Results 6,821-6,840 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (15 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: An application for a Spouse of Irish National (SOIN) permission was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 23 May 2022 and continues to be processed. To be fair to all applicants, applications are dealt with in chronological order by date received. My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may vary due to a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (15 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 9 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: Visa Applications (15 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused on 5 October 2022. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant at that time. An appeal of this decision was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 3 November 2022. All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (15 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that Minister Harris brought both the finalised policy paper and the research report to Government on the 23rd of May last, which noted his intention to publish both reports. Both the research report and the policy paper have now been published on the Department’s website, a link to which can be found here:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (15 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Ireland’s Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) is designed to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill short term labour gaps for the benefit of our economy. In recognition of the importance of front-line medical personnel, the AWS Unit prioritises these applications. There has been an unprecedented demand for Atypical Working Scheme permissions in the first three months of this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Spent Convictions (15 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government commits in the Programme for Government to reviewing the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 and to broaden the range of convictions that are considered spent. As part of this review process, a public consultation on spent convictions was launched by my Department in October 2020. Bespoke research on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (15 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (15 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy does not state the nationality of the family members referred to in his query. If the family members referred to are unsure as to whether they require a visa or preclearance to enter Ireland, they can check the list at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Immigrati on-Service-Delivery-Visa-and-Non-Visa-Required-Countries.pdf . If they are visa...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (15 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy previously held a Stamp 4 permission which expired on 10 February 2023. Any period spent on a Stamp 4 permission is considered as reckonable residence when applying for citizenship by way of naturalisation, and an application for Naturalisation on behalf of this person was received by my Department on 25 August 2022. However, it is important to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (15 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the applications referred to were created on 7 July 2022. Supporting documentation was received in the Pretoria office on 27 September 2022. The applications were received in the Dublin Visa Office on 1 November 2022, where they await examination and processing. Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (15 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy has no current immigration permission to remain in the State. It is important that persons keep their immigration permission up to date if they wish to continue to reside in the State. Where a person remains resident in the State without an immigration permission, I encourage them to contact the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) or their local...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (14 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Ireland’s Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) is designed to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill short term labour gaps for the benefit of our economy. In recognition of the importance of front-line medical personnel, the AWS Unit prioritises these applications. There has been an unprecedented demand for Atypical Working Scheme permissions in the first three months of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Medicinal Products (14 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the definition of a cannabinoid, or any controlled drug, is a matter for the Department of Health, as covered under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. Further information on the classification of different substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act, including cannabinoids, can be found on Drugs.ie, the information site managed by the HSE, at www.drugs.ie/drugtypes/.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (14 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 122 together. Prison Governors are, by law, required to admit into custody all prisoners committed by the Courts and as such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody in any given year. The Irish Prison Service have informed my Department that as of 13 June 2023 there were 869 people on remand which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (14 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Parole Board, as provided for under the Parole Act 2019, was established on 31 July 2021. The Act placed the parole process on a statutory footing and established an independent, statutory Parole Board to decide on parole applications. The new Parole Board makes its decisions to grant or refuse parole independently from the Minister for Justice and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (14 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, court proceedings are under the remit of the Courts Service. Management of the courts are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: It is good to be back. I am delighted to be here specifically to deal with this Bill. I thank Senators for attending this evening's debate. I am pleased to present this Bill and to have the opportunity to discuss it with Members of the Seanad. The Bill has obviously gone through the Dáil and it is important that we have an opportunity to discuss and debate in this Chamber. Enactment...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I would appreciate it if I could continue as there is a lot to cover and I would be able to address much of what is coming up.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: For the purposes of this Bill, there are 12 aggravated offences which can be classified as "hate crimes". These vary from very serious offences like assault to violent public order offences or criminal damage. These offences have been selected as they are the most commonly cited crimes against people on identity grounds. Where a perpetrator is found guilty of one of these offences that is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Programmes (13 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. The IIP Unit has published a FAQ concerning the closure on my Department's website, which will be updated with any further arising questions from the closure, and is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/faqs-closure-of-the-immigrant-invest...