Results 7,301-7,320 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy touched on a number of issues. Our gardaí are highly skilled and they are sought in many different fields, as the Deputy said. As we move to a situation where we have specific teams and units, such as in the Garda National Immigration Bureau, GNIB, fraud or domestic violence, they become more skilled and expert in their area and it is only natural that people will try to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The intention is that we will have 1,000 next year. Beyond that, we have to look at the capacity within Templemore, but if we were to have 1,000 with 400 civilian staff on a continuous basis that would bolster the overall number. I am clear that I do not think 15,000 is enough because the population is growing and we need more. Specifically in relation to the programme the other night,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. It is an important question. We all want to see more gardaí on our streets and dealing with different issues. That commitment is there. The budget this year was unprecedented, with €2.14 billion being allocated to the Garda. This will fund up to 1,000 new recruits next year and 400 additional Garda staff. In the year just gone, funding was allocated for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The simple answer is "Yes", without straying into areas that are not my responsibility because it is very much the role of the Garda Commissioner to look at where there are challenges, issues and significant population increases. Population is not the only factor but, as the Deputy said, it must be taken into account. We have only properly seen the figures for the most recent census in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am proud of the work the Garda does in County Meath. I regularly meet with teams and while I want to see more gardaí on the beat and in community policing in the county, it is important that there is a separation between me and the Commissioner, who decides where gardaí go. My role is to ensure that as many potential gardaí as possible enter Templemore and that the funding...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. The role played by members of An Garda Síochána is undoubtedly a challenging and sometimes dangerous one, as I have stressed many times this year. Gardaí leave their homes, families and communities every morning to put themselves in danger. We must acknowledge that. They often encounter adversarial circumstances in their day-to-day work, which can be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is a priority for my Department to ensure that the courts are resourced so that we can administer justice efficiently and effectively for everybody who comes into contact with the justice system. Judicial vacancies arise for a number of reasons, including retirements, promotion and, unfortunately, deaths in service. The aim is always to fill...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The fact of the matter is that we do not have enough judges, and we need more. That is clear. That is why I set up the review group. It is important that we understand how many we need and why we need them. For that reason, the people the Deputy mentioned, who know exactly what is going on in the courts, have been part of this process. It is not just the OECD report. In its final report...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: Six additional High Court judges were appointed last year, an additional €2 million was provided to prepare the work for the group that will be publishing the report in the coming weeks, there is additional funding for the modernisation programme and a very clear commitment to establish a new family court to take that very difficult situation out of the current structure. That is my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The continued increase in incidents of fraud is concerning. As highlighted in the most recent CSO crime statistics, most of the fraudulent activity recorded relates to attempts to obtain people’s personal or banking information. Every person in Ireland deserves to feel safe and to be safe when they conduct their personal business online or over the phone, and so the practice of trying...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: As committed to in my Justice Plan 2022, I recently announced a comprehensive review of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme, for the first time in its more than 40-year history. The scheme provides legal aid and advice to people of limited means in civil disputes including in family law. The Review Group is being chaired by a former Chief Justice, with expert membership drawn from those who work...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, my Department remains focused on processing applications for family reunification made under all admission avenues, including the Afghan Admissions Programme for family members of Afghan nationals living in Ireland. The Afghan Admissions Programme is an additional avenue open to the relatively small number of Afghan nationals...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I would like to say at the outset that this Government is aware of the damaging affect anti-social behaviour can have on a community and as such remains very committed to tackling it. Some of the incidents we have seen recently are totally unacceptable and I am committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources to ensure people and communities are safe and feel safe. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that tackling organised crime activity is the overriding priority for An Garda Síochána and the Government. I wish to acknowledge the superb and painstaking work of the Gardaí in harnessing an international coalition of support to tackle the criminality associated with a particular Organised Crime Group. The enforcement of sanctions demonstrates the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: One of the overarching goals of the Zero Tolerance policy to address Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and I am committed to working with my Government colleagues and those working in the sector to achieve this. In line with the priority which this government is attaching to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am committed to supporting and building upon the high quality of the Irish judiciary, which has served Ireland so well over the last 100 years. This will be achieved through a number of important measures to reform legal education, judicial appointments and training and to enhance accountability and public confidence. Though the judiciary is independent in carrying out training through...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: Clear actions and timelines regarding the Drogheda Implementation Plan are included in the Justice Plan 2022, which reflects the Government’s commitment to put a special focus on Drogheda. As the Deputy may be aware, in 2021 my Department published a report I had commissioned from the former Director of the Probation Service, Mr. Vivian Geiran, who made over 70 recommendations on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: One of the overarching goals of the Zero Tolerance policy to address Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and I am committed to working with my Government colleagues and those working in the sector to achieve this. In line with the priority which this government is attaching to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I condemn, in the strongest possible way, any attacks made on members of An Garda Síochána and other frontline services. We are all immensely grateful to members of our police service for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society. Attacks on members of An Garda Síochána not only injure the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, my Department remains focused on processing applications for family reunification made under all admission avenues, including the Afghan Admissions Programme for family members of Afghan nationals living in Ireland. The Afghan Admissions Programme is an additional avenue open to Afghan nationals to bring close family members to live...