Results 7,221-7,240 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy was granted an extension of their Stamp 1G immigration permission (Third Level Graduate Programme) for a period of 6 months by letter dated 08 November 2023. This permission is valid until 08 May 2024 and has been granted to afford the person an opportunity to acquire an employment permit during this time. The person concerned should now make...

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

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the average cost of keeping a person in prison this year is not yet available but will be included in the 2023 Irish Prison Service Annual Report which will be published in 2024. The average annual cost of an available, staffed prison space during the calendar year 2022 was €84,067, a 4.6% increase on the 2021 cost of...

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

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Irish Prison Service. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the Irish Prison Service does not have the option of refusing committals and must accept all people committed by the Courts Service. The prison system is under increasing pressure with factors such as ongoing population growth. I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service and my Department are committed to providing safe and secure custody for all...

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

Helen McEntee: The Deputy may be aware that electronic monitoring is provided for in the Criminal Justice Act 2006 in respect of people who are on temporary release and people with Restriction of Movement Orders. It is also provided for in the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 for a convicted sex offender who is subject to a post-release supervision order or where a sex offender order includes a condition...

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

Helen McEntee: The allocation of staffing across the Irish Prison Service estate is based on the security and operational needs of each individual prison. The number of staff required is influenced by factors including, in particular, the numbers in custody, category of those in custody and their regimes and a range of other factors, including the risks and needs associated with specific areas and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the provision of equipment and the allocation of resources to specialist units. As Minister, I have no role in this matter. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that it is the policy of An Garda Síochána not to make any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Transport (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including all operational policing matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that it is not possible to provide an accurate number of reported assaults on public transport as the PULSE system does not have a specific location type for public...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time.I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, a detailed application for posthumous Presidential pardons for the two individuals referenced by the Deputy was submitted by the Castleisland District Heritage incorporating the Michael O’Donohue Memorial Project in December 2021. An internal review within the Department with regard to the application has been completed and an independent expert in...

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

Helen McEntee: An application for a Spouse of Irish National (SOIN) permission from the person referred to by the Deputy was deemed incomplete by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department. This decision was relayed to the person concerned by letter dated 06 September 2023. As such, the person concerned has no valid immigration permission to remain in the State. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (14 Dec 2023)

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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Shoplifting is obviously a matter for the courts. Some decisions are taken where there is post-monitoring, or areas that certain individuals cannot go into after they have been prosecuted. More broadly, retail theft is up approximately 14% since the Covid pandemic. That is why we are working with the Department of enterprise; with the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister of State,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: On the last question, the new Garda Reserve campaign will open in the new year and will be the first such campaign since 2017. Disciplinary matters are very much for the Garda Commissioner and are not something for which I am responsible.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. Only this morning, I updated the family justice development forum on a number of actions that have been undertaken to improve the family justice system not just for parents but also for children. One of those actions related to a report I received just this week on court assessors. It looks at ensuring we have a number of actions in place in the short, medium and long...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I apologise; I know the Senator has heard me say a number of times that I understand the intention. The concept of fairness in the legislative process is subjective and it is not generally used. In fact, I do not think the word “fair” is in any legislation that has gone through the Houses compared to the concepts that are here, namely lawful, professional, punctual and prompt,...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: While I again agree with what is being proposed here in terms of the overall objective, I need a little more time to engage with IHREC to be sure it is happy to be a body to be engaged with. I suggest we return to this on Report Stage and I will be able to do that in the interim if the Senator is agreeable.

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As I said, I will come back on this particular amendment as I have to engage with the organisation. What we are suggesting in this particular section is that we would have bodies that absolutely have to be engaged with, but who the authority would then decide to engage with beyond that is a matter for the authority. It could be any type of body or organisation. The way in which it decides...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Garda Commissioner represents rank-and-file gardaí. That is why he will be consulted. The role of the Minister is to act on behalf of the Government, having been appointed Minister, to approve the priorities in consultation with the other bodies represented. That is laid before the Houses, as has been set out.