Results 6,441-6,460 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: I talk to the gardaí in my county and engage with them at every level, from the new recruits coming into our county to the highest level, our chief superintendent. I understand that what we need is more gardaí. We also need to make sure that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, whether that is through capital investment or investment in vehicles, handheld...

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

Helen McEntee: I disagree with a lot of what the Deputy has just said. Morale is not on the floor. I speak to gardaí every day. I know they need additional members to support them in the work they do. It is simply not correct to say that nobody wants to join. Some 11,000 people applied to join An Garda Síochána last year and there were 5,000 in a competition that happened less than a...

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

Helen McEntee: We want people to apply and to join. We will work through the process. However, we are now in a situation of full employment and the numbers applying to An Garda Síochána are not reflected across the rest of the public service. The Deputy says that gardaí are leaving in their droves. Less than 1% of gardaí left last year. That does not compare to the numbers leaving...

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

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that I hope to bring my proposals to Government for the drafting of a Bill to establish the Irish Prison Service on a statutory basis with new and enhanced governance and accountability structures shortly. In fact, I hope to bring it to Cabinet in approximately two weeks. This follows Government approval in June 2022 to prepare the general scheme of such a Bill. A...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I firmly believe violence against women and girls is the biggest issue preventing equality, not just in Ireland but right across the globe. It is an issue people are dealing with throughout the world. It is not fair to say nothing has happened in 20-plus years. The previous strategy resulted in significant changes in this country by way of new laws, new polices and investment. There is...

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

Helen McEntee: I assure the Deputy that the development of a substantial new Garda station and facilities on Dublin City Council lands at the corner of the R139 and the Malahide Road at Northern Cross is considered a strategic priority project by An Garda Síochána. The Office of Public Works, OPW, is engaged in ongoing positive interaction with the council, in consultation with An Garda...

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

Helen McEntee: We have a significant capital plan under way at the moment. Funding for this year was €50 million, with a further €50 million allocated for next year and the subsequent year. I will be seeking an increase in that capital spend in the coming years. As set out in the Summer Economic Statement, there will be an increase in the capital ceiling for the NDP. There is a variety...

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

Helen McEntee: I might have to get back to Deputy Lawless on some of the detail of his question. The Northern Cross project is a commitment under the national development plan. It is included in the indicative schedule of works under the Garda capital plan, which runs from 2023 to 2030. The location of the site is the subject of discussion not just between the Garda and the OPW but also Dublin City...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The legislation, as the Deputy has said, has made significant changes. It was introduced to provide additional protection for people involved in prostitution. What we have seen in other jurisdictions is that the decriminalisation of brothel-keeping, which the Deputy and others have raised, actually creates a greater loophole that allows the likes of criminal gangs and others to profit but...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is an absolute priority for me and the rest of the Government. One of the key and central elements of the new zero-tolerance strategy is the establishment of the agency. I have given a commitment to have it up and running in January 2024, and we are on track for that to happen. On 28 February, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: Nobody is more devastated to see the numbers than I am, given my commitment to trying to address this issue, but we need to ensure we are not just responding but also putting in place structures to deal with this in the longer term. This is where the agency will be vital. We are going to replicate existing structures, working with the agency. We have a committee chaired by the Taoiseach,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. I know this is something she has been interested in for some time and I know I have responded to her on this previously. Section 27 of the Act provides for the review to which her question refers. We commissioned an independent consultant to undertake the statutory review but there have been a number of reasons, more particularly her work to complete the familicide...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy and agree the review is extremely important. The person in question was commissioned to do this review first. Subsequently, the other person in question passed away and this person was asked to complete that. It took much longer than anybody thought it would. Without saying names or getting into details it took much longer to do the familicide study. Anybody who has...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy is aware, as he has acknowledged it previously, that safety is not just a matter for the Department and members of An Garda Síochána. The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recognised that community safety is not solely the responsibility of the Garda. Rather, it is a whole-of-government responsibility. This is key to the Policing, Security and Community...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The role of the wardens will be to support gardaí and the community and not to arrest. Their role is to engage and observe. To say that nothing is happening is the perception or narrative that is being put out. We opened the new Garda station on O'Connell Street. This was something that we had prioritised to ensure there is visibility on our main thoroughfare. Since then there have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: There is work under way. For example, Dublin City Council has given a commitment to look at the fact there is a consolidation of health services and supports, particularly for those with drug addiction problems in the city centre. It is examining what kind of impact this has on surrounding areas. We need to get this information first. Initial work was done on the time of day that street...

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

Helen McEntee: Absolutely. It is a net increase overall, but we need it to be greater. Our Templemore figures were moving in a positive direction for two years. Unfortunately, though, they have slowed down.

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

Helen McEntee: The only way we will increase those numbers is by getting as many gardaí through Templemore as possible.

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

Helen McEntee: Absolutely, but as can be seen from previous years, it takes time to start building momentum and to get a steady flow of candidates through Templemore. I agree that the 92, 135 and 154 are not the numbers we had hoped for, but we are moving in the right direction. In previous years, the situation progressed in this way and numbers came through steadily. We meet the Garda Commissioner...

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

Helen McEntee: A number of steps are being taken to try to identify why members are leaving, but I must stress that over the past seven years the average number of members leaving and choosing different career paths has been between 0.5% and 0.7%. It is at just under 1% now, so there has not been a major loss of gardaí. There has been an increase in recruitment. There was a significant influx many...