Results 7,361-7,380 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes the deployment and rostering of staff. As Minister, I have no role in the management of these functions. The Commission on the Future of Policing concluded that Garda rostering arrangements should be replaced by tailored rosters that work...

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: Statutory Instruments (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: Section 9 provides a power for the Minister for Justice to amend specific references to a Garda district or Garda rank in statutory instruments. It will allows the Minister to make certain other amendments to give effect to a determination of the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána under section 33(1)of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (which deals with the distribution of...

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

Helen McEntee: I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to serve their vital role in the community. An unprecedented €2.14 billion has been allocated as part of Budget 2023 to An Garda Síochána, an increase of €78 million on last year. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of the Child (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I would like to assure the Deputy that protecting the rights, and best interests of, the child is a priority in relation to all legislation under the remit of my Department dealing with family law proceedings. This legislation includes: - Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 - Family Law Act 1995 - Family Court Bill Furthermore, Article 42A.4 of the Constitution requires that provision be made...

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

Helen McEntee: As indicated to the Deputy in my reply to question 1296 of 26 April, I am informed by the Director of the Probation Service that it was formally notified in March 2022 by the Board of the organisation referred to, of their intention to wind down the organisation. The Probation Service has also now informed me that they continued to engage with the Board regarding the winding down process. In...

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

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Abuja on 25 May 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 launched on 22 June 2022. Appeals for applications of this type are processed in the order in which they are received, in order to be fair to all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy holds a Stamp 4 permission, which expires on 21 November 2024. Since 20 July 2020 all renewals of immigration permissions for the Dublin area are being processed online at: inisonline.jahs.ie. It is open to the person to contact the Registration Office of my Department at immigrationsupport@justice.ie before the expiration of their immigration permission...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: My Department cannot locate a naturalisation application for the persons concerned. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed in line with the eligibility criteria as set out under the Irish Naturalisation and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of the Child (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: To better inform further discussion in relation to this complex issue, my Department arranged for independent research on parental alienation to be carried out. The aims of the research were to: - Identify the various definitions and characteristics of parental alienation being used internationally. - Investigate what is known about the prevalence of this issue (in Ireland or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that tackling organised criminal activity is an 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 supporting bodies to tackle the criminality associated with a particular high-profile Organised Crime Group who operate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that there are currently 122 prisoners in custody associated with known criminal gangs, of which 17 would be categorised as leaders. These figures excludes the subversive prisoners in Portlaoise Prison. I can further advise the Deputy that in respect of the 17 leaders there are currently 5 further court dates pending. In...

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together. I have asked An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, and I will contact him again when this is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Abuse (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The statutory bodies with primary responsibility for child welfare and protection are Tusla and An Garda Síochána. Both have distinct functions, powers and methods of working. Tusla has a statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991 to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. In doing so, it relies heavily on individuals reporting...

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

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that offer purposeful activity to prisoners while serving their sentences and which encourage them to lead law abiding lives on release. All prisoners are eligible to use the services, including those who are first-time offenders. The Service does not collect data on the number of first time offenders who availed on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the restricting of a person’s liberty is a serious issue, given the Constitutional presumption that a person is deemed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. While the State’s bail laws do provide for the refusal of bail in certain circumstances, the presiding judge is entirely independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for all operational matters within An Garda Síochána, including vetting and engagement with other state bodies such as Tusla. I can inform the Deputy that the National Vetting Bureau (Children & Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 set out in Schedule 1 Parts 1 & 2 what constitutes relevant work or...

Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (19 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: There is no legislative basis to change one's name by deed poll, so we cannot stop an offender from changing his or her name. As the Deputy alluded to, it is clear that if a person were to change his or her name after the enactment of this legislation, he or she would have three days to notify. There are strict monitoring requirements, so if a person were to change his or her name and not...

Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (19 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: We have engaged with the Garda on this. I have to engage with the Garda Commissioner and his team, who represent those who are working on the ground. I have engaged with gardaí locally in respect of certain elements of this legislation. It is never easy to monitor sex offenders. With this legislation, we are trying to improve the laws that we currently have and the way in which the...

Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (19 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank all my colleagues for their support in passing this important Bill. The objective behind the Bill is to support, enhance and improve the management and monitoring of sex offenders in our country and communities. I am sorry to hear that the Deputy is not happy with the final Bill, but I think the measures we have brought in make this good legislation. It has come about following...