Results 5,701-5,720 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on individual cases however I can advise the Deputy that all sentenced prisoners are reviewed by the Irish Prison Service on an ongoing basis to determine their suitability to progress to a more open regime as part of their rehabilitative journey and in preparation for their release. I can also advise the Deputy that the strengths, needs...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 23 February 2022 and continues to be processed. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. The processing times of applications will vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether it is a single or family...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The State has a duty to protect its borders and following examination, 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 exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Where a person has made an application for international protection, there is a legal requirement under the International Protection Act 2015 to maintain full confidentiality at all times. Therefore the Department is unable to publish any information that would identify an international protection applicant. If an application for international protection has been made in the State, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that in order to work in Ireland, a non-EEA national, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit, which is administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). My Department has no role in the administration or processing of Employment Permits. When a visa required national receives an Employment Permit from the DETE they must...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. All applicants must satisfy the good character criterion under Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. The Deputy will appreciate that the outcome of pending cases before the courts may have a significant influence in this regard. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is 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. Where a court makes an order committing a person to a prison, the Prison Service must accept that person into custody in whichever prison is specified by the court. While all prisoners committed are accommodated in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Reachtaíocht Teanga (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Tuigtear dom gurb iad an dá athbhreithniú bhreithiúnacha dá dtagraítear ná Diarmaid Ó Cadhla v. An tAire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais, Éire agus an tArd-Aighne agus an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí[2018/36AB] agus Diarmaid Ó Cadhla v. An tAire Dlí agus Cirt, Éire agus an tArd-Aighne, an Stiúrthóir...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware as Minister for Justice, I have no role in the exercise of Probate functions. The Probate Office is an office of the High Court, and management of the courts is 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 in the Constitution. Probate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware as Minister for Justice, I have no role in the exercise of Probate functions. The Probate Office is an office of the High Court, and management of the courts is 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 in the Constitution. Probate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the application referred to was granted, on appeal, on 18 October 2023. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly by the Deputy to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Staff (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 apply to any special adviser appointed pursuant to the Public Service Management Act 1997 and to any special adviser within the meaning of section 19 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 (including ministerial personal appointees). As the Deputy may be aware, for the purposes of Section 19 of the Ethics in Public Office...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, prosecutions are a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP is wholly independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended) and, as Minister for Justice, I have no role in the operations, governance or oversight of the Office of the Director, which is funded through the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Further to my answer to PQ 403 of 24 October 2023, I can clarify the applicant applied for naturalisation on 17 August 2022 and not 2023. The position remains unchanged in that the naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Advertising (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Unfortunately it has not been possible to collate the requested information in the time requested. I will revert to the Deputy when the information is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy has been approved. An approval letter has issued to the parent of the applicant. Once the required documents are received, their certificate of naturalisation will issue in the weeks following. My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I am advised that this application is based on "Irish association" and at present these cases are taking in excess of 30 months to process. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: By way of background, Criminal Legal Aid is a vital element of the criminal justice system and the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 gives expression to the Constitutional position that legal aid must be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. Under the 1962 Act, the courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities – and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and a further €2.3 billion for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes all internal HR Garda matters and the recruitment and retention of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in this matter. The following table, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of Gardaí who availed of early...