Results 5,641-5,660 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (15 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the primary legislation dealing with noise pollution is the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. The Act designates the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the primary body responsible for regulation of noise pollution. The EPA is also the sole designated prosecuting authority for offences under the Act. Any review of the existing legislation to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (15 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to delivering an ambitious programme of family justice reform, including the publication of the Family Justice Strategy and the Family Courts Bill 2022. The Strategy puts children at the centre of the system, and emphasises, amongst other things, the need to ensure they are listened to and heard and their views given due regard, in line with constitutional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (14 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that my Department does not keep a record of which county, within the State, that a Beneficiary of Temporary Protection (BoTP) resides in. Any queries relating to the issue of accommodation for BoTPs is a matter for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability. Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). Temporary Protection in Ireland applies to the following groups of people...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 30 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner may provide and charge for police services, including for events on private property or in areas open to the public. Examples of the types of events for which police services may be provided under this section include: (a) sports fixtures; (b) concerts; (c) festivals and...

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

Helen McEntee: In Budget 2024, as part of the €2.3 Billion Garda Budget the Government provided funding for a new national centre of excellence in Dublin for the Garda Dog Unit, with the planned expansion to all Garda regions on a phased basis involving 50 handlers with access to 100 dogs of different capabilities While the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration...

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: 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...