Results 8,221-8,240 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to introduce the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 to the House. As Senators will be aware, it gives effect to a programme for Government commitment. It also forms part of the wider policing reform programme called A Policing Service for Our Future, published by the Government in December 2018 to implement the recommendations in the report of the Commission on...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I will start where Senator Davitt finished by acknowledging the work of front-line gardaí. They go out every day and put themselves at risk to protect us, and that is to be acknowledged. They are ably supported by civilian staff. I acknowledge the members who have travelled here. I also acknowledge the president and members of Fórsa who are representing those in the Public...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Given the status of the staff, there are clear processes that can take place. I made it clear during the meeting that I want us to be able to engage and to reach a conclusion without having to look any further. There are clear steps that can be taken. I am open to that but I believe this should and can be resolved by all parties sitting around the table. That is exactly how I hope and...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Bill is very clear. There is a division. A separation of divisions in community policing is one of those new divisions. Every area will have its own community garda. People will know who their community garda is. The community garda will be responsible for engaging with the community and responding to it. Obviously, we need to make sure we have the numbers to be able to populate all...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: It is clear that community safety is at the front and centre of the Bill, just as community gardaí will be front and centre of this initiative. With regard to overall Garda numbers, we need to make sure we have as many gardaí as possible to make sure we can populate the various different community areas. On the question of how various different Departments will be responsible for...

An Garda Síochána: Motion [Private Members] (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "acknowledges that: — it is over 100 years since the foundation of An Garda Síochána; — the mission of An Garda Síochána is 'Keeping People Safe'; — An Garda Síochána play a crucial role in our communities, building stronger,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy's question of 11 September 2023 asked for the Garda stations that currently have a defibrillator located within the station, in tabular form. I sought the information requested from the Garda authorities, and I have been advised by them that AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) installed at Garda Stations are funded and maintained by third party organisations, and managed at a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of over €2 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I understand that Parliamentary Question No.719 of 20 September 2023 soughtthe number of Gardaí and full-time civilian staff that are based in each of the four Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau satellite hubs as of 14 September 2023, in tabular form. I am advised by the Garda authorities, that as of the end of August 2023, there were 65 Garda members assigned to the Garda National Cyber...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Victorian-era laws which were repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 caused immeasurable harm to generations of gay and bisexual men, criminalising and stigmatizing them simply because of their sexual orientation. As the Deputy will be aware, I published the final report and recommendations of the Working Group examining the feasibility of a scheme to disregard...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated and I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Citizenship Division of my Department on the 14 July 2023. In correspondence dated the 11 September 2023 my Department acknowledged the application and outlined to the applicant that the current median processing time is 19 months. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (4 Oct 2023)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. Let me assure the Deputy that I recognise the important role played by barristers in undertaking criminal legal aid work. Any increase in criminal legal aid fees would have to be considered as part of the estimates process for 2024, which is still underway.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Properties (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the former Cork prison was built in the early 1800s and served as a military detention barracks until it was transferred to the ownership of the Department of Justice in 1972. The building was closed in February 2016 following the construction of new prison facilities on a site opposite the old prison as part of the Irish Prison Service modernisation programme and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (4 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the prisoner referred to has approximately 2 years left to serve on his current sentence and early release is not being considered at present. His case will be kept under review and all options will be considered at the appropriate stage of his sentence. By way of general information the Deputy will wish to be aware that the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The introduction of a visa requirement for Bolivian nationals has brought Ireland into alignment with the visa requirements applying in the UK and in the Schengen area. Bolivian nationals are required to obtain a visa prior to travelling to these jurisdictions. Section 17 of the Immigration Act 2004 provides that the Minister for Justice may, for the purposes of ensuring the integrity of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused by the Visa Office in Abu Dhabi on 14 February 2023. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 11 March 2023. Appeals for applications of this type are processed in the order in which they are received, to be fair to all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 449 together. The Victorian-era laws which were repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 caused immeasurable harm to generations of gay and bisexual men, criminalising and stigmatizing them simply because of their sexual orientation. As the Deputy will be aware, I published the final report and recommendations of the Working Group...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (3 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 3rdJuly 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 Shane's tragic death....