Results 9,381-9,400 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (1 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Grove area in Castlerea Prison consists of eight dwelling houses with accommodation for 55 prisoners and is designed to support the development of independent living skills. In addition, there are a number of workshops, an education area, kitchen and communal dining area as well as a staff office. I can further advise the Deputy that there has been an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (1 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: On Friday the 25th of February I announced the immediate lifting of visa requirements between Ukraine and Ireland. This will streamline and support the swift exit of both the Ukrainian family members of Irish citizens, and the family members of people from Ukraine who are resident in Ireland. It will apply as an emergency measure to all Ukrainians travelling to Ireland. The Statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (1 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 605 together. The statistics requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below. Length of time in system Number of applications Less than 6 months 5,636 6 to less than 12 months 5,931 Greater than 12 months 14,278 Total 25,845 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (1 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The scorecard was introduced to aid citizenship applicants in completing their applications with greater certainty than before. This followed an examination of the application process by my Department, which found that incorrectly submitted applications are diverting considerable resources from general processing, leading to a longer processing time for all applicants. A preliminary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (1 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: My Department is fully committed to implementing the key recommendations in the Expert Advisory Group Report to reduce processing times of both first instance decisions and appeals to 6 months respectively, as outlined in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Protection Support Service. The White Paper proposes that the new system should be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (24 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Following full consideration by a Visa Officer, both visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused. The letters issued to the applicants on 28 October 2021 and 1 November 2021 outline the reasons for the refusals. There is an appeals process, which is free of charge, to allow applicants to address the factors which gave rise to that decision. Appeals were lodged in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: It has been confirmed to me that under procurement procedures, the taxable status of the successful tenderer is confirmed at contract award stage. I can also confirm that my Department requires the successful tenderer to supply its Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number to facilitate online verification of their tax status before they can be set up as a supplier on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (24 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: A certificate of naturalisation issued to the person referred to by the Deputy on 21 December 2021. A letter also issued to their legal representative on the same day, advising of this. My Department has no record of the certificate being returned undelivered. If they have not received their certificate of naturalisation they should contact the Citizenship Division of my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Meetings (24 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I met with the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) on 21 July 2020, where I was briefed on the work and priorities of NWCI and in particular, on matters in relation to violence against women and girls, and women and leadership across the Justice sector. I met with the NWCI again at the National Observatory on Violence Against Women and Girls Webinar on 10 December 2021. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (24 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Government commits in the Programme for Government to reviewing the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 and to broaden the range of convictions that are considered spent. As part of this review process, a public consultation on spent convictions was launched in October 2020. I can confirm that certain offences relating to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (24 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy was the holder of a valid immigration permission in the State until 21 October 2016. My Department wrote to the person concerned on 25 October 2016 and again on 1 September 2020 advising that all applications for permission to remain in the State on the basis of parentage of an Irish citizen child from a non-EEA parent must be submitted using the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (24 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I condemn the recent incidents that have occurred around the country in the strongest possible terms. My thoughts are with the victims of these attacks. As the Deputy will appreciate, sentencing is a matter solely within the discretion of the trial judge, having regard to the circumstances of the case and of the accused and subject to any limits as may be prescribed by law for a particular...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (24 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy to provide this information as soon as it is available.

Seanad: Coroners (Provision for Jury Selection) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (23 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senator Boylan for bringing forward the Bill. I join colleagues in welcoming family members to the Seanad. I acknowledge each and every one of them. I acknowledge what they have been through and continue to go through and I wish to say how sorry I am that after 41 years, we are still here. I acknowledge that 41 years ago, 48 young people went out on a night out, as we all have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (23 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Government continues to be strongly committed to the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. A number of significant pieces of legislation had to be passed to ensure that Ireland is in compliance with the obligations of the Optional Protocol. The enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and the Criminal Justice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (23 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: UK citizens are not considered to be ‘non-nationals’ for the purposes of Irish immigration law. They continue to enjoy arrangements under the Common Travel Area (CTA) including the freedom to reside in the State following the UK's departure from the European Union on 31 December 2020. UK nationals do not require any documentation to continue their lives in Ireland after that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (23 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: UK citizens are not considered to be ‘non-nationals’ for the purposes of Irish immigration law. They continue to enjoy arrangements under the Common Travel Area (CTA) including the freedom to reside in the State following the UK's departure from the European Union on 31 December 2020. UK nationals do not require any documentation to continue their lives in Ireland after that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (23 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme opened for applications on 31 January 2022. Applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July 2022, when the scheme will close. The scheme is open to those who do not have a current permission to reside in the State and will enable eligible applicants to remain and reside in the State and to regularise their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (23 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 23 September 2019. Representations were received on behalf of the person concerned requesting that the Deportation Order be revoked, pursuant to the provisions of section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). All relevant aspects of the case will be considered before a decision is made...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (23 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The application for a certificate of naturalisation from 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. Their passport was returned to them on 23 April 2021. During this time, it is...