Results 8,301-8,320 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the implementation of Circular 19/2016 Civil Service Disciplinary Code on 1 October 2020 has brought the Irish Prison Service into line with the wider Civil Service in terms of the process for the management of staff disciplinary issues. Utilising the Civil Service Disciplinary Code has allowed the Prison Service to draw on the experiences of the wider Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service perform a quarterly census of the prison estate and publish the results on their website at www.irishprisons.ie/information-centre/statistics-informatio n/census-reports/. This includes details, on a prison by prison basis, of the number of prisoners on restricted regimes each quarter. According to the latest census which was carried out on 30 April 2022 the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service remains committed to the provision of safe, secure and humane custody for people who are sent to prison in this State. Covid-19 in a prison setting presents significant challenges for prison management in terms of controlling the spread of the virus amongst staff and prisoners, and the provision of appropriate medical treatment to affected persons. Everyone...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The total number of prisoners in custody on 24 May 2022 was 4,082 compared with a bed capacity of 4,375. This represents an occupancy level of 93%. Prior to the onset of the Covid pandemic the number of people in custody had been on an upward trajectory, however, this trend was halted in March 2020 when the Prison Service took action to reduce the number in custody to support an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mental Health Services (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Last April, together with the Minister for Health and Ministers of State Frank Feighan and Mary Butler, I established a High Level Taskforce to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of persons interacting with the criminal justice system. In recognition of the need for a cross-Government approach to meeting the complex needs of such people, the Taskforce comprises...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (31 May 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 564 and 567 to 569, inclusive, together. The overall objective of my Department is to have recommendations made on international protection applications as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection from the State can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Labour Market (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 566 and 565 together. International protection applicants are not required to apply for an employment permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to legally obtain employment in the State. The European Communities (Reception Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 52 of 2021) reduced the waiting period for labour market access...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The fees in relation to applications for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the legislation. There are no provisions to apply different criteria depending on the nationality of the applicant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 571 to 575, inclusive, together. Following identification of an error in December 2020, the Irish Prison Service carried out a review of sentence calculation and procedures to provide assurance on the accuracy of sentence calculation in respect of those in custody. The outcome of this examination of almost 4,000 sentences was that a small percentage of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the retirement of members of An Garda Síochána is governed by law, which sets the mandatory retirement age for all members at 60 years of age. Members of An Garda Síochána who joined prior to 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension at 50 years of age once they have served at least 30 years and those who joined on or after 1 April 2004 may retire...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Abuse (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is an independent law officer under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended) and I have no role in relation to the work of the Office of the DPP. As such I am unable to comment on the number of files received by the DPP or on decisions in relation to prosecutions brought by that office. I would advise the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in the exercise of its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided me with an update on this matter. The Government's revised National Development Plan 2021 -2030...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy made an application to the Afghan Admission Programme, which was received by my Department on 25 February 2022. My Department has received 528 applications to the Programme in total, and my officials are currently processing all applications with decisions due to issue in the coming months. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 580 and 581 together. In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, I opened the special Afghan Admission Programme for applications on 16 December 2021. The Programme closed on 11 March 2022 and my Department is currently processing the 528 applications received. The Programme enables current or former Afghan nationals living legally in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Coroners are independent quasi-judicial officials whose function under the Coroners Acts 1962-2020 is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can issue. My Department has no role in directing the work of coroners during their death investigation, which may culminate in an inquest. Coroners endeavour, as far as possible, to show great sensitivities towards...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, unfortunately this was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Court Service and the Garda Commissioner that statistics are not compiled in such a way as to be able to provide the information sought by the Deputy. It may interest the Deputy to know that the Programme for Government contains a broad range of policies and proposals that represent a coherent approach to enhancing and sustaining a more just and safe society with a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The standard approach with regard to sentencing provisions in criminal legislation is for the Oireachtas to specify the criminal offence concerned and the maximum penalty that may be imposed on persons found guilty. It is then a matter for the sentencing Judge to consider the penalty. As the Deputy will appreciate, judges are independent in the matter of sentencing, as in other...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (31 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table below, which sets out the number of staff in my Department by gender and pay grade. Grade Female Secretary General 1 Deputy Secretary 1 Assistant Secretary 3 Director 1 Principal Officer ...