Results 7,941-7,960 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022 to the House. This Bill relates to serious matters of policy with regard to the scope of data retention and access measures that are permitted for the purposes of an effective response by State agencies to issues of national security, crime and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 9 together. I have noted the publication last week of the Free Legal Aid Centre's annual report for 2021. FLAC plays a key role in the provision of legal information, advice and advocacy work and regularly engages with my Department on access to justice matters. My Department also provides substantial annual funding to FLAC to ensure that it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have noted the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the General Data Protection Regulation. As the Deputy will be aware, many of its 17 recommendations are directed to the Data Protection Commission itself. Under the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, the Commission is independent in the performance of its tasks and the exercise of its powers. It does not report to me...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The guidance provided by the Council of Europe sets a recommended standard for the provision of shelter places which Government is committed to reaching. Under the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, we will see the fastest ever expansion in the number of refuge spaces. We will double the number of spaces and will put in place the structures to go on to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The guidance provided by the Council of Europe sets a recommended standard for the provision of shelter places which Government is committed to reaching. Under the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, we will see the fastest ever expansion in the number of refuge spaces. We will double the number of spaces and will put in place the structures to go on to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I want to say at the outset, that acts of violence and anti-social behaviour are completely unacceptable. There are a number of tools at the disposal of the Garda Commissioner, who is operationally responsible, to respond to such incidents. The Commissioner is also responsible, as the Deputy will be aware, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in the matter. I am assured that Garda management keeps the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in the matter. I am assured that Garda management keeps the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The impact of anti-social behaviour is well recognised and is highlighted in the ongoing work of the Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) which Minister Browne is pleased to chair. The Forum is examining a broad range of issues, including knife crime, with a focus on developing measures which will address the factors which give rise to ASB and its impact on community morale and quality...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report are currently being implemented in line with A Policing Service for our Future(APSFF). APSFF is a living document which is reviewed and updated, as required, to maintain ambitious but realistic commitments, timeframes and milestones. The Policing Reform Implementation Programme Office (PRIPO), which is based in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have noted the publication last week of the Free Legal Aid Centre's annual report for 2021. FLAC plays a key role in the provision of legal information, advice and advocacy work and regularly engages with my Department on access to justice matters. My Department also provides substantial annual funding to FLAC to ensure that it can continue its important work helping people with legal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I would like to thank Deputy O’Dowd for raising this matter and to assure him that protecting and supporting victims of crime is a key priority for me as Minister for Justice. Earlier this year I announced substantially increased funding by my Department for organisations supporting victims of crime. Some €4.6 million has been allocated to more than 60 organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am absolutely committed to the pursuit of justice for crimes committed during the Troubles. This commitment is shared by my colleagues in Government and by An Garda Síochána. As the Deputy will be aware, Kenova is a series of ongoing independent UK police investigations or reviews into Northern Ireland legacy cases. The legal distinction between investigations and reviews is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, I recently secured Government approval to draft legislation to make stalking a standalone offence. The introduction of this new offence forms part of the Government’s zero tolerance approach to domestic, sexual and gender based violence, and is a key action in the Third National Strategy which was approved by Government last week. While stalking is already a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. The Commissioner is also responsible for the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, considerable progress has been made on the Programme for Government commitment to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those imprisoned, and primary care support on release. Last April, I, together with the Minister for Health and Ministers of State Frank Feighan and Mary Butler, established a High Level Taskforce to consider the mental health...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: My Department opened the once-in-a generation scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants in the State on 31 January 2022 for a six month period. The criteria for the scheme, including the period of four years undocumented residence at the date of the opening of the scheme for primary applicants, have been designed in line with the Programme for Government commitment....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 53, 68 and 523 together. The Programme for Government gives a clear commitment to establish a gambling regulator, which Minister Browne and I are working to deliver. The Regulator will be focused on public safety and wellbeing with responsibility for regulating both in-person and online gambling, gambling advertising, gambling websites and apps. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 64 together. Human trafficking is a particularly heinous crime, based on deception and exploitation of vulnerable people. This Government is serious about preventing and prosecuting human trafficking. We are confident that the victim-centred policy approach we are taking will encourage more victims to come forward which will, in turn, strengthen...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) was established as a cross Departmental response to address the matter of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet, who are not currently eligible for an employment permit under the system operated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The scheme provided, for the first time, a...