Results 5,961-5,980 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Sittings (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that the management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. However, the Department supports the Courts Service in its work to create an environment where justice can be administered efficiently and accessibly for all citizens. How a child is engaged with as part of a court case is a matter for the presiding judge. More generally, children are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998. The Children Court deals with charges against children under circumstances and restrictions set out in law. The principal legislation in this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. Once the application process is completed and the applicant has been granted their Certificate of Naturalisation it is then open to them to make an application for an Irish Passport to the Department of Foreign Affairs. The granting of Irish citizenship through...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that any non-EEA national intending to visit the State must show that they have access to sufficient finance to support them in Ireland; visa required nationals must provide documentary evidence of this finance when applying for a visa. If an applicant is paying for their own visit they must include an up-to-date bank statement with their application. In such a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow workers report alleged wrongdoing to the appropriate authorities. The Act, as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, also affords very important protections to persons making protected disclosures. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate therefore that it would not be appropriate for me to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service provides a health care service for people with addictions on a structured, safe and professional basis in line with international best practice. The Irish Prison Service continues to be committed to, and involved with, the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with community colleagues and organisations. It is estimated that approximately 70% of prisoners who are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together. I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that An Garda Síochána is unable to provide a breakdown of seizures in the form requested by the Deputy. Confirmation of drugs seized are subject to analysis and verification by Forensic Science Ireland, prior to publication in the Garda Annual Report. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 401 together. The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, which is reflected in an allocation of €2.31 billion under Budget 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020. As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy there are no plans to open additional overseas visa offices in any new locations. There are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. Citizens of the United States of America (USA) and the Republic of Korea are not visa required nationals and may...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As you are aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the deployment of Garda resources and training of Garda personnel. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. A Senior Investigating Officer...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: My top priority is building stronger, safer communities and that is reflected in the budget allocation of €2.31 billion announced last week for An Garda Síochána, which has grown considerably since I took office in 2020. This unprecedented budget will strengthen the work of An Garda Síochána and the criminal justice sector to prevent and detect crime and protect...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of all individuals in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation, 2016/679 (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. My Department complies fully with data breach reporting requirements. Securing and managing personal data in accordance with the GDPR principles is a priority and is governed by a comprehensive set...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that this Government is deeply committed to tackling sexual violence and sexual crime in all its forms. Working to ensure that victims feel empowered to report sexual crimes and that when they do, they are fully supported at every stage of their interaction with our justice system, has been a priority for me as Minister for Justice. Building the confidence of victims...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 to 409, inclusive, together. I am advised by officials in the Irish Prison Service that on 30 September 2023 there were 4,581 people in prison and the bed capacity was 4,515. Of the 4,581 people in prison, 3,197 had previously been committed into custody. The Deputy will wish to be aware that the officials in the Irish Prison Service and in my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Oct 2023)

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

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023: Committee Stage (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Yes. I thank both Deputies for raising this point. These amendments both seek to amend section 21 of the Bill to create a statutory obligation on the Minister to consult with the chief executive of the agency when appointing staff to it. Section 21(1) replicates the arrangements already in place for providing staff to several other bodies under the aegis of my Department. These include...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (12 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: An Garda Síochána has oversight of the registration and renewal of immigration permissions for persons residing outside of the Dublin area. This responsibility rests with local Superintendents or the relevant Detective Superintendent. The waiting time for appointments outside of Dublin is dependent on the demand for registrations in each office, and fluctuates based on seasonal...

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Apologies, I thought we had ten minutes between the two of us.