Results 6,661-6,680 of 15,342 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: This amendment was discussed extensively on Second Stage. It increases the maximum penalty for assault on gardaí and other peace officers from seven years to 12 years. We are all very conscious of the dedication and commitment of our front-line workers and the risks they take in the course of their duties. Recent violent incidents have shocked us all. Any police force, but...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator. As he said, he has worked on this for some time. I also thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, who has also worked on progressing this matter. In the past year, we celebrated 100 years of the Garda. As the Senator said, those members go out every day, say goodbye to their loved ones and do not know what they will face on a day-to-day basis. We...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: On Report Stage, there will be an amendment to section 55 to facilitate the appointment of a deputy chairperson to the mental health review board.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I will introduce amendments on Report Stage to facilitate the provision of assistance to the European Public Prosecutor's Office.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: This amendment provides for consequential amendments to the Broadcasting and Other Media Regulations, 2009 and 2022. It follows the pattern in those Acts of scheduling matters that might be subject to regulation of online media. It covers the new offences provided for in this Bill relating to stalking, harassment and non-fatal strangulation. The effect of this is to allow the online safety...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Amendments Nos. 36 and 38 are intended to correct a number of technical issues in the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act. Apart from correcting certain drafting and cross-referencing issues, they will allow for the data retention reforms of the 2022 Act to be commenced with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. It will also allow for the 2022 reforms to be...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The amendment provides for a change in the composition of the DNA database system oversight committee. The provision being repealed provided for a member of the committee to be appointed by the Data Protection Commissioner. The Data Protection Commission has raised concerns around this provision and its compatibility with the fundamental requirement of the commission to be completely...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I wish to flag in respect of section 23 that I will introduce Report Stage amendments providing for restrictions on the publication of the identity of alleged victims of harassment and stalking offences under the section. I am sorry but I missed that section when we were going through the Bill.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Not at all. It is good to get it done.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (28 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (28 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Records (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The criminalisation of consensual sexual acts between men in Ireland came into effect prior to the foundation of the State and remained in place until its eventual decriminalisation in 1993. As the Deputy will be aware, I recently published the final report and recommendations of the Working Group examining the feasibility of a scheme to disregard certain historic convictions related to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation can only be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 10 February 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. The processing times of applications will vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department is committed to reducing how long applicants have to wait for a decision while improving the service provided to applicants. To help achieve this my Department is holding additional Citizenship Ceremonies this year and next to ensure it has the ability to naturalise as many applicants as possible. So far this year there...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (28 Jun 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: An Garda Síochána (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I recognise and acknowledge the crucial role front-line workers play in the delivery of our healthcare system. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. The position in regard to applications of this nature is set out in the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which is available on my Department's website. The policy, which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Last week, following their consideration by Government, I published the majority report and the minority report of the Independent Review Group appointed to examine all aspects of the Offences Against the State Acts. The Acts are Ireland's primary counter-terrorism legislation. They have and continue to serve the State well in tackling subversives and organised crime and fulfil a vital role...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2023 and ending on 29th June, 2024.