Results 5,961-5,980 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Courts Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I agree this has been going on for too long, which is why I was really pleased to be able to make progress for the first time in this year's budget just yesterday. It is not possible for me to confirm to any organisation what may or may not be in the budget. What I can do, and certainly did do in this instance, was to reassure people, insofar as I possibly could, that this was a priority...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I agree with the Deputy and all members of An Garda Síochána who say they do work others could be doing and could free up valuable police time and make sure we have as many visible gardaí out on the beat as possible. We are committed to doing that. Strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of everything we are focused on at the moment. When it comes to this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities. Strengthening An Garda Síochána is, of course, 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. That is reflected in the unprecedented budget allocation of €2.3 billion to An Garda...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I absolutely believe we need to increase the numbers of reserves we have to support the work the Garda does and to allow for that increased presence and visibility on the ground as we continue to increase our normal Garda numbers as well. It has been a challenging 20 years or so since the reserve was established. There was a peak of about 1,400 reserves at a particular time, especially when...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I appreciate that it has taken a little time since the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report, but in that time a new strategy has been published. We have also gone through a pandemic, which meant that any type of recruitment, be it in Templemore or here, was near impossible. We have a new regulation which, as I said, will be with me by the end of the week and which will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Courts Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to be able to give an update on progress that has been made on this issue. I fully recognise the important role played by barristers and solicitors in the administration of criminal justice, not only in the context of working to defend those who are accused but also working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of prosecutions. I take this opportunity...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I was honoured to contribute to the launch of the Women’s Aid Impact Report 2022 earlier this year. There is no doubt that its content makes for stark and difficult reading. Last year Women’s Aid received 33,000 disclosures of domestic abuse of women and children, including more than 1,000 cases of sexual abuse. The report notes that four out of five women who contacted...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to doubling the number of refuge places to 280 as part of our Zero Tolerance Strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. To achieve this ambitious goal we are working with all stakeholders to put in place the necessary structures and supports to accelerate the delivery of additional refuge accommodation year on year. A key priority is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to say that threats against the safety of those who work in our public services, including Gardaí, local authority employees, public representatives and our staff, and indeed any member of the public, are completely unacceptable. This is something I have discussed with the Garda Commissioner and which he regards with the utmost seriousness. Individuals who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 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. This level of funding is providing for a steady pipeline of new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Let me first say that it has been really encouraging to see the very significant progress which has been achieved in Drogheda over the last few years. Since the establishment of the Implementation Board, the willingness and commitment of members to working together has achieved what I believe will be lasting progress for Drogheda. I announced earlier this year a further extension for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling organised criminal activity is a priority for An Garda Síochána and the government. 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling organised criminal activity is a priority for An Garda Síochána and the government. 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 organisation has provision for the equipment,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that mental health services within prisons are provided by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) and the HSE/National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) and there are a range of rehabilitative, therapeutic and counselling services available for people in custody. The Irish Prison Psychology Service is staffed by qualified mental health practitioners and is the largest...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for her continued and genuine interest in this work. The changes made by the 2017 Sexual Offences Act allow those engaged in prostitution to provide information to Gardaí, for instance if they were subjected to violence by clients, without fear of prosecution for selling sexual services. Section 27 of the Act provides for the review to which the Deputy's question...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy has noted, the Commission for Victims and Survivors in Northern Ireland recently published a survey of attitudes here regarding the Troubles and people’s experiences of the Troubles. The survey emphasises the fact that we live on an island, and as such we share experiences with our neighbours. Successive Irish governments have consistently sought to acknowledge and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 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 organisation has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) manages the initial recruitment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Government is committed to doubling the number of refuge places to 280 as part of our Zero Tolerance Strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The development of an estimated 36 refuge units is underway in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan. It is expected that there will be 98 refuge units in priority locations delivered by end 2025 along with further additional and upgraded...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The report of Judge Gerard Haughton arising from the Scoping Exercise into the circumstances surrounding the tragic and untimely death of Shane O'Farrell, aged 23 in August 2011 was published on 3rd July 2023. Judge Haughton was appointed by Minister Flanagan in 2019 to carry out a Scoping Exercise in light of the public controversy surrounding the circumstances of Mr O'Farrell's tragic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Budget 2024 provides funding of €2.31 billion for An Garda Síochána, up 23 per cent since 2020. This level of funding demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring Gardaí have the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and, most importantly, the personnel they need to carry out their vital work. This level of funding will continue to provide for...