Results 6,061-6,080 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes all decisions about Garda equipment. As Minister I play no role in these independent functions, and have no role in the issuance of contracts for purchase of Garda equipment, which are governed by standard Government procurement guidelines. I...

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

Helen McEntee: Management of the courts are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Minister has no role in the provision of information from the Courts Service, including information about the numbers of persons prosecuted for any specific offences. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy was issued with an invitation to attend the recent Citizenship Ceremonies. I am advised that the person has been in contact with Citizenship Division of my Department and their contact details has been amended and they will receive an invitation to the next Citizenship Ceremony which will take place later this year. Further information on Citizenship...

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

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is independent in the exercise of its functions and administration. As Minister I have no role in these matters, nor can I comment on them. However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from GSOC and have been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (10 Oct 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, under reservation, in relation to various crime statistics. The CSO also continues...

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

Helen McEntee: In line with a key recommendation of the audit of responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV), Government has agreed to establish a dedicated statutory agency that will be charged with co-ordinating the Government’s response to this important area. The agency will have a range of responsibilities including the funding and commissioning of DSGBV services,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of over €2 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of...

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

Helen McEntee: At the outset, I would like to assure the Deputy that this 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. The Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (10 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy is referring to Parliamentary Question No. 1215 on 11 September 2023 where he sought the number of full-time forensic accountants working in the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in the year 2022 and to date in 2023 I am now advised by the Garda authorities that no full-time forensic accountants worked in Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Unit in 2022 or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (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 management of garda staffing at each divisional protective services unit. I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána. Regrettably this...