to this challenging issue. The number of international protection applications last year was 13,651, a significant increase on recent years. It represents a 186% increase on the number received in 2019, the most recent year in which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: In the International Protection Office (IPO), the government is investing in the recruitment of staff, as part of an ongoing modernisation strategy to increase the use of digitisation, speed up decision-making, and give clarity to those seeking protection as early as possible. The number of staff in the IPO has increased by 89% this year from 206 to 389. The extra staff assigned has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. During the Covid-19 public health emergency, resources were allocated as required to ensure business delivery continued. A small number of experienced staff were temporarily reassigned to the Border...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy created on-line Join Family(Non EEA Nat)(Spouse) visa application on 25 November 2022. The supporting documentation and relevant fees were received on 17 December 2022 in the Karachi visa office. This visa application was then forwarded to the Dublin visa office for further processing. Processing of this application is ongoing at present. As each...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 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: An Garda Síochána (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.