Results 7,881-7,900 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As of 31 May, there were 14,347 members of An Garda Síochána throughout the country. The Government has allocated An Garda Síochána an unprecedented budget of over €2 billion for 2022. This level of funding is enabling sustained ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, the number of gardaí is now 14,347 and we have more than 3,100 Garda...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Private Partnerships (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: It is because of the architect's report we received through the OPW from the Courts Service, which clearly says the building is not sufficient to deliver the required services which we want in Tralee and the surrounding areas, that another site has been identified. That is the Island of Geese site. There is no moving away from that decision. That decision has been taken by the Courts...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Private Partnerships (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I will come back to the Deputy on that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. There is no register of convicted criminals currently in place and no such register is under consideration. Justice is administered, as the Deputy said, in public in accordance with the Constitution and court outcomes can be reported in the media. The Deputy will appreciate that a decision on whether to convict a person and for what crime is a matter for the presiding...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: It goes back to the Deputy's original point, which I referred to in my response, that any person convicted of a serious crime will have gone before the courts in a public manner. The media can report, though I accept that does not happen in every instance. In relation to Jason Poole and the awful circumstances of his sister's murder, I cannot commend him enough on the work he has done in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Anything we would introduce or consider would need to be with the support of and in consultation with An Garda Síochána to make sure it is effective. Where serious criminal offences are committed, it is important that the punishment matches the crime and that those convicted serve the right sentence or penalty, while acknowledging that we need rehabilitation and reform in our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The overall increase from 98,000 to 294,000 was to support the huge amount of work it already does. There are 30 full-time law centres, part-time centres, four specialist legal offices and 20 family mediation centres. Of the law centres, eight of these with a family mediation offices are collocated. It is not just the online services but a huge amount is happening in-person on the ground....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: What I always try to do and what any Department will try to do is respond to the asks, wishes and needs of the organisation it supports. The Department of Justice has tried, in many different ways, including financially, to support the expansion of FLAC. Any request coming into the budgetary process this year will be examined and hopefully responded to in a positive way. On the family...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: We have to look at where we are identifying locations and need and we can respond once we have that done.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Private Partnerships (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Under the national development plan, the Government will invest over €282 million in capital projects in 2022, including provision for PPP funding. The Government has prioritised a package of funding which will facilitate sustained investment to support an efficient and effective justice system providing important Government services and activities across the sector, including in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Private Partnerships (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: People might ask why we took this approach with the PPPs, which the Deputy has referred to. When the three elements of the PPP are combined they are more likely to be of a scale sufficient to attract the private sector parties and competition, where such interests and competition might not be generated if projects are progressed individually. The specific projects are often capable of being...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The issue of resources is a major factor. It was explored in the pre-legislative scrutiny and was highlighted in the wider report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. I am pleased to say GSOC has had unprecedented levels of resources in recent years, with a total allocation of €13.4 million for 2022, marking an increase of more than €2 million in comparison...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: On the issue of staffing, like any other organisation, GSOC is planning ahead and identifying the type of staff it needs. It will have to go through the same official process and channels as any other organisation to appoint members. One of the Deputy's first questions concerned the overall improvements to GSOC. One of the issues that has been raised repeatedly is the timeliness of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: We have to introduce the legislation first. I hope to bring forward the general scheme after the summer recess.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I fully support the work of Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, and have met with members of the team. I compliment them on the work they do and, in particular, on the work they continued to do through Covid-19. It has been a difficult period for a number of organisations, particularly those that deal with the public. FLAC plays a key role in the provision of legal information, advice and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. As he will be aware, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, which has completed its pre-legislative scrutiny, will provide for a reformed and strengthened Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in line with the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, which is obviously a significant body of work...

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank colleagues for contributing to the debate. There is nobody to blame here. I am not trying to lay the blame on anyone, certainly not on the Joint Committee on Justice. We are introducing emergency legislation. I appreciate that there is concern and annoyance at the timeframe in which this has been brought forward, but emergency legislation often has to be brought forward quickly....

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The general scheme would be published before the end of this year

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As soon as possible, yes.

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have done so multiple times.