Results 6,121-6,140 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Victorian-era laws which were repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 caused immeasurable harm to generations of gay and bisexual men, criminalising and stigmatizing them simply because of their sexual orientation. As the Deputy will be aware, I published the final report and recommendations of the Working Group examining the feasibility of a scheme to disregard...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated and I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Citizenship Division of my Department on the 14 July 2023. In correspondence dated the 11 September 2023 my Department acknowledged the application and outlined to the applicant that the current median processing time is 19 months. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate the information in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. Let me assure the Deputy that I recognise the important role played by barristers in undertaking criminal legal aid work. Any increase in criminal legal aid fees would have to be considered as part of the estimates process for 2024, which is still underway.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Properties (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the former Cork prison was built in the early 1800s and served as a military detention barracks until it was transferred to the ownership of the Department of Justice in 1972. The building was closed in February 2016 following the construction of new prison facilities on a site opposite the old prison as part of the Irish Prison Service modernisation programme and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the prisoner referred to has approximately 2 years left to serve on his current sentence and early release is not being considered at present. His case will be kept under review and all options will be considered at the appropriate stage of his sentence. By way of general information the Deputy will wish to be aware that the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The introduction of a visa requirement for Bolivian nationals has brought Ireland into alignment with the visa requirements applying in the UK and in the Schengen area. Bolivian nationals are required to obtain a visa prior to travelling to these jurisdictions. Section 17 of the Immigration Act 2004 provides that the Minister for Justice may, for the purposes of ensuring the integrity of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused by the Visa Office in Abu Dhabi on 14 February 2023. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 11 March 2023. Appeals for applications of this type are processed in the order in which they are received, to be fair to all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 449 together. The Victorian-era laws which were repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 caused immeasurable harm to generations of gay and bisexual men, criminalising and stigmatizing them simply because of their sexual orientation. As the Deputy will be aware, I published the final report and recommendations of the Working Group...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (3 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 3rdJuly 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 Shane's tragic death....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Bodies (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Oireachtas Mail service was established by my Department in response to the volume of requests being submitted via Parliamentary Questions. The purpose of the Oireachtas Mail service is to assist Oireachtas members who have specific immigration application status requests. It is an exclusive service and is designed to help serve the democratic needs of our national parliament. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that there are no plans to commission an investigation into historical allegations of abuse in the Probation Service. The Deputy will be aware from previous responses, that records indicate two allegations of child sexual abuse have been made in relation to the Probation Service. Both relate to alleged incidents in the 1970s by a former staff member who is now...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The statistical information sought by the Deputy in relation to international protection applicants is set out in the tables in the attached. With regard to the statistical information requested for the number of applications for international protection approved and the number rejected; it has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a priority for this Government and one that is reflected in a range of policies and legislation, as well as unprecedented increases in Budget allocations. In June of last year, we published a 5 year ambitious Zero Tolerance Strategy. This is a €363 million strategy, and is built on the four pillars of Prevention,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (3 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: An Garda Síochána (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 441 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Bodies (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I should first of all state that Ireland is not a member of Frontex. Ireland, as an EU Member State, is invited to participate at its Management Board in a non-voting capacity and can, should it wish to do so, seek to participate in certain training and joint operations co-ordinated by Frontex on behalf of EU Member States. Frontex facilitates training across Frontex member states and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 442 and 443 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC) was activated by the EU Council in March 2022 in response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Directive establishes the minimum standards of protection to be provided by Member States in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons from third...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and the 2023 budget of over €2 billion will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff, with Garda recruits entering Templemore approximately every 11 weeks. I can assure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to reaching its current targets of 15,000 Gardaí and 4,000 Garda staff. ...