Results 6,441-6,460 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to all of those who apply for it. My Department is aware that delays in processing times are frustrating and disruptive for applicants, and we are working hard to improve the position. Statistics are not complied or maintained in the manner requested by the Deputy. However, the median processing time for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service operates a Merit Award Scheme, which recognises acts of bravery, outstanding heroism or merit which have been performed by staff of the Irish Prison Service. There are three levels of award, depending on the degree of bravery, heroism or merit, beyond the normal expectation of the member of staff and taking account their experience and training. The current Merit...

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

Helen McEntee: Tackling violent crime is a priority for the Government, for my Department and for An Garda Síochána. Everyone has a right to feel safe and be safe in their homes and in their locality and I am committed to ensuring that is the case nationwide. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to achieve this. In 2023, over 2...

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

Helen McEntee: A key element of our policy on building safer and stronger communities is that communities themselves have a crucial role to play. There is no one size fits all approach, because each community has different needs and challenges. My Department's community safety policy is about people being safe and feeling safe in their own community. This approach goes far beyond the traditional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can 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 the Government. My Department is working on a wide range of measures to tackle organised crime, including:the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023, which will make it an offence for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that the standard registration fee of €300 payable by an applicant is designed to reflect the effort and cost, over and above the cost of production, involved in processing registrations. An applicant is exempted from the registration fee if they:Have refugee statusHave subsidiary protection statusHave leave to remain under Section 49 of the International...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Kirsty Ward on their tragic loss. I was deeply shocked by her killing, and it is unfortunately another appalling example of a woman’s life being taken violently, and another example of a family left suffering. An Garda Síochána have been liaising with the family and I hope that they will do all they can do assist...

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

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to deliver on their goal of ensuring communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. As Minister I engage regularly with the Commissioner to monitor the resources needed to drive Garda recruitment. As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, since 2017, my Department has administered a grant aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area. To date, there have been 35 successful applications to the community-based CCTV grant scheme with grants totalling €948,649.16 awarded. It is envisaged that the scheme will continue beyond 2023, as the Garda...

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

Helen McEntee: Community policing is fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and currently being rolled out under 'A Policing Service for Our Future', the Government's implementation plan for the Commission's recommendations. I want to emphasise that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and that all...

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

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities. Everyone, no matter where in the country they live, deserves to be safe and to feel safe. This is central to the Government’s community safety policy. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business and he determines the distribution of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to all of those who apply for it. My Department is aware that delays in processing times are frustrating and disruptive for applicants, and we are working hard to improve the position. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the...

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

Helen McEntee: At the outset, I must inform the Deputy that prior to commencement my Department did notify the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act 2022 to the Technical Regulation Information System process in December 2022. This was done on a ‘without prejudice’ basis, as Ireland was of the view that this was not legally required. The notification period elapsed in March...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has developed an Action Plan in response to the Office of the Inspector of Prisons “Thematic Inspection on Education & Work Training, April – June 2022 report”.The Action Plan outlines a summary of actions proposed by the Irish Prison Service to address recommendations made by the Inspectorate. Both the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Management Companies (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 (“the MUDs Act”) was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments, and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (“OMCs”). Well-functioning OMCs are key to maintaining and sustaining...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purpose of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments, and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). Well-functioning OMCs are key to maintaining and sustaining higher-density residential developments, such as...

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

Helen McEntee: I am committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources, the equipment and the technology necessary to do their jobs 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 Garda use of CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). Such technology will...

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

Helen McEntee: The Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022, which was signed by the President on 5 July 2023, makes a number of amendments to the Data Protection Act of 2018. As the Deputy will be aware, section 67 inserts a new section 26A, into the Data Protection Act 2018 to provide a prohibition on disclosure of confidential information by persons engaged with the Data Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers...