Results 6,001-6,020 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Government is fully committed to the fight against racism, prejudice and bigotry, and strongly condemns the actions of those who abuse and attack others because of their own prejudices against a person’s religion, ethnic origins, sexual orientation or any other part of their identity as a human being. Ireland is a diverse and tolerant country, and such...

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 drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime groups, is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and this Government. The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 was passed in July of this year. These new laws will ensure that An Garda Síochána and our Courts have the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to all of those who apply for it. The median processing time for applications currently stands at 19 months. My Department is aware that delays in processing times are frustrating and disruptive for applicants, and are working hard to improve the position. The Citizenship Division intends to regularly communicate with...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, restricting of a person’s liberty prior to trial is a very serious matter, given the presumption that a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. While the State’s bail laws do provide for the refusal of bail in certain circumstances, judges are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and the decision to grant bail in a...

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together. The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and this is reflected the unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion to An Garda Síochána in 2023 and 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020. Given the global nature of the drugs trade, international law enforcement co-operation remains a key element in...

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

Helen McEntee: My Department is committed to driving the modernisation and Digital First agenda across the entire Justice Sector. This is reflected in Budget 2024, as €183.5 million was allocated for the Courts vote, including capital funding of €67 million. This builds on significant investment in recent years, with a total allocation of €176.5 million in 2023, and...

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

Helen McEntee: 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 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service operates under its own vote. It has its own Accounting Officer and lays its reports and accounts...

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

Helen McEntee: I understand the Deputy has clarified that he is referring to barrister's pay in his question. I fully recognise the important role played by barristers and solicitors in the administration of criminal justice – both in the context of working to defend those accused and working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of prosecutions. I can assure the...

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

Helen McEntee: I welcome the significant increase in Budget allocation of over €3.27 billion in current expenditure plus €274m for capital projects for the Justice sector in 2024, with a particular focus on building stronger, safer communities. Budget 2024 continues to build investment in diverting young people away from involvement in crime, to make youth diversion projects available in...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, we are leading an ambitious programme of family justice reform. I published the first Family Justice Strategy in November of last year. It sets out a vision for a family justice system of the future - a system that will focus on the needs and rights of children and will assist their parents in making decisions that affect all of the family. We intend to achieve...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is currently leading an ambitious programme of family justice reform, including the publication of the Family Justice Strategy and the Family Courts Bill 2022. The Strategy puts children at the centre of the system, and emphasises, amongst other things, the need to ensure they are listened to and heard and their views and best interests given due regard,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Management Companies (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 (MUDs Act), reformed the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments, and aims to facilitate the fair, efficient and effective management of Owner Management Companies (OMCs). The MUDs Act includes provisions relating to: the voting rights of apartment owners in decisions taken by the OMC; the power of a court...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the enforcement of road traffic legislation. The Commissioner is also responsible for procurement and related contract management. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am advised...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that it is the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR), rather than my Department, which has overall responsibility for public service terms and conditions of employment. I can inform the Deputy that the retiring age of 60 years for prison officers to whom the Superannuation (Prison Officers) Act, 1919 applies is set out at section...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together. I can inform the Deputy that over 134,000 visa applications have been received this year. As of 29 September 2023, there are 19,695 applications awaiting a decision at first instance. These figures represent all applications made in the Visa Offices overseas, the Immigration Service Visa Office in Dublin, and at Embassies of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I have not been able to collate the information in the time required, I will revert to the Deputy when the information is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Department of Justice has engaged in an extensive consultation process with representative bodies in the licensed trade, businesses, public health bodies and advocacy groups, consumers and communities in relation to the proposed legislation in question. A public consultation, including an online survey and a request for submissions, ran from November 2021 until January 2022. More than...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 343, 346, 364 and 373 together. I fully recognise the important role played by barristers and solicitors in the administration of criminal justice – both in the context of working to defend those accused and working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of prosecutions. I can assure the Deputy that the issue of criminal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Properties (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has two sites currently not in use, namely Thornton Hall, Kilsallaghan, Co. Dublin and the former Cork Prison site located at Rathmore Road, Cork City. The Deputy will be aware that the site at Thornton Hall was purchased by the State in 2005 for a new prison development that did not proceed at the time. The site of the former Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Properties (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will revert to the Deputy again when this is to hand.