Results 5,821-5,840 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: The nationwide roll out of Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSUs), which was an action under both the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and ‘Supporting a Victim's Journey’, has been completed. As the deputy will be aware, there is now a DPSU in every Garda division across the country. This is to ensure that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic...

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

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. As the Deputy will be aware, under the...

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

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that there are four votes with capital expenditure within the Justice Vote group, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, Courts Service and Department of Justice. These in total combine to almost €294m for 2023. The details of spend as a percentage of annual allocation for the first nine months of the year, is set out in the table below. ...

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 881 to 885, inclusive, together. 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.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his questions. With regard to recruitment, retention and morale, I have consistently said that I take my role in supporting An Garda Síochána, making sure we have as many of gardái as possible and that they are supported in the work, extremely seriously. My number one priority when it comes to An Garda Síochána is ensuring that we have as many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. I know she is particularly focused on and prioritises the safety of women and children and all those who are victims of domestic and sexual violence. A huge amount of work is under way to put in place structures that will outlive me or any other Member of the House and to ensure we can continue to prioritise domestic and sexual violence, develop refuge accommodation for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Not yet. Specific funding has been allocated in this year's budget in respect of the roll-out more of these. Last year, funding was provided for three projects under way in Dundalk, Wexford and County Meath. Additional funding in this year's budget will allow for more individuals to work in these key priority areas. The budget was only introduced a few weeks ago, and we are still working...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I acknowledge what was done in the budget only goes a certain way towards restoration for the work that is being done in criminal law by many barristers. As part of the increase in the budget I have committed to a full review to look at the overall service being provided. This may bring about different changes, not least to how the fees and structures are implemented and applied. We have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: We will have to come back to the Deputy on some of those. I do not have details of the number of people who have received a maximum sentence to date but I am sure we can get that information through the courts. In increasing the sentence, I have acknowledged and recognised the severity of assaulting a member of An Garda Síochána or any other emergency worker. While we have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I do, although they are higher than they were in 2015. While we have increased and dropped, I hope we will increase again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Yes, we have a higher number this year but that needs to be taken in the round in the context of various different matters.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can only speak for myself but I made it clear as the year went on that the target was 1,000 but that it would be difficult to reach. The numbers I outlined at the outset, which include those who have been attested, who have gone through the college and who will be in the college, will be close to, if not beyond, 800 for this year. It is not the figure of 1,000, as I have been saying for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: There is no harm in people being ambitious. When the Taoiseach said it would be hard to meet, that was the case at the time. I have clearly said that we will not meet that target but the fact that we are most likely going to surpass 800 between those who have gone through the college, those in the college and those coming into the college this year is an indication of the momentum we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: The regulations are now out for consultation. A number of the representative bodies have come back on them but some have not yet. We are still waiting on some of the organisations to give their views on the regulations. Once we have all of those in, we will move as quickly as possible. A Garda recruitment campaign will start early in the new year and it is important that we do not have a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: Once we have the feedback from the organisations, we can move on the new regulations. As I have said, it is important that we do not have a Garda recruitment campaign at the same as a reserve recruitment campaign and that there be some period of time between them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: It is intended that the Garda recruitment campaign will be early in the new year and that the reserve campaign will be very soon after that.