Results 8,561-8,580 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for raising this issue, and particularly for doing so on this day. I express my and this Government’s condolences to the families whose loved ones were killed or injured in the terrible events of 17 May 1974. Those callous acts will always be remembered as the single deadliest day of the Troubles, where 33 people lost their lives, as the Senator mentioned. Many...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for his comments. In respect of the quotation and the comment he has just made, I wish to reassure him and those family members and communities who have campaigned tirelessly on behalf of their loved ones that they will not be forgotten and that they have not been forgotten, despite the fact that almost five decades have passed. As a Government, we have consistently...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Information and Communications Technology (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to the forthcoming Circular Economy and Waste Management (Amendment) Act, which builds on the government’s commitment as set out in the 2020 Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, and the 2021 Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy. The recently published Circular Economy Bill now places that strategy on a statutory footing,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Passport Services (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be appreciate, the Department of Foreign Affairs has responsibility for the Passport Service, including the processing of passport applications. As Minister for Justice, I have no role in relation to this matter, nor do I have any role in operational or administrative matters which fall within the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. I am advised, however, that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I would like to take the opportunity to express my sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of the deceased. The Coroners Service comprises of a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. Coroners are independent quasi-judicial office holders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. My...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department and continues to be processed at this time. All applications are processed in chronological order and my officials continue to prioritise applications made by Afghan nationals at this time. The speed in which a decision can be made largely depends on the quality of the application received. My...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department and continues to be processed at this time. All applications are processed in chronological order and my officials are continuing to prioritise family reunification applications made by Afghan nationals at this time. The speed in which a decision can be made largely depends on the quality of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: European Arrest Warrant (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, it is solely a matter for the High Court to decide whether a European Arrest Warrant received in the State will be executed and/or surrender ordered. Section 9 of the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 designates the High Court as the executing judicial authority in the State. The Central Authority in my Department has the function of receiving and transmitting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 585 to 588, inclusive, together. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no role in the matter. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána as of 30 April 2022 is 14,294. I am informed that of these members, 1,469 (10.27%) have declared competency in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equal Opportunities Employment (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that my Department and the bodies and agencies under its aegis are committed to ensuring that obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts, 1998-2015 are met, and that all staff have access to equal opportunities surrounding employment, career progression, learning and development and all other aspects of working life. The Deputy may...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Ireland is a signatory to the Council of Europe ‘European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees’, which allows the holder of a Convention Travel Document to travel visa free for short stays of up to 90 days in countries that are parties to the Agreement. A holder of a Convention Travel Document is not subject to an Irish visa requirement for short stays of up to 90...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The coroner service comprises a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. Coroners are independent quasi-judicial office holders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. My Department does not have a role in directing the work of coroners. Many of the recommendations of the 2000 Review related to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that the applicant has recently contacted the Registration Office of my Department and the grant letter was re-issued on 9 May 2022, to the address provided. 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 at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The conduct and scheduling of the Stardust inquests is entirely a matter for the Senior Dublin Coroner, Dr. Myra Cullinane – her independence in relation to such matters is set out in the Coroners Acts 1962-2020. The role of my Department is to support the Senior Dublin Coroner in carrying out the inquests. Dr. Cullinane has begun her work on this matter, and 13 pre-inquest...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I have been informed by Garda authorities that a search of the PULSE database was conducted on 13 May 2022 for incidents of the type “Robbery from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. The Commissioner is also responsible for the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted the Garda authorities to provide the information sought by the Deputy, unfortunately this was not to hand in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is received.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted the Garda authorities to provide the information sought by the Deputy, unfortunately this was not to hand in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is received.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together. I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it and my Department continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and during all levels of public health restrictions. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed...