Results 7,681-7,700 of 16,309 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The State has a duty to protect its borders and following examination, ensure that all arriving passengers are entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise of State sovereignty, which is necessary to protect the security of the State and to prevent illegal immigration. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am advised that the conveyancing system allows purchasers of second hand houses to enquire as to the nature, quality and condition of a property prior to purchase. Detailed written queries and replies about the property (‘Requisitions on Title’) are exchanged between the vendor’s solicitor and the purchaser’s solicitor before the sale is completed, and the vendor...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (27 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Immigration officials of my Department have checked their records and advised that they cannot locate any applications for the person, details supplied by the Deputy. However, if the Deputy can provide any additional information via my Department's Oireachtas mail facility, I will arrange for a further response to the Deputy. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (22 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for raising this really important matter today. I would like to extend my sympathies to the family of Aaron Keating and anybody who has been affected by knife crime. Any kind of death is devastating but when somebody is murdered in this way, it has a ripple effect throughout the entire community. It is important to note, and the Senator touched on this, that for the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (22 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I will touch on a few points there. The length of time An Garda Síochána can hold a person in respect of knife crime is going to change in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill going through the Houses and which I hope will be enacted before the summer recess. The Senator mentioned the expert forum on antisocial behaviour. A piece of work is being done through the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Consultations (22 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government commits in the Programme for Government to reviewing the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 and to broaden the range of convictions that are considered spent. As part of this review process, a public consultation on spent convictions was launched by my Department in October 2020. Bespoke research on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (22 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (22 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no commercial agencies, bodies or offices under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (22 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy created on-line Join Family visa application on 18 November 2022. The supporting documentation and relevant fees were then received on 21 November 2022 in the Manila visa office. The visa application was then forwarded to the Dublin Visa Office for further processing. I can advise the Deputy that Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (22 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The issue as to whether the new guidelines will apply retrospectively to Section 16 applications on hand is under active consideration. Given the complexities of the issues involved and the absolute discretion afforded to the Minister in the Citizenship Act, it is imperative that the necessary time is spent to ensure the guidelines are both clear and comprehensive. Work is ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (22 Jun 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. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation can only be...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: With the agreement of the House, I will probably give a lengthy response if that is okay because I do want to respond-----

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I will not take that long. I promise.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I appreciate that there have been a lot of contributions, not just today but last week as well. I also appreciate the views that have been shared and recognise that these are complex, varied and different. I will set out some clear facts and try to respond to many of the comments and statements made and questions posed over the past week. What we are proposing here is not radical. It is...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Reference was made this afternoon to J.K. Rowling. I have read her commentary and have seen a lot of what she said. Again, she would not be prosecuted under this legislation. Identities described in this House as nonsense - a person's ability to identify in whatever way they so wish - is not hate speech. I might not like what is said in that way, and many others might not like it, but it...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank them and acknowledge the work they have done in contributing and taking part in the overall consultation of this. As I mentioned at the outset of this debate, it is common legislative practice to have different meanings and terms in different Acts specific to the purpose of the legislation in question. This is referring to gender for the purposes of this Bill. It is provided that,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy. Regretfully, this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (21 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Ireland’s Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) is designed to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill short term labour gaps for the benefit of our economy. In recognition of the importance of frontline medical personnel, the AWS Unit prioritises these applications. There has been an unprecedented demand for AWS permissions this year, with a significant increase in the number...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (21 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the coroner is an independent quasi-judicial office holder whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. This is an important public service to the living and in particular to the next-of-kin and friends of the deceased. Coroners not only provide closure for those bereaved, but also perform a wider...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pathology Service (21 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Office of the State Pathologist (OSP) provides the State with a national forensic pathology service and a forensic pathologist is on duty, twenty-four hours a day, each day of the year. In response to the Deputy, the budget allocation for the OSP from 2021 to 2023 is set out below. Budget allocation for OSP 2021 -2023 - 2021 2022 2023 ...