Results 5,741-5,760 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department and I are keenly aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and are working closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs 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. Ireland also strongly supports UNRWA, which does...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is in place to help those who have suffered personal injuries as a result of a violent crime committed against them. The scheme is administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal which is independent in making decisions on individual applications and in its decisions on appeals. Currently, paragraph 20 of...

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

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy was granted an extension of their Stamp 1G immigration permission (Third Level Graduate Programme) for a period of 4 months on 26 October 2023. This permission is valid until 26 February 2024 and has been granted to afford the person an opportunity to acquire an employment permit during this time. Any non EEA National seeking to work in Ireland must...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (7 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: Illicit Trade (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am advised that the regulation of solid fuel environmental standards is provided for by the Air Pollution Act 1987 (Solid Fuels) Regulations 2022. Enforcement of the State’s environmental standards for solid fuels, including restrictions on the marketing, distribution, sale and use of smoky fuels, is the responsibility of Local Authorities. Local Authorities have relevant powers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Artificial Intelligence (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that my Department does not currently use ChatGPT or other GEN AI tools for official business. Where appropriate, my Department plans to assess the opportunities presented by all digital tools, including AI, to enhance service delivery to customers, in full compliance with National Cyber Security Centre (NSSC) advice, and in line with the Government's AI Strategy, "AI...

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

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

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. ...