Results 8,201-8,220 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank Deputy Kenny for putting this amendment forward. I note the concerns of the Deputies. The primary objective, as Deputy Howlin has said, in bringing this legislation forward is to restore the system as it currently is. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, acknowledged yesterday the speed at which the legislation has come through. I very much appreciate Deputies' support and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Priorities (15 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together. I strongly condemn the actions of the small minority who subject others to abuse or attack resulting from their own prejudice. In recent months we have seen vicious crimes take place. These types of attacks cannot, and will not, be tolerated. We live in a diverse and welcoming country and our laws and values should reflect this. I will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business. As Minister, I have no role in internal Garda HR matters, and it would therefore not be appropriate for me to comment on the matter raised.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1280, 1295 to 1297, inclusive, and 1356 together. Persons leaving the State are not checked on exit. Therefore it is not possible to give a reliable estimate of persons on particular types of  immigration permissions who have left the State. As there are no definitive numbers on the persons required to leave the State on any given date,  my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: A change of status application was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 16 March 2022 and continues to be processed by my Department. To be fair to all applicants, applications are dealt with in chronological order by date received. My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy created an online Join Family (Non-EEA national spouse) visa application on 17 March 2022. The supporting documentation and relevant fees were applied on 13 April 2022 in the Manila Visa Office. These visa applications were received in my Department's Dublin Visa Office for further processing on 14 April 2022. Processing of this application is ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that an application from the person referred to by the Deputy has been approved. They can expect to receive their new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card within the next 10 working days. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am advised that, as a rule, where there is no equipment available at a Community Service Site (i.e., provided by the host), the Probation Service rents the equipment for the period of time required. Contracts are in place for these rentals, which follow normal procurement requirements.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought from the bodies under the aegis of my Department and will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: Justice Plan 2022 commits to the publication of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill, previously called the Garda Síochána (Digital Recordings) Bill. This important legislation will make provision for Garda powers to use modern digital technology including body worn cameras, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and CCTV. As the Deputy may be aware, it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I strongly condemn the actions of the small minority who subject others to abuse or attack resulting from their own prejudice. In recent months we have seen vicious crimes take place. These types of attacks cannot, and will not, be tolerated. We live in a diverse and welcoming country and our laws and values should reflect this. I will shortly, subject to Government approval, publish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that such matters are kept under constant review. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ireland was the first European country to host an e-citizenship ceremony in July 2020. Following a review of this pilot event, the confirmation of the applicant identity and the celebratory aspects of the ceremony were decoupled. As a result, the affidavit process that I introduced...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: The scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants opened for applications on 31 January 2022. Applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July 2022, when the scheme will close. The scheme is only open to those who do not have a current permission to reside in the State and who meet the eligibility criteria, and will enable successful applicants to remain and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Interest Rates (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the agencies, bodies and offices under the remit of my Department in relation to negative interest charges. The information provided to my Department is set out in tabular format below. An Garda Síochána The amount of interest charged on An Garda Síochána deposit accounts since negative...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that there are no former Secretaries General on secondment from my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: The application for naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, continues to be processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, and will be submitted to me for decision in due course. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, and all applications are processed in line with the eligibility criteria as set out under the Act. Each application is assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: Section 20 of the Betting Acts addresses a number of matters that apply to bookmakers’ premises, such as what may be placed and displayed outside premises, as well as restrictions on the material and information that may be displayed inside and outside a bookmaker’s premises. Responsibility for the regulation of bookmakers’ premises is a matter for the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1298 and 1299 together. I am advised that the Irish Prison Service provides a primary health care service for prisoners at all sites across the prison estate and that prisoners are eligible for specialist referral if required. The Prison Service aims to provide prisoners with access to the same scope and quality of health services available under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (14 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the restoration of prison regimes, including the restoration of physical visits, was implemented in July of 2021 in line with the vaccination status of the general prison population. As such, the restoration of physical visits to Cloverhill Prison was deferred at the time given the low vaccination acceptance in the prison which was significantly less than other...