Results 7,821-7,840 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that, upon committal, all prisoners undergo a committal assessment. This is conducted by the Healthcare staff, covers a wide range of health issues and is specifically designed to provide the Prison Service with a full understanding of an individual’s health, medical and mental health needs. The nursing committal assessment takes places on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (13 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, I recently published Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV). The goal of our third national strategy is clear: zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Office of Public Works (OPW) is the State’s building portfolio manager and adviser. The OPW provides this service to my Department with regard to both State owned and leased properties occupied by bodies within my remit. Buildings which are occupied by my Department and which provide front-facing services have accessible facilities for customers. These...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has noted the role of the Disability Consultative Committee as a valuable forum for engagement. In the development of its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy, my Department consulted with stakeholders from several disability stakeholder groups. The feedback has played a significant role in informing and strengthening the development...

Confidence in Government: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The motion is another example of Sinn Féin speaking out of both sides of its mouth. It criticises the Government but wastes valuable time with a charade of a motion that was never going to succeed, using its time to criticise the Government with no clear direction of its own insight. Its only purpose is to cause a pointless drama and an unwelcome distraction when there are so many...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The application from the person referred to by the Deputy was returned requesting further information. In order to provide the information requested, the applicant is required to log onto their online portal account and provide the documents requested. Applications that are resubmitted after a request for further information are expedited so as not to disadvantage the customer....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Non-EEA nationals residing long term in the State must register once they reach 16 years of age. Prior to this, they are classified as a dependent on their parent's permission. A re-entry visa was therefore required for children under 16 if travelling on a passport issued by a visa required country. The re-entry visa requirements for children under 16 have been suspended with immediate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, every State has a duty to protect its borders and to refuse entry to people not 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: Departmental Strategies (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Department launched its first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy in March 2022. The Strategy aims to strengthen the Department’s capabilities to promote equality, embrace diversity and foster inclusion, not only in our daily interactions and activities as colleagues, but also in the design and delivery of the services that we provide to the public. To this end,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for FEMPI fee restoration rests with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I understand that the reversal of cuts is under consideration in that Department. I also wish to reassure you that my Department has been engaging with all relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to resolve...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Housing Policy (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Objective 25 under the Government's ‘Housing for All’ Strategy contains 13 sub-objectives. While the majority of these are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), my Department is working with DHLGH and the Housing Agency in relation to Policy Objectives 25.10-25.13. In particular, my Department has engaged with the Housing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Strategies (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 723 and 724 together. As the Deputy is aware, I recently published Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV). The goal of our third national strategy is clear: zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Judgments (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Special Criminal Court is established pursuant to Part V of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. The Court deals with cases involving the prosecution of terrorist offences, and organised crime. Unfortunately, the detailed information sought by the Deputy is not maintained by my Department. However, the Courts Service Annual Report, which is publically available, provides...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Since its introduction in June 2018, under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), the labour market access permission issued by my Department has had a very positive impact for international protection applicants and employers alike. Over 8,000 permissions have been granted to date. This permission gives eligible applicants the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 727 and 728 together. For those who are in the international protection process, our objective is to have decisions made on their applications, including the permission to remain consideration, as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Abuja on 8 February 2021. 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 13 April 2021. Appeals for applications of this type are processed in the order in which they are received, to be fair to all applicants....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that my Department has engaged the services of Carr Communications Ltd. The associated costs relate primarily to training and are set out in the table below: Year Cost 2020 €6,329 2021 €11,621 2022 (to date) €2,498 I can confirm that My...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 731 and 732 together. The Government is committed to providing assistance to people who may be in danger of losing their home. In October 2016, the then Minister for Justice and Equality launched Abhaile, the Government’s free mortgage arrears support service. Abhaile is jointly coordinated and funded by my Department and the Department of Social...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government commits to modernising our licensing laws and application processes, and my Justice Plan 2022 commits to publishing and enacting new laws to update and modernise licensing laws.I am delivering on that commitment by preparing Heads of a General Scheme of a Sale of Alcohol Bill.The objective of the proposed Bill is to repeal the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2018, the...