Results 7,401-7,420 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Prior to payment of the Occupational Supplementary Pension, a retired Garda must engage with the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and obtain proof that they have exhausted any relevant benefits for which they may be eligible under the social insurance system. The rules surrounding qualifying for a Social Insurance benefit are a matter for the DSP. One of the criteria to qualify for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The application from the person referred to by the Deputy under the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme was granted by letter dated 10 May 2023. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Priorities (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: Each year I have set out my main policy and legislative priorities in the Justice Plan. I will bring Justice Plan 2024 to Government in the new year and subsequently publish it. It will set out my policy and legislative priorities for 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, policy and legislation surrounding animal health and welfare rests under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. One of the National Parks and Wildlife Service's (NPWS) strategic goals is to safeguard nature and to help prevent wildlife crime. Anyone who suspects a wildlife crime has been committed can contact their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, a Stamp 3 immigration permission allows the holder to stay in Ireland for a specified period, subject to conditions, and is reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation. It is renewable, subject to the conditions for the permission being met, one of which is that the holder cannot work or engage in any business, trade or profession. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I understand that Parliamentary Question No. 338 of 14 November 2023 refers to the number of Gardaí, by rank, attached to Carlow-Kilkenny Garda Division Forensic Collision Investigation unit as of 7 November 2023; and the corresponding figures as of 31 March 2022. As you will recall, I sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am committed to supporting An Garda Síochána in their mission of keeping people safe. The unprecedented allocation of €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. An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister, I have no role in internal Garda human resources matters. To be of assistance to the Deputy I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that, as of 7 December, 575...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. However, 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 (12 Dec 2023)

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 for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the distribution of Garda members between the various Garda stations and Divisions, and for assessing the resourcing needs of the organisation on an ongoing basis. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána has a Roster and Duty...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. The deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Passport Services (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: 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 and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act and it is open to anyone to make an application for citizenship once they meet the criteria. Details...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. The number of international protection applications last year was 13,650, a significant increase on recent years. It represents a 186% increase on the number received in 2019, the most recent year in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities – and strengthening An Garda Síochána is 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. The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and a further €2.31 billion for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, restricting of a person’s liberty prior to trial is a very serious matter, given the presumption that a person is considered innocent until proven guilty. While the State’s bail laws provide for the refusal of bail in certain circumstances, judges are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and the decision to grant bail in a particular...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative and educational programmes to those in custody that aim to offer purposeful activity to those serving a sentences and encourage them to lead law abiding lives on release. These programmes are available to people in custody and all are eligible and allowed to use the services, including those who are first-time offenders. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 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, increasing Garda and Judicial resources, and more frequent Court sittings, all contributing to a rising prison population. I can advise...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the total number of women in all ranks of An Garda Síochána as of the 31 October 2023, the latest date for which figures are currently available, was 3,952. This represents over 28% of total Garda strength. For context, this compares favourably with the total of 3,130, or 21.7%, on 31 December 2008. For the Deputy's information the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

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