Results 8,121-8,140 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I appreciate that it has taken a little time since the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report, but in that time a new strategy has been published. We have also gone through a pandemic, which meant that any type of recruitment, be it in Templemore or here, was near impossible. We have a new regulation which, as I said, will be with me by the end of the week and which will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Courts Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to be able to give an update on progress that has been made on this issue. I fully recognise the important role played by barristers and solicitors in the administration of criminal justice, not only in the context of working to defend those who are accused but also working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of prosecutions. I take this opportunity...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I was honoured to contribute to the launch of the Women’s Aid Impact Report 2022 earlier this year. There is no doubt that its content makes for stark and difficult reading. Last year Women’s Aid received 33,000 disclosures of domestic abuse of women and children, including more than 1,000 cases of sexual abuse. The report notes that four out of five women who contacted...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to doubling the number of refuge places to 280 as part of our Zero Tolerance Strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. To achieve this ambitious goal we are working with all stakeholders to put in place the necessary structures and supports to accelerate the delivery of additional refuge accommodation year on year. A key priority is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to say that threats against the safety of those who work in our public services, including Gardaí, local authority employees, public representatives and our staff, and indeed any member of the public, are completely unacceptable. This is something I have discussed with the Garda Commissioner and which he regards with the utmost seriousness. Individuals who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 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. This level of funding is providing for a steady pipeline of new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Let me first say that it has been really encouraging to see the very significant progress which has been achieved in Drogheda over the last few years. Since the establishment of the Implementation Board, the willingness and commitment of members to working together has achieved what I believe will be lasting progress for Drogheda. I announced earlier this year a further extension for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling organised criminal activity is a priority for An Garda Síochána and the government. 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling organised criminal activity is a priority for An Garda Síochána and the government. 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 organisation has provision for the equipment,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that mental health services within prisons are provided by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) and the HSE/National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) and there are a range of rehabilitative, therapeutic and counselling services available for people in custody. The Irish Prison Psychology Service is staffed by qualified mental health practitioners and is the largest...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for her continued and genuine interest in this work. The changes made by the 2017 Sexual Offences Act allow those engaged in prostitution to provide information to Gardaí, for instance if they were subjected to violence by clients, without fear of prosecution for selling sexual services. Section 27 of the Act provides for the review to which the Deputy's question...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy has noted, the Commission for Victims and Survivors in Northern Ireland recently published a survey of attitudes here regarding the Troubles and people’s experiences of the Troubles. The survey emphasises the fact that we live on an island, and as such we share experiences with our neighbours. Successive Irish governments have consistently sought to acknowledge and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 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 organisation has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) manages the initial recruitment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Government is committed to doubling the number of refuge places to 280 as part of our Zero Tolerance Strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The development of an estimated 36 refuge units is underway in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan. It is expected that there will be 98 refuge units in priority locations delivered by end 2025 along with further additional and upgraded...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The report of Judge Gerard Haughton arising from the Scoping Exercise into the circumstances surrounding the tragic and untimely death of Shane O'Farrell, aged 23 in August 2011 was published on 3rd July 2023. Judge Haughton was appointed by Minister Flanagan in 2019 to carry out a Scoping Exercise in light of the public controversy surrounding the circumstances of Mr O'Farrell's tragic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Budget 2024 provides funding of €2.31 billion for An Garda Síochána, up 23 per cent since 2020. This level of funding demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring Gardaí have the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and, most importantly, the personnel they need to carry out their vital work. This level of funding will continue to provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that it aims to achieve the highest health and safety standards across its operations and to meet the statutory requirements set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 as well as compliance with the provisions and requirements of other relevant legislation, standards and codes of practice. To do this the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Miscarriages of Justice (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the question he raises relates to an investigation of nearly 50 years ago and which culminated in the court’s overturning convictions of two people in 1980; a pardon for one individual in 1992; and the payment of financial settlements. There is no doubt that this case, and others of the time, cast a shadow on the trust we place in our criminal justice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Miscarriages of Justice (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, a detailed application for posthumous Presidential pardons for the two individuals referenced by the Deputy was submitted by theCastleisland District Heritage incorporating the Michael O’Donohue Memorial Project in December 2021. The application has completed an internal review within the Department, and an independent expert in trial law was engaged to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (11 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that on 25 July 2023 I secured Government approval for drafting of the Irish Prison Service Bill 2023. I subsequently referred the General Scheme of the Bill to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny, as part of which the Committee convened a discussion on the Scheme on 3 October 2023. The proposed Bill will cement the position of the...