Results 8,561-8,580 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Workplace Relations Commission (12 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I understand that the National Referral of Mediators referred to by the Deputy relates to the Workplace Relations Commission’s mediation process. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an agency under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Any questions in relation to the work of the WRC should be submitted to that Department for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Both the Government and the Garda Commissioner are committed to increasing diversity within An Garda Síochána and ensuring that all communities can see themselves reflected in our police service. The Garda Commissioner has put a welcome focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, as An Garda Síochána seek to embed the principle that human rights are the foundation and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government commits to Increasing the diversity within An Garda Síochána, prioritising the identification and removal of barriers to recruiting and retaining people from diverse and minority backgrounds. I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, however, the information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (12 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The applications referred to by the Deputy have now been processed by my Department. The decisions were conveyed in writing to the persons concerned by registered post, dated 10 May 2022. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (12 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that the person referred to by the Deputy was granted an immigration permission, which is renewable at their local immigration office. That permission has been extended until 31 May 2022, under the automatic extension of immigration permissions I announced on 17 December 2021. All permissions are extended on the same terms and conditions to the permission already held. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (12 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Applications for naturalisation received by my Department are processed in chronological order. The application for the person referred to by the Deputy will be registered in the coming weeks. Following initial assessment of the application, my Department will issue an application reference number. My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (12 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: 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 satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (12 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 20 June 2002. Representations were received on their behalf pursuant to Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to revoke the Deportation Order. Following the consideration of those representations, a decision was taken that the Deportation Order should be affirmed and this decision was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (12 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The persons referred to by the Deputy currently have a permission to remain in the State until August 2022. It is open to them to make an application to have that permission renewed. This should be applied for two weeks in advance of the permission expiring to their local Immigration Registration Office. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the...

Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Opt-in proposals generally do not, or they have not to date.

Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I take the point. The ask had been simply because they were technical amendments. I am open to another way we can do this in future. We have dealt with quite a few opt-ins recently and they went before both Houses.

Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to take that on board and I will speak to colleagues about doing so with regard to the trade and co-operation agreement or other issues. With regard to Prüm and the various categories, the co-operation applies in respect of DNA, fingerprint and vehicle registration data. The proposal to introduce co-operation in respect of facial images and police data records in respect...

Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: There are elements that have to be worked through in terms of the data.

Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I will get that clarified. There is no general population use in this regard. With regard to police records, the proposal seeks to establish a procedure for the automated searching of police records but it does not propose a new exchange of data. I will get something for the Deputy on that. In terms of the Kyoto Declaration, it is adopting the declaration. It is our commitment to...

Protocol No. 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: Motions (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I move the following motions: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application...

Defamation Act 2009 Review: Statements (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputies for providing me this opportunity to update them on my plans to reform and modernise defamation law in Ireland. Copies of my statement should have been left in. I will check.

Defamation Act 2009 Review: Statements (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I want to ensure that our legislation addresses the challenges posed by an increasingly complex media landscape. I strongly believe the rule of law and democracy cannot truly flourish without robust protection for the right of freedom of expression though, of course, this must always be carefully balanced, as it is under our Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is an independent law officer under the provisions of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). The Office of the DPP is under the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach and I have no role in the functions of the Director or the Office of the DPP and am unable to provide statistical information relating to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is the independent statutory body established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) to deal with complaints concerning Garda conduct. As Minister, I play no role in the internal administration of GSOC. I am advised that, as a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Services (11 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.