Results 8,001-8,020 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Section 40 was proposed for deletion from the Bill and amendments Nos. 59, 62 and 66 are consequential on its deletion. The intention behind section 40 was to provide for those limited circumstances where a person refuses to provide An Garda Síochána with CCTV footage of a crime. However, after meeting with various stakeholders, concerns were voiced to my Department regarding the...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Amendment No. 65 will extend the offence provision for Parts 2, 3, 5 and 6 relating to the making of data unavailable as evidenced in Part 7 with the insertion of a new offence. For sections within this Part, the offences set out mirror those in other Parts of the Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act, 1962, is the primary legislation covering the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and gives effect to the Constitutional right that legal aid may be granted for the defence of people with insufficient means in criminal proceedings. As the Deputy will be aware, under the current legislation, the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962, the courts,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together. It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that the estimated cost of providing one Crime Prevention Officer is approximately €82,000 per annum. As such, the estimated cost of providing seven new crime prevention officers per annum is €574,000. This includes the estimated cost of salary, fixed allowances,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of €2.31 billion to An Garda Síochána in 2023 and 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, 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. I can however assure the Deputy that the Government is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána, up 23 per cent since 2020, 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. As the Deputy will be aware, under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring the Gardaí have provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. Following Budget 2024, I announced that this allocation would allow for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Currently, admission to the Garda trainee programme is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 (as amended). The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommended a variety of entry pathways to An Garda Síochána. One of the recommendations was that police officers applying to transfer to An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Bodies (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the activation of the EU Temporary Protection Directive is an emergency provision designed to quickly and humanely respond to the mass displacement of Ukrainian people by Russian aggression. Ireland participates in this EU measure, which is given legal effect under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. Those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Local Government Reform (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that no functions of my Department have been transferred to local authorities under section 72 of the Local Government Act 2001, as amended by section 45 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 repeals and replaces the provisions of the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989, updating the existing offences of incitement to hatred to include incitement to violence towards individuals and groups based on their protected characteristics. The Bill also creates specific, aggravated forms of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. This application was received in the Citizenship Division on just 17 August 2023. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 2 August 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 9 August 2023 where it awaits examination and processing. Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This policy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Programme for Government (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government 2020 contains a broad range of policies and proposals that represent a coherent approach to enhancing and sustaining a more just and safe society, with a specific commitment to review policy options for prison and penal reform. In respect of delivering on this commitment, the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 was published last year....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (24 Oct 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. Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As I am sure the Deputy is aware there are robust rights enshrined in the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 which provides for a set of statutory rights for all victims of crime. The Act is particularly strong in areas such as the right to information and the provision of certain supports and protections to be provided to victims across the criminal justice system by the respective...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Advertising (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Let me assure the Deputy that I am committed to creating a criminal justice system that is victim centred, including by providing a range of supports and services for victims of crime and promoting awareness of these. In 2021, I launched a new Victims Charter website to bring together all of the information a victim of crime might need to know about their rights and about what to expect from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (24 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: One of the overarching goals of the Zero Tolerance Strategy to address domestic, sexual and gender based violence, is ensuring that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and I am committed to working with my Government colleagues and those working in the sector to achieve this. In line with the priority which this Government is attaching to tackling domestic, sexual and gender...