Results 9,181-9,200 of 15,493 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As he will be aware, community CCTV schemes play an important role in local communities the length and breadth of the country. They provide valuable reassurance and help people to feel safer in local areas. It is not just about making sure we can use them to detect crime and support gardaí; they play a role in helping to keep and make people...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: To finish my last point and touch on the Deputy's next point, the legislation needs to be updated due to the fact that the Act dates from 2005 and we have since had European GDPR legislation that supersedes the previous Act. That is why I am working to try to make sure that the digital recording Bill is brought forward as quickly as possible. I hope to be able to bring it to colleagues in a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I wish to assure the Deputy that I recognise the ongoing pain and anguish of the O'Farrell family on the tragic death of Shane and I sincerely sympathise with them on their loss. As the Deputy will be aware, a highly respected retired Judge has been conducting a scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane O'Farrell's death. The purpose of this exercise is to advise as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Local Community Safety Partnerships (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The government is committed to ensuring that every community has a right to be safe and to feel safe. As part of our plan to deliver on this commitment, I have announced the establishment of three pilot community safety partnerships in November 2020. These pilots schemes have been set up in Longford, North Inner City Dublin and Waterford. The pilots will run for a period of two years, and...

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

Helen McEntee: The Courts Service Act 1998 sets out the nature of the relationship between the Courts Service and the County Registrar. As the Deputy is aware, the post of County Registrar is a statutory officer, appointed by Government, with a number of different roles, including under-sheriff and returning officer functions. When such posts become vacant, arrangements are made with the Courts Service...

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

Helen McEntee: I want to assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to tackle criminal behaviour and I am very conscious of the repercussions that such behaviour can have on the quality of life for residents in local communities. It is important that people feel safe and are safe in their communities. My Department are taking a range of actions designed to break the link between criminal gangs...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Electronic Tagging (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the Criminal Justice Act 2006 contains provisions for the introduction of Electronic Monitoring in this jurisdiction. Section 108 makes provision for an order for electronic monitoring in the context of a restriction of movement condition applying to the granting of temporary release. In addition, the Government recently approved my proposal to publish the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that it is my goal that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and I am deeply committed to working with our partners in the sector and with my Government colleagues to achieve that. This Government has prioritised tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in all its forms, and ensuring that people, particularly women and vulnerable people,...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation of more than €2 billion provided this year. As of 28 February 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there are currently 14,315 members of An Garda Síochána, this represents a 12% increase on the end of...

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

Helen McEntee: If I understand the Deputy correctly, he is referring to the activation by the EU of the Temporary Protection Directive. The Directive has been activated for the first time, with the unanimous agreement of all Member States, in response to the Ukraine crisis. Ireland participates in this measure, which has been given legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: Protecting and supporting victims of crime is a key priority for me as Minister for Justice. My Department provides funding to NGOs that support victims of crime by providing important information and supports such as emotional support, court accompaniment, and accompaniment to Garda interviews, to sexual assault treatment units and referral to other services. Last week I announced funding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the presumption of innocence until proven guilty is central to our criminal justice system. The decision to grant bail in a particular case must always be a matter for the presiding judge, but where bail is granted, the Criminal Justice Act 2017 provides for stricter terms for repeat serious offenders. While there are no quick fixes to reducing reoffending,...

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

Helen McEntee: 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, of which 15,744 are 12 months or more in the...

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

Helen McEntee: The Government is acutely aware of the sustained and significant damage that drug dealing has on communities across the country. Organised criminal activity, including drug dealing, represents a serious threat to community safety. The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs remains a priority for An Garda Síochána and the other State agencies tasked with...

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, by law, responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient use of Garda resources, including the deployment of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Local Community Safety Partnerships (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, I announced the establishment of three pilot Local Community Safety Partnerships in November 2020. These pilots schemes have been set up in Longford, North Inner City Dublin and Waterford. The pilots will run for a period of two years, and learnings from the pilot LCSPs will inform the eventual rollout of the model to every local authority area. Each LCSP...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the publication and implementation of the recommendations of the Drogheda scoping report are key actions in my Department's Justice Plan 2022. Last year my Department published a report I had commissioned from the former Director of the Probation Service, Mr. Vivian Geiran, who made over 70 recommendations on short and long-term responses to challenges the...

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

Helen McEntee: The provision of safe and secure custody and dignity of care to people in prison in Ireland is a priority for the Irish Prison Service and for me, as Minister for Justice. The Service has committed to the provision of in cell sanitation throughout the prison estate as part of its Capital Strategy. I am pleased to note that very significant progress has already been made in that regard...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Greentown pilot programme represents an important deliverable under the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-27. This internationally recognised initiative is being led by the REPPP Project (Research Evidence into Policy, Programmes and Practice) at the School of Law in the University of Limerick (UL). The REPPP project is a strategic research partnership between UL...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I would like to assure the Deputy that I am committed to tackling domestic violence in all its forms. The prioritisation of this hugely important work is evident in the policy and legislative developments implemented by this Government and those that are currently being progressed. Additionally, increased budget allocations have been secured this year to further our work to tackle domestic...