Results 8,541-8,560 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I understand that this is a difficult situation for our Afghan community and would like to take this opportunity to assure them that my Department is processing applications under the Afghan Admissions Programme (AAP) as quickly as possible. To ensure as many people as possible can avail of this important programme my Department have been liaising with representatives of the Afghan Community...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: Arrangements for visa process recognise the importance of facilitating travel to the State for a range of economic and social purposes. As with all visa services worldwide, the central concern in deciding on visa applications is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime while at the same time not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the recruitment and retention of Garda members. I can assure the Deputy 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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As I said, I hope to publish the Bill in two weeks time. That will give Deputies time over the summer, if they wish, to read into this and look into the detail of it. A huge amount of work has been set out, but of course this will have to go to the justice committee. There will be pre-legislative scrutiny and of course, as is the case with any Bill, I will be taking on board all...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The proposal being worked on at the moment is to expand the number of spaces we have within the existing prison capacity. The proposal is for between 620 and 650 new spaces to be delivered over the next five to six years. Some projects are shovel-ready and have plans already developed that can be moved on quickly to cater for the fact that we have a growing population. At the same time we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: No, it will not.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Facial Recognition Technology (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, I am committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources, the equipment and the technology necessary to do its job in protecting people from harm and saving lives. As part of this commitment, I am working to ensure gardaí have body-worn cameras and to extend the powers governing An Garda Síochána's use of CCTV and automatic number plate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Facial Recognition Technology (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: This is about getting a balance, making sure we give An Garda Síochána the tools to be able to deal with the really serious cases I have mentioned, and protecting people's rights and their privacy. It is about striking that balance, making sure we have a level of oversight and also making sure we are in step with our colleagues at European level. This Bill will be progressed very...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware and as I have mentioned a number of times this evening, my priority is to ensure that we continue to increase the number of gardaí, that we do not just reach the target of 15,000 but go beyond it and that we ensure that every community benefits from that increase in numbers. Of course, it is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to decide where gardaí are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I talk to the gardaí in my county and engage with them at every level, from the new recruits coming into our county to the highest level, our chief superintendent. I understand that what we need is more gardaí. We also need to make sure that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, whether that is through capital investment or investment in vehicles, handheld...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I disagree with a lot of what the Deputy has just said. Morale is not on the floor. I speak to gardaí every day. I know they need additional members to support them in the work they do. It is simply not correct to say that nobody wants to join. Some 11,000 people applied to join An Garda Síochána last year and there were 5,000 in a competition that happened less than a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: We want people to apply and to join. We will work through the process. However, we are now in a situation of full employment and the numbers applying to An Garda Síochána are not reflected across the rest of the public service. The Deputy says that gardaí are leaving in their droves. Less than 1% of gardaí left last year. That does not compare to the numbers leaving...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that I hope to bring my proposals to Government for the drafting of a Bill to establish the Irish Prison Service on a statutory basis with new and enhanced governance and accountability structures shortly. In fact, I hope to bring it to Cabinet in approximately two weeks. This follows Government approval in June 2022 to prepare the general scheme of such a Bill. A...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I firmly believe violence against women and girls is the biggest issue preventing equality, not just in Ireland but right across the globe. It is an issue people are dealing with throughout the world. It is not fair to say nothing has happened in 20-plus years. The previous strategy resulted in significant changes in this country by way of new laws, new polices and investment. There is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I assure the Deputy that the development of a substantial new Garda station and facilities on Dublin City Council lands at the corner of the R139 and the Malahide Road at Northern Cross is considered a strategic priority project by An Garda Síochána. The Office of Public Works, OPW, is engaged in ongoing positive interaction with the council, in consultation with An Garda...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: We have a significant capital plan under way at the moment. Funding for this year was €50 million, with a further €50 million allocated for next year and the subsequent year. I will be seeking an increase in that capital spend in the coming years. As set out in the Summer Economic Statement, there will be an increase in the capital ceiling for the NDP. There is a variety...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: I might have to get back to Deputy Lawless on some of the detail of his question. The Northern Cross project is a commitment under the national development plan. It is included in the indicative schedule of works under the Garda capital plan, which runs from 2023 to 2030. The location of the site is the subject of discussion not just between the Garda and the OPW but also Dublin City...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: The legislation, as the Deputy has said, has made significant changes. It was introduced to provide additional protection for people involved in prostitution. What we have seen in other jurisdictions is that the decriminalisation of brothel-keeping, which the Deputy and others have raised, actually creates a greater loophole that allows the likes of criminal gangs and others to profit but...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is an absolute priority for me and the rest of the Government. One of the key and central elements of the new zero-tolerance strategy is the establishment of the agency. I have given a commitment to have it up and running in January 2024, and we are on track for that to happen. On 28 February, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (11 Jul 2023)

Helen McEntee: Nobody is more devastated to see the numbers than I am, given my commitment to trying to address this issue, but we need to ensure we are not just responding but also putting in place structures to deal with this in the longer term. This is where the agency will be vital. We are going to replicate existing structures, working with the agency. We have a committee chaired by the Taoiseach,...