Results 8,801-8,820 of 17,498 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (29 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: A number of technical amendments from Senator Ward and me are grouped together for consideration. Amendment No. 1 reflects the change in name of what is now the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Amendments Nos. 13 and 18 from Senator Ward have identified typographical errors. I thank him for that and I am happy to accept these amendments....

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I appreciate where the Senator is coming from in this regard. We are both getting to the same point; we are just doing it in a different way. I accept there are certain items of legislation in which I have repealed and brought forward something new or other areas where we have simply amended older legislation. The reason we have taken this approach is because this was the recommendation in...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator. She touched on two points, which are the mandatory maximum sentence and the presumptive mandatory minimum sentences. A request was put in by the Senator's colleague, Senator Ruane, that we would have a review of the mandatory minimum sentences.That is happening at the moment. Only a few types of offences - firearms and drugs offences - have that minimum presumptive...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I intend to introduce Report Stage amendments providing for consequential changes to a number of other enactments arising from the new subsections 3A and 4A, relating to non-fatal strangulation offences. These mirror the provisions applicable to the existing sections 3 and 4 - assault causing harm and causing serious harm - provisions.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I agree with most of what the Senator has outlined and what she and the groups and representatives she has mentioned are trying to achieve. I have met with many of them. Last week I met with an amazing person who was abused but not by an intimate partner. There was coercive control but because it was not that specific scenario it could not be applied in the courts. This is something I...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I also welcome our guests to the Seanad. I thank the Senator for her amendments. I understand where she is coming from in this regard, and some of the NGOs have raised this as well. Amendments Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, propose to alter the definition of "stalking" to separate the element of the offence that refers to substantial adverse impact on day-to-day activities from the causing of...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: We are talking about many of the same issues we discussed in the previous amendment. What we are trying to do is to prevent the stalking behaviour. It is about looking at the immediate safety and welfare of applicants so they can get an immediate order for eight days, as is set out, or five years, on a much longer footing. While stalking, harassment and civil orders are inextricably...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senators. This issue has already been raised. On Second Stage the Minister Deputy Harris gave a commitment to bring forward amendments specifically on ex parteapplications. Unfortunately they are not ready but I hope they will be ready for Report Stage. The reason I will not accept Senator Ward's amendments is that we need to go even further. We need to put in place provisions...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Not at all. I suggest that we should go even further and that there are other areas that have been brought to our attention that need to be included. I understand from where Senator Black is coming. I have just come from a family justice forum where we spoke about the family justice system and how abuse can continue into the courts. It is no different when we are speaking about these...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senator Ward for his remarks. I agree with him on the reason people do not come forward.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: A Report Stage amendment to this section is being considered.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: Section 14C(2) of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 provides that where a person is accused of a sexual offence and the alleged adult victim of the offence is to give evidence, "the court may direct that the accused may not personally cross-examine the witness unless the court is of the opinion that the interests of justice require the accused to conduct the cross-examination personally." This...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I know the Senator has raised this point before, particularly the requirement to write down everything that happens in an interview. The advice I have been given is that I have the ability to change this under regulations, section 27 of the Criminal Justice Act or by amendment to the custody regulations. Obviously, that has not happened and perhaps this area needs to be updated. A separate...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: As the Senator said, the first part has already been done. There has been an update and there is a review under way for the subsequent piece. Until the review is done, I will not be pre-emptive. This is an area on which the Senator and I should work together.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. It is because he raised it that these changes are being made. The Minister, Deputy Harris, previously gave a commitment that amendments would be tabled. As the Senator said, there is a lacuna in the law. Looking at it in practice, there are very few children that receive a life sentence but, as the Senator said, there can be transitional cases...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: This amendment was discussed extensively on Second Stage. It increases the maximum penalty for assault on gardaí and other peace officers from seven years to 12 years. We are all very conscious of the dedication and commitment of our front-line workers and the risks they take in the course of their duties. Recent violent incidents have shocked us all. Any police force, but...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator. As he said, he has worked on this for some time. I also thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, who has also worked on progressing this matter. In the past year, we celebrated 100 years of the Garda. As the Senator said, those members go out every day, say goodbye to their loved ones and do not know what they will face on a day-to-day basis. We...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: On Report Stage, there will be an amendment to section 55 to facilitate the appointment of a deputy chairperson to the mental health review board.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Helen McEntee: I will introduce amendments on Report Stage to facilitate the provision of assistance to the European Public Prosecutor's Office.