Results 8,281-8,300 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am delighted to introduce the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 to the House and I look forward to hearing contributions from Senators. As Senators will be aware, this Bill is an important commitment in the programme for Government and in Justice Plan 2023. The Bill provides a legislative framework for the use of recording devices by Garda personnel and the processing...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Second Stage (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senators for the broad welcome and support for the legislation. Issues and concerns were raised, all of which I hope to address. I apologise if I miss anything. The first point to consider is what we are trying to achieve with this legislation. The aim is to give gardaí the right tools, technology and equipment to be able to do their job as efficiently and effectively as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department is aware of the serious issues raised by the Bar Council, in particular, regarding the retention of barristers at the criminal Bar owing to the cuts to fees imposed between 2008 and 2011. I can assure the Deputy that I recognise the important role played by barristers in undertaking criminal legal aid work and I have been clear in my support for the restoration of fees paid to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 4 March 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Tehran office on the 13 March 2023. The application was received in the Dublin visa office on the 31 March 2023 where it awaits examination and processing. It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are a fundamental support to the operation of the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme. Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community based, youth crime prevention initiatives which divert young people involved in or at risk from criminal/anti-social behaviour away from crime by facilitating personal development and improving...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments, and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). Well-functioning OMCs are key to maintaining and sustaining higher-density residential developments, such as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, both the Programme for Government and the Government's Housing for All Strategy commits to the establishment of a new division of the High Court dealing with planning and environmental issues. I can inform the Deputy that whilst the new court has been operationally established as such for some months now, it is expected to be fully and formally in place...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to say that the next Citizenship Ceremonies will take place on Monday 2 October 2023 at the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD). Citizenship Division have issued approximately 3,000 invitations to successful applicants for the Ceremonies. Information on Citizenship Ceremonies is available on the Department’s website here:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, disciplinary matters within An Garda Síochána are governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007, as amended by the Garda Síochána (Discipline) (Amendment) Regulations 2011, and are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no role in these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: In September 2021, following on from the commencement of Coco’s Law, my Department launched the first phase of a campaign to raise awareness of the strong legislation in place to combat intimate image abuse and to make victims aware of the support and assistance available. The first phase of this campaign focused on the sharing of intimate images without consent and included...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department published a research report and policy paper on parental alienation on our website last May. A link to both can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/20df3-parental-alienation-research -report-and-policy-paper/. My officials also briefed Oireachtas members and stakeholder groups on the paper’s recommendations. Both the paper and the report...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, I announced earlier this year that the Drogheda Implementation Board would be extended for another year until September 2024. The extension of the Board’s term will allow it to maintain the positive momentum already built to improve community safety in Drogheda and to strengthen co-operation between State agencies in the town and surrounding areas. There...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 was published on 17 July 2023. It is expected to begin its progress through the Dáil next week. The Bill will implement important reforms in relation to knowledge of consent, ensure anonymity for victims and the accused in sexual offence trials and will clear the final legislative hurdles for ratification of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Stormont House Agreement, concluded by the two Governments and the Northern Ireland Parties in December 2014, provides for a framework of measures to address the legacy of troubles-related violence in Northern Ireland. The framework of measures agreed include the establishment of the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR). Given the cross-border nature of the ICIR, in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: The visa applications referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Abu Dhabi on 14 August 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 31 August 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 Reviews (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: The Family Law Act 2019 made a number of amendments to the law relating to divorce in Ireland. The enactment of the Act followed the signing into law of the Thirty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Dissolution of Marriage) Act 2019 which amended Article 41.3.2° of the Constitution to remove the minimum living apart period for spouses seeking a divorce. Section 3 of the Family...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. Persons making an application, for a certificate of naturalisation, for themselves or on behalf of a minor, are required to provide satisfactory evidence of their identity and nationality. This is usually in the form of a currently valid passport and may include other...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (26 Sep 2023)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. Persons making an application, for a certificate of naturalisation, for themselves or on behalf of a minor, are required to provide satisfactory evidence of their identity and nationality. This is usually in the form of a currently valid passport and may include other...