Results 9,141-9,160 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC) has been activated in response to the Ukraine crisis. Ireland participates in this measure, which is given legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. Those eligible for Temporary Protection (granted initially for one year, but renewable) will have immediate access to the labour market,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am acutely conscious that the rollout of community CCTV schemes across the country has benefitted many communities, helping people to feel safer in their local areas. This is why it remains a priority for my Department to ensure that community groups continue to be supported in their valued contributions to their local CCTV schemes, whilst ensuring sufficient, proportionate oversight of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Department of Justice is leading a number of important initiatives to ensure we better support victims of crime. When a victim of crime begins to engage with the justice system they should know what to expect, be confident they will be treated respectfully and sensitively, know what their legally enforceable rights are and what supports are available at every step in the process. Central...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Investigations (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As was advised previously, all information that has been brought to my attention by the academic referred to by the Deputy, including the article you referred last April, has been forwarded to An Garda Síochána for consideration and any appropriate action. The Commissioner has confirmed that the material will be assessed. The Deputy will also be aware that then Minister for Justice,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that a statutory inquiry under section 42 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 was conducted by former Judge Patrick Clyne into the Garda Síochána investigation relating to the death of Mr Patrick Nugent in 1984. The Judge completed his inquiry on 31 October 2020 and my Department received his report on 3 November 2020. The advice of the Attorney...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The staffing levels in the Citizenship Division of my Department are kept under review in line with the business needs of the Division. Additional staff have been assigned to the team, as required. At the end of February 2022, there were 25,048 naturalisation applications in progress. Notwithstanding the restrictions, last year, my Department made 11,512 citizenship decisions, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible for the deployment of An Garda Síochána throughout the State and, as Minister, I have no direct role...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I am assured however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including Garda operations aimed at preventing and countering criminal activity, and the enforcement of legislation pertaining to illegal drugs. The Government is acutely aware of the sustained and significant damage that drug dealing has on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for the recruitment, training and appointment of its members. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter. I am very pleased that, as we celebrate 100 years of service from An Garda Síochána, the Government is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I was pleased to open the landmark Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme for applications on 31 January 2022 and applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July 2022, when the scheme will close. This once-in-a-generation scheme is designed to give long-term undocumented people without a current permission to remain in the State, the chance to regularise their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 536, 537, 539, and 540 to 542, inclusive, together. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with an unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of in excess of €2 billion. This includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Garda members and up to 400 Garda staff. It...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the recruitment and assignment of Garda members and staff. Retirement of members of An Garda Síochána is governed by law, which sets the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 543 and 544 together. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of in excess of €2 billion. This includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Garda members and up to 400 Garda Staff. As the Deputy will be aware, in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 546 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. For a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy is currently being 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 as expeditiously as possible. If any further documentation is required, it will be requested from the applicant in due course. The granting of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 556 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. At the end of February 2022, there were 25,048 naturalisation applications in progress....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The applications for naturalisation from the persons referred to by the Deputy, continue to be processed with a view to establishing whether the applicants meet the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision in due course. Further documentation was recently requested from both persons concerned. The first person referred to by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: There is a coordinated whole-of-Government response to the Ukraine crisis. My Department is not undertaking any specific recruitment for support teams for refugees. As the Deputy will be aware, the reception and integration arrangements for those arriving from Ukraine are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The EU Temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: Section 47 assessments are a matter for the Courts Service. 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...