Results 6,921-6,940 of 16,309 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Money from the proceeds of crime comes directly back into the Exchequer. A decision was then taken that this money should be ring-fenced, spent and put directly back into communities. We have increased it year on year. It started at €2 million, it went up to €3 million and it is now almost €4 million. My anticipation and hope is that it will continue to grow. With...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: It is hard to respond in a minute. It is fair to say that there are many reasons people might feel safe or unsafe in their communities. It might be that a person is a victim of domestic abuse and is simply not safe in his or her own home. It might be that an elderly person does not feel safe due to antisocial behaviour. Another reason might be the impact of criminal organisations and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: While I have outlined the work that is under way in terms of immigration, courts security and serving summonses, as the Deputy mentioned, a high-level group considered the recommendations relating to prosecutions. A report has been submitted which will shortly be brought to Government. A group chaired by my Department, comprising the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána, has also...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I reassure the Deputy that there is an absolute commitment to bring about these changes. There are a number of different strands to the process. In terms of the changes to immigration, we have a pathway that is being worked on to expand on the changes seen in Dublin Airport which have been very successful. A body of work is being done on prosecutions, which the Deputy mentioned. I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Inquiries (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. As she has alluded to, she raises a question relating to an investigation of nearly 50 years ago which culminated in the court’s overturning the convictions of two people in 1980, a pardon for one individual in 1992 and the payment of financial settlements. There is no doubt this case, and others of the time that we know of, cast a shadow on the trust we place in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Inquiries (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The ICCL petition was received by me and my Department. A response will issue in due course. It is something we are going through at the moment. Once the matter has been fully considered and we have gone through the report completely, we will respond. We have to consider every incident. In the short time I have been in the Department, there have been calls for various types of public...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Courts Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I appreciate, depending on the type of work, that there were two 8% cuts and a cut of 10% each in the lower and higher courts. For somebody working in both courts, that was a much higher cut. If somebody is working in the lower courts, the restoration we introduced and allowed for in yesterday's budget goes nearly halfway to responding to those cuts. As I said, this is the start of a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Courts Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I agree this has been going on for too long, which is why I was really pleased to be able to make progress for the first time in this year's budget just yesterday. It is not possible for me to confirm to any organisation what may or may not be in the budget. What I can do, and certainly did do in this instance, was to reassure people, insofar as I possibly could, that this was a priority...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I agree with the Deputy and all members of An Garda Síochána who say they do work others could be doing and could free up valuable police time and make sure we have as many visible gardaí out on the beat as possible. We are committed to doing that. Strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of everything we are focused on at the moment. When it comes to this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities. Strengthening An Garda Síochána is, of course, at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. That is reflected in the unprecedented budget allocation of €2.3 billion to An Garda...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I absolutely believe we need to increase the numbers of reserves we have to support the work the Garda does and to allow for that increased presence and visibility on the ground as we continue to increase our normal Garda numbers as well. It has been a challenging 20 years or so since the reserve was established. There was a peak of about 1,400 reserves at a particular time, especially when...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I appreciate that it has taken a little time since the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report, but in that time a new strategy has been published. We have also gone through a pandemic, which meant that any type of recruitment, be it in Templemore or here, was near impossible. We have a new regulation which, as I said, will be with me by the end of the week and which will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Courts Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to be able to give an update on progress that has been made on this issue. I fully recognise the important role played by barristers and solicitors in the administration of criminal justice, not only in the context of working to defend those who are accused but also working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of prosecutions. I take this opportunity...

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

Helen McEntee: I was honoured to contribute to the launch of the Women’s Aid Impact Report 2022 earlier this year. There is no doubt that its content makes for stark and difficult reading. Last year Women’s Aid received 33,000 disclosures of domestic abuse of women and children, including more than 1,000 cases of sexual abuse. The report notes that four out of five women who contacted...

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

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to doubling the number of refuge places to 280 as part of our Zero Tolerance Strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. To achieve this ambitious goal we are working with all stakeholders to put in place the necessary structures and supports to accelerate the delivery of additional refuge accommodation year on year. A key priority is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to say that threats against the safety of those who work in our public services, including Gardaí, local authority employees, public representatives and our staff, and indeed any member of the public, are completely unacceptable. This is something I have discussed with the Garda Commissioner and which he regards with the utmost seriousness. Individuals who...

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

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion to An Garda Síochána in 2023 and 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring the Gardaí have provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. This level of funding is providing for a steady pipeline of new...

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

Helen McEntee: Let me first say that it has been really encouraging to see the very significant progress which has been achieved in Drogheda over the last few years. Since the establishment of the Implementation Board, the willingness and commitment of members to working together has achieved what I believe will be lasting progress for Drogheda. I announced earlier this year a further extension for the...

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

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling organised criminal activity is a priority for An Garda Síochána and the government. The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion to An Garda Síochána in 2023 and 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring the Gardaí have provision for the equipment,...

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

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling organised criminal activity is a priority for An Garda Síochána and the government. The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion to An Garda Síochána in 2023 and 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring the organisation has provision for the equipment,...