Results 6,681-6,700 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together. As Minister for Justice a wide range of correspondence is sent to me regarding the full scope of my Ministerial responsibilities. This correspondence is suitably and appropriately addressed by my office and by the line Division in my Department. Any IIP applicants corresponding regarding their application are advised to communicate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Work to develop a new National Action Plan on human trafficking is very well advanced. This whole of Government plan will set out how the multi-agency work to combat this criminal activity, and to support victims, will be taken forward. It is expected the new Action Plan will be finalised and submitted to Government in the coming weeks for approval to publish. The identification and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all decisions related to the Garda Estate. As Minister, I have no role in such matters and am unable to seek to direct, or otherwise influence, the Commissioner in regards to these matters....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Justice Plan 2023 contains a commitment to review the Peace Commissioner appointment process. This work is being undertaken in the context of a broader review of the role of Peace Commissioner given that the legislation underpinning Peace Commissioners dates back to the Courts of Justice Act 1924. As well as the appointment process, I can inform the Deputy that the main areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy, that criminal legal services are provided by private legal practitioners who have notified the relevant authority of their availability to undertake criminal legal aid work. The courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid on application by the defence in court. My Department has no role in the granting of legal aid or in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that the Department of Justice LGBT+ Staff Network procured 56 branded t-shirts for staff attending the Dublin Pride parade. The total cost was €627.30 including VAT. No other memorabilia was procured by my Department for Pride 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Justice Plan 2023, published earlier this year, builds on the work outlined in Justice Plans 2021 and 2022, and outlines a wide range of actions under the Department's five strategic goals, which are:Tackle crime, enhance national security and transform policingImprove access to justice and modernise the courts systemStrengthen community safety, reduce reoffending, support victims and combat...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the criteria for obtaining an Employment Permit for healthcare assistants is set by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. My Department's role relates to the immigration legislation and procedures which apply to persons granted an Employment Permit. These include the requirement to apply for a Visa to travel to the State, where the person is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service is committed to providing safe and secure custody for all people committed to prison and that my officials in the Irish Prison Service and the Department continuously work to identify short, medium and longer term proposals to help manage capacity issues in our prisons as they arise. It has to be acknowledged that the Irish Prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy created on-line Join Family visa application on 03 October 2022. The supporting documentation and relevant fees were applied on 09 November 2022 in the Pretoria visa office. These visa applications were received in our Dublin Visa Office for further processing on 09 December 2022. Processing of this application is ongoing at present, however it is not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification contains a stated business target that visa applications for family reunification for immediate family members of Irish citizens should be dealt with within 6 months of application. However, it must be made clear that this is a business target for the immigration service and reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (29 Jun 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.

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

Helen McEntee: A number of technical amendments from Senator Ward and me are grouped together for consideration. Amendment No. 1 reflects the change in name of what is now the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Amendments Nos. 13 and 18 from Senator Ward have identified typographical errors. I thank him for that and I am happy to accept these amendments....

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

Helen McEntee: I appreciate where the Senator is coming from in this regard. We are both getting to the same point; we are just doing it in a different way. I accept there are certain items of legislation in which I have repealed and brought forward something new or other areas where we have simply amended older legislation. The reason we have taken this approach is because this was the recommendation in...

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

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator. She touched on two points, which are the mandatory maximum sentence and the presumptive mandatory minimum sentences. A request was put in by the Senator's colleague, Senator Ruane, that we would have a review of the mandatory minimum sentences.That is happening at the moment. Only a few types of offences - firearms and drugs offences - have that minimum presumptive...

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

Helen McEntee: I intend to introduce Report Stage amendments providing for consequential changes to a number of other enactments arising from the new subsections 3A and 4A, relating to non-fatal strangulation offences. These mirror the provisions applicable to the existing sections 3 and 4 - assault causing harm and causing serious harm - provisions.

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

Helen McEntee: I agree with most of what the Senator has outlined and what she and the groups and representatives she has mentioned are trying to achieve. I have met with many of them. Last week I met with an amazing person who was abused but not by an intimate partner. There was coercive control but because it was not that specific scenario it could not be applied in the courts. This is something I...

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

Helen McEntee: I also welcome our guests to the Seanad. I thank the Senator for her amendments. I understand where she is coming from in this regard, and some of the NGOs have raised this as well. Amendments Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, propose to alter the definition of "stalking" to separate the element of the offence that refers to substantial adverse impact on day-to-day activities from the causing of...

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

Helen McEntee: We are talking about many of the same issues we discussed in the previous amendment. What we are trying to do is to prevent the stalking behaviour. It is about looking at the immediate safety and welfare of applicants so they can get an immediate order for eight days, as is set out, or five years, on a much longer footing. While stalking, harassment and civil orders are inextricably...

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

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senators. This issue has already been raised. On Second Stage the Minister Deputy Harris gave a commitment to bring forward amendments specifically on ex parteapplications. Unfortunately they are not ready but I hope they will be ready for Report Stage. The reason I will not accept Senator Ward's amendments is that we need to go even further. We need to put in place provisions...