Results 7,121-7,140 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: On 13 November last, I commenced the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 which, as the Deputy will be aware, provides for stricter oversight and management of convicted sex offenders within the community. This new legislation strengthens the notification requirements for sex offenders and provides for the court to prohibit a sex offender from working with children. It also provides...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is a priority for me and my Department and this is reflected in a range of policies and legislation, as well as unprecedented increases in Budget allocations. Cuan, the Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Agency has a total budget of just over €59 million in 2024, some €40.115 million of which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is a priority for me and my Department and this is reflected in a range of policies and legislation, as well as unprecedented increases in Budget allocations. As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2022 I published an ambitious €363 million, five-year, Zero Tolerance Strategy. One of the overarching goals of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Since its introduction in June 2018, under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), the labour market access permission issued by my Department, has had a very positive impact for international protection applicants and employers alike. Since January 2021 nearly 23,800 first-time applications and renewal applications have been received by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The persons referred to by the Deputy created on-line Join Family visa applications on 16 May 2023 and 25 May 2023. The supporting documentation and relevant fees were applied on 29 May 2023 in the Manila visa office. These visa applications were received in the Dublin Visa Office on 15 June 2023 where they await comprehensive examination. As each application is examined under it's own...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The application by the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 23 February 2022 and continues to be processed. Unfortunately, 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 it is a single or family...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Prior to the establishment of Cuan, the new Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Agency, an Interdepartmental Steering Committee was established to manage and oversee progress on the delivery of additional refuge units. This Committee was chaired by the Department of Justice, with representation from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Tusla and the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has a very wide range of functions, and data may be legally shared with various public bodies for operational reasons. This data sharing can involve aggregated and/or individual-level information. For example, a number of areas within my Department's Immigration function must work closely with other bodies including the Garda National...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Jan 2024)

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 the specific requirements for candidates in Garda recruitment competitions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am however advised by the Garda authorities that the following...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The information requested is currently being compiled and I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Further to my answer to PQ no. 212 on 26 October 2023, I do not comment on individual IIP applications. However, my Department's IIP Unit is committed to ensuring that all applications will be examined on their own merits and will endeavour to conclude all decisions in a timely manner. Due to the exceptionally large number of applications on hand, it is not possible to give a timeframe as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child and Family Agency (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes all operational and investigative policing matters. As Minister I have no role in, and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to, such matters. I have been informed by Garda authorities that a search of the PULSE database was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child and Family Agency (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role. I have been informed that since March 2023, and the recommencement of the joint training protocol, 23 Tusla personnel...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Ireland opted-in to the 2005 Asylum Procedures Directive in February 2011. Ireland shared the view across the EU co-operation at EU level in dealing with applications for refugee status was extremely important. While all Member States were parties to the Geneva Convention, practices and procedures for granting refugee status varied greatly across the EU, which was contributing to differing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Car Test (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Road safety is a shared responsibility which this Government takes very seriously. We have all been shocked by the recent loss of life on our roads, and concerned by the worrying increase in road fatalities in 2023, and into the early days of the New Year, after many years of progress in making our roads safer. Road traffic enforcement is an integral part of the day to day duties of all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. An Garda Síochána’s 2024 allocation provides funding of over €2.3 billion, which includes funding for between 800 to 1,000 new Gardaí and a 66 per cent increase in the Garda training allowance to €305. As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: Budget 2024 provided an unprecedented budget of €2.3 billion for the Garda Vote, a total increase of 23% since 2020. The unprecedented level of investment into An Garda Síochána has enabled:The roll out of the highest number of mobility devices ever allowing allGardaí to conduct certain policing tasks on the move.At the end December 2023 there were 3,420 vehicles...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that An Garda Síochána is unable to provide a breakdown of seizures in the form requested by the Deputy. Confirmation of drugs seized are subject to analysis and verification by Forensic Science Ireland, prior to publication in the Garda Annual Report. The Deputy should note that these figures do not include drugs seized...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of...