Results 6,421-6,440 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jul 2023)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. A request for a solicitor letter of authorisation from the person cited issued last week. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pension Provisions (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am informed that officials in my Department are liaising directly with the concerned party to progress this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: Is the Deputy may be aware, the Judicial Council Act 2019 provided for the establishment of the Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee of the Judicial Council. Its functions include the collation of information on sentences imposed by the courts and the dissemination of that information to judges and others. The Committee has commissioned and published expert research on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together. Abhaile is jointly coordinated and funded by the Department of Justice and the Department of Social Protection, under a Joint Steering Board and a Joint Working Group, which include the implementing bodies. The service’s implementing bodies are the Citizens Information Board (which includes the Money Advice and Budgeting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department provides funding to Muintir na Tíre to cover the costs incurred by communities in administering the Text Alert Scheme. The Scheme is administered on a refund basis whereby communities submit their annual costs to Muintir na Tíre and a maximum refund of up to €450 is provided to the community. This funding is provided for in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. A request for a solicitor letter of authorisation from the person cited issued last week. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I wish to inform the Deputy that the person concerned attended a Citizenship Ceremony on 20 June and their Certificate of Naturalisation will be posted to them in the coming weeks. With regards to the child's potential citizenship application, there are no provisions to apply different criteria depending on the category of employment or profession of the applicant, or any intended purpose of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I wish to inform the Deputy that there are currently 5 individuals detained in prison under section 5 of the Immigration Act 1999. The 5 individuals have been refused international protection under Section 51 of the International Protection Act. Section 5 of the Immigration Act 1999 provides that where an immigration officer or a member of the Garda Síochána, with reasonable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. The International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department is responsible for examining all international protection applications received. The staff of the IPO are independent by law in the exercise...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department's objective is to ensure that applications are dealt with fairly and efficiently within the framework of Ireland's international obligations. The International Protection Office has partnered with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), a key UN body in this field, to provide cultural mediators to assist applicants in completing application forms and provide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I understand that this is a difficult situation for our Afghan community and would like to take this opportunity to assure them that my Department is processing applications under the Afghan Admissions Programme (AAP) as quickly as possible. To ensure as many people as possible can avail of this important programme my Department have been liaising with representatives of the Afghan Community...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: Arrangements for visa process recognise the importance of facilitating travel to the State for a range of economic and social purposes. As with all visa services worldwide, the central concern in deciding on visa applications is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime while at the same time not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the recruitment and retention of Garda members. I can assure the Deputy 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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As I said, I hope to publish the Bill in two weeks time. That will give Deputies time over the summer, if they wish, to read into this and look into the detail of it. A huge amount of work has been set out, but of course this will have to go to the justice committee. There will be pre-legislative scrutiny and of course, as is the case with any Bill, I will be taking on board all...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The proposal being worked on at the moment is to expand the number of spaces we have within the existing prison capacity. The proposal is for between 620 and 650 new spaces to be delivered over the next five to six years. Some projects are shovel-ready and have plans already developed that can be moved on quickly to cater for the fact that we have a growing population. At the same time we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: No, it will not.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Facial Recognition Technology (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, I am committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources, the equipment and the technology necessary to do its job in protecting people from harm and saving lives. As part of this commitment, I am working to ensure gardaí have body-worn cameras and to extend the powers governing An Garda Síochána's use of CCTV and automatic number plate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Facial Recognition Technology (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: This is about getting a balance, making sure we give An Garda Síochána the tools to be able to deal with the really serious cases I have mentioned, and protecting people's rights and their privacy. It is about striking that balance, making sure we have a level of oversight and also making sure we are in step with our colleagues at European level. This Bill will be progressed very...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware and as I have mentioned a number of times this evening, my priority is to ensure that we continue to increase the number of gardaí, that we do not just reach the target of 15,000 but go beyond it and that we ensure that every community benefits from that increase in numbers. Of course, it is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to decide where gardaí are...