Results 8,061-8,080 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Under the Offences Against the State Act 1939, the State's primary counter-terrorism legislation, there are two means by which an organisation may be proscribed as unlawful for the purposes of that Act. Firstly, an organisation which engages in any of the activities specified in section 18 of the 1939 Act is declared to be an unlawful organisation for the purposes of that Act. Such activities...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Middle East (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government attaches the highest priority to taking action to counter security threats including those relating to terrorism. An Garda Síochána continues to put in place a robust framework of measures, both tactical and intelligence-based, to prevent and respond to such threats. The financing of terrorism is a particular area of operational focus. An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Justice Plan 2023 commits to legislating for new pre-action protocols in respect of clinical negligence to encourage early resolution of allegations of negligence, promoting timely communications between parties and reducing the number of clinical negligence actions which are brought, and to including these enabling provisions in a civil law miscellaneous provisions Bill. By way of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy has no valid immigration permission to remain in the State at present. It is important that persons keep their immigration permission up to date if they wish to continue to reside in the State. Where a person remains resident in the State without an immigration permission, I encourage them to contact the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) or their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Family Reunification application for the person referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department and continues to be processed at this time. All applications are processed in chronological order. The speed in which a decision can be made largely depends on the quality of the application received. My Department will continue to engage with the applicant for any further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases, under reservation, in relation to various crime statistics. The CSO also continues...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion to An Garda Síochána in 2023 and 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. As the Deputy will be aware, by law the Garda Commissioner is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service (IPS) operates the Prison Service Escort Corp for the purpose of transporting people in the custody of the IPS who may be transferred between institutions, transported to and from court or to and from hospital. The Irish Prison Service fleet ranges from passenger vehicles to multi-occupancy cellular size vehicles. I have been advised...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Prisoners Abroad (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that no application has been received by them from the named person. My officials in the Irish Prison Service have consulted their counterparts in the United Kingdom who have confirmed that they have received an application from the named person and that they are currently processing this application for onward transfer to the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Sittings (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that the management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. However, the Department supports the Courts Service in its work to create an environment where justice can be administered efficiently and accessibly for all citizens. How a child is engaged with as part of a court case is a matter for the presiding judge. More generally, children are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, 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. The Children Court deals with charges against children under circumstances and restrictions set out in law. The principal legislation in this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. Once the application process is completed and the applicant has been granted their Certificate of Naturalisation it is then open to them to make an application for an Irish Passport to the Department of Foreign Affairs. The granting of Irish citizenship through...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that any non-EEA national intending to visit the State must show that they have access to sufficient finance to support them in Ireland; visa required nationals must provide documentary evidence of this finance when applying for a visa. If an applicant is paying for their own visit they must include an up-to-date bank statement with their application. In such a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow workers report alleged wrongdoing to the appropriate authorities. The Act, as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, also affords very important protections to persons making protected disclosures. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate therefore that it would not be appropriate for me to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service provides a health care service for people with addictions on a structured, safe and professional basis in line with international best practice. The Irish Prison Service continues to be committed to, and involved with, the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with community colleagues and organisations. It is estimated that approximately 70% of prisoners who are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 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: Drug Dealing (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together. I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that An Garda Síochána is unable to provide a breakdown of seizures in the form requested by the Deputy. Confirmation of drugs seized are subject to analysis and verification by Forensic Science Ireland, prior to publication in the Garda Annual Report. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 401 together. The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, which is reflected in an allocation of €2.31 billion under Budget 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020. As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy there are no plans to open additional overseas visa offices in any new locations. There are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. Citizens of the United States of America (USA) and the Republic of Korea are not visa required nationals and may...