Results 6,701-6,720 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: Not at all. I suggest that we should go even further and that there are other areas that have been brought to our attention that need to be included. I understand from where Senator Black is coming. I have just come from a family justice forum where we spoke about the family justice system and how abuse can continue into the courts. It is no different when we are speaking about these...

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

Helen McEntee: I thank Senator Ward for his remarks. I agree with him on the reason people do not come forward.

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

Helen McEntee: A Report Stage amendment to this section is being considered.

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

Helen McEntee: Section 14C(2) of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 provides that where a person is accused of a sexual offence and the alleged adult victim of the offence is to give evidence, "the court may direct that the accused may not personally cross-examine the witness unless the court is of the opinion that the interests of justice require the accused to conduct the cross-examination personally." This...

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

Helen McEntee: I know the Senator has raised this point before, particularly the requirement to write down everything that happens in an interview. The advice I have been given is that I have the ability to change this under regulations, section 27 of the Criminal Justice Act or by amendment to the custody regulations. Obviously, that has not happened and perhaps this area needs to be updated. A separate...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Senator said, the first part has already been done. There has been an update and there is a review under way for the subsequent piece. Until the review is done, I will not be pre-emptive. This is an area on which the Senator and I should work together.

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

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. It is because he raised it that these changes are being made. The Minister, Deputy Harris, previously gave a commitment that amendments would be tabled. As the Senator said, there is a lacuna in the law. Looking at it in practice, there are very few children that receive a life sentence but, as the Senator said, there can be transitional cases...

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...