Results 9,481-9,500 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that they continue to review and modify the Covid-19 restrictions which have been in place in our prisons throughout the pandemic. Restrictive measures have continued to be modified in line with the various announcements made by Government and in line with advice from Public Health/HSE and the Irish Prison Service National Infection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 147, 149 and 162 together. As the Deputies may be aware, Minister O’Gorman and I brought the Tusla ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ to Government earlier this week and it has now been published. The review highlights gaps in geographical coverage and inadequate provision of safe...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 119 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in April 2021 I secured government agreement to publish the general scheme of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill. The Bill will provide for a key principle from the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, namely that preventing crime and harm and making our communities safer does not rest with An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Family law reform is a priority for me as Minister and was a major element of my Justice Plan 2021. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to enact a Family Court Bill which will create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structure and provide for court procedures that support a faster and less adversarial resolution of disputes in specialised centres. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that the continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs remains a priority for An Garda Síochána and the other state agencies tasked with responsibilities in this regard. A concerted effort has been made over the past two years to ensure that the detection and prevention of these types of criminal activity have not been adversely affected by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including commemorative matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.  I understand, however, that the matter referred to by the Deputy is currently under consideration by the Garda authorities,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy I am committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in all its forms. As the Deputy is aware, I am currently leading on a new whole-of-government strategy to combat domestic, sexual, gender-based violence. The goal of the strategy is zero tolerance for any form of domestic, sexual or gender based violence and it will be structured around the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.  I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: My Department has put in place Victims of Domestic Violence Immigration Guidelines. The Guidelines rightly state that no one should have to suffer domestic violence and recognise that migrants may have additional vulnerability in this area, as the perpetrator may threaten a victim with the loss of their status if they report the abuse.   Anyone who is the victim of domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders Notification Requirements (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that there is a robust framework of legislation in place to monitor and manage the ongoing risk posed by convicted sex offenders and that it is kept under ongoing review.   Under the Sex Offenders Act 2001, convicted sex offenders have to notify Gardaí of their personal details including their name and address for a period of time after conviction, up to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 140, 145 and 159 together. As the Deputies are aware, the decision to grant bail in a particular case is a matter for the presiding judge, who is independent in the exercise of his or her judicial functions. There is a constitutional presumption in favour of granting of bail, reflecting the core principle of our law is that a person is presumed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in April 2021 I secured government agreement to publish the general scheme of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill. The Bill will provide for a key principle from the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, namely that preventing crime and harm and making our communities safer does not rest with An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, tackling drug dealing and organised criminal activity is a key priority for the Government and for An Garda Síochána.  The Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including operational decisions and the deployment of resources to address drug crime. As Minister, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Stalking is a traumatic and profoundly intrusive crime. It can cause devastating psychological harm, and may also be a precursor to acts of serious physical violence. It is important to emphasise that stalking behaviour can be, and is, prosecuted under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against The Person Act 1997 and that it carries a sentence of up to 10 years.  That said, I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Issues which arise from international surrogacy arrangements raise important questions in respect of rights and ethics, and concern areas of law that intersect across the remits of several Government Departments. I have had ongoing engagement and discussion with the Minister for Health, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the Attorney General on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Council (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the judiciary are, under the Constitution, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. The conduct of court business is entirely a matter for the Chief Justice and the Presidents of the Courts.  Judicial conduct and ethical guidelines are the responsibility of the Judicial Council. As per section 6 of the Judicial Council Act 2019, the Judicial...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that I received Government approval in December 2021 for new regulations amending the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013, in advance of a new Garda recruitment competition which commenced this month. The new Regulations contain technical amendments to reflect changes in legislation, and also to revise the language requirement for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2021 was published on 16 April 2021 and it can be accessed on my Department's website. Following its publication in April 2021, the General Scheme was referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny, which took place on 17 November 2021. The report of the Committee is awaited. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps this...