Results 8,241-8,260 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Bodies (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Oireachtas Mail service was established by my Department in response to the volume of requests being submitted via Parliamentary Questions. The purpose of the Oireachtas Mail service is to assist Oireachtas members who have specific immigration application status requests. It is an exclusive service and is designed to help serve the democratic needs of our national parliament. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that there are no plans to commission an investigation into historical allegations of abuse in the Probation Service. The Deputy will be aware from previous responses, that records indicate two allegations of child sexual abuse have been made in relation to the Probation Service. Both relate to alleged incidents in the 1970s by a former staff member who is now...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The statistical information sought by the Deputy in relation to international protection applicants is set out in the tables in the attached. With regard to the statistical information requested for the number of applications for international protection approved and the number rejected; it has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a priority for this Government and one that is reflected in a range of policies and legislation, as well as unprecedented increases in Budget allocations. In June of last year, we published a 5 year ambitious Zero Tolerance Strategy. This is a €363 million strategy, and is built on the four pillars of Prevention,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of all individuals in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation, 2016/679 (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. My Department complies fully with data breach reporting requirements. Securing and managing personal data in accordance with the GDPR principles is a priority and is governed by a comprehensive set...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 441 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Bodies (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I should first of all state that Ireland is not a member of Frontex. Ireland, as an EU Member State, is invited to participate at its Management Board in a non-voting capacity and can, should it wish to do so, seek to participate in certain training and joint operations co-ordinated by Frontex on behalf of EU Member States. Frontex facilitates training across Frontex member states and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 442 and 443 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC) was activated by the EU Council in March 2022 in response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Directive establishes the minimum standards of protection to be provided by Member States in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons from third...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and the 2023 budget of over €2 billion will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff, with Garda recruits entering Templemore approximately every 11 weeks. I can assure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to reaching its current targets of 15,000 Gardaí and 4,000 Garda staff. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 were made under section 123 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This Act is to be repealed and replaced in its entirety by the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023, which is, at present, making its way through the legislative process. The Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will revert to the Deputy again when this is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Let me assure the Deputy that I recognise the important role played by barristers in undertaking criminal legal aid work. My Department understand the underlying issues that have given rise to the withdrawal of professional services on 3rd October. These issues include the request for the restoration of cuts imposed on professional fees in the years 2008 -2011. While my Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the application referred to was granted on the 26 September 2023. 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 (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Immigration Service of my Department currently operate from 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. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. Appointments to ranks above Garda in An Garda Síochána are governed by relevant legislation. Arising from the Culture...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Functions (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that this case relates to an offence that was committed over 45 years ago. The events in question culminated in the overturning of the convictions of two persons in 1980 and a pardon for one individual in 1992. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has submitted a petition to my office which seeks to establish an inquiry into this case. This petition is receiving...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The House will consider the issue of sellers’ legal packs when Deputy McSharry’s Seller's Legal Pack for Property Buyers Bill 2021 is debated at Second Stage later this week. I will share my views, and those of the Government, on sellers’ packs with the House during that debate.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: Where appropriate, my Department plans to assess the opportunities presented by all digital tools, including AI, to improve the delivery of services to our customers. This will be done in compliance with National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) advice and in line with the Government National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Ireland, AI – Here for good. As with all new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. This commitment is demonstrated by the unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2023, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment as well as investment in new equipment and new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Oct 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. This commitment is demonstrated by the unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2023, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment and investment in new equipment and new vehicles. ...