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Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: This amendment presents the same challenges as previous ones. What the Deputy is proposing goes beyond what the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, is proposing in her Bill on the Irish language. It would preclude anyone who is unable to understand the Constitution in Irish as well as English from seeking appointment to the Supreme...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: For the reasons I set out in respect of the other amendments, I am not minded to accept this proposal.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I again acknowledge the work done by the committee during pre-legislative scrutiny. It was very helpful even in getting to this point. As the Chair said, that process has worked very well for this Bill. I thank the committee for its work.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: United Nations (19 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Ireland has signed but has yet to ratify the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture (OPCAT). Ireland has, of course, already signed and ratified the Convention itself. The Protocol provides for the establishment of bodies known as National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM) which would inspect facilities where people can be held involuntarily. The Programme for Government includes a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (19 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that Travel Documents are processed by the Travel Documents Unit of my Department with the assistance of the Passport Office in the Department of Foreign Affairs. In recent times, the Unit has experienced a very high volume of applications requiring processing and this, along with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, has unfortunately had a negative impact on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (19 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The application from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 14 March 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. To be fair to all applicants, applications are processed in order of the date on which they are received....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (19 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I recognise and acknowledge the crucial role frontline workers are continuing to play in responding to the threat of COVID-19. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. Their exceptional commitment has been particularly clear throughout the pandemic, during which they have been playing a key role in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (19 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) and the International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) transferred to my colleague, Minister O'Gorman on 14 October 2020. In line with the Disability, Equality, Human Rights, Integration and Reception (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (19 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: A person who has moved to Ireland after fleeing the war in Ukraine and who has been granted temporary protection is free to leave and re-enter the State. However, it is important to note that the temporary permission permission letter given to those who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine is not a travel document. Before travelling to another country the person concerned should contact the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Properties (19 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that all properties occupied by my Department are owned or leased by the Office of Public Works, who undertake all building-related projects and maintenance on behalf of the Department. My Department has not incurred any expenditure on cleaning and sanitising roofs of buildings under its control in the time period in question.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (19 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 1 February 2019. However, they have made a request under section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to have that Order revoked. This will be considered as soon as possible. All applications are examined on a case by case basis, on the documentation supplied and as provided for under Section 3(11)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (19 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Based on the information provided by the Deputy, I understand that the person concerned is an EU citizen. As a Member State of the European Union (EU), Ireland offers freedom of movement to nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) and certain family members. The relevant EU legislation in this regard is the ‘Directive on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (18 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: All applications made under the Afghan Admissions Programme received by the closing date of 11 March 2022 are currently being processed by my officials. The application for the persons referred to by the Deputy does not appear to have been received by my Department by the closing date. My Department is checking its records and has reached out to the proposer’s legal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (18 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the issue of parental alienation. As the Deputy will be aware, among the recommendations made in the Report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality on Reform of the Family Law System was that consideration be given to whether laws should be amended to take into account situations where one parent is wrongfully influencing their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (18 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (18 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy submitted on-line Join Family (Irish national) visa application on 3 January 2022. Processing of this application is ongoing at present. As each application is examined under it's own merits, I am unable to provide an exact timeframe for its completion. In accordance with the provisions of my Department's Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (18 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...

Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: There are some proposals on that today.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: It has been extended nine times.

Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to introduce the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021 to the House following its passage through Seanad Éireann last week, and I look forward to hearing the contributions from Deputies today. Before I discuss the Bill, I would like to mention an issue that was raised on the Second Stage debate in the Seanad...