Results 9,541-9,560 of 15,493 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: In Justice Plan 2021 I committed to introducing legislation to provide for the introduction of body-worn cameras, in line with the recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland to which the Deputy refers. The commission in its report stated that policing organisations around the world have found that such devices can help improve front-line capability with the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy outlined two key issues, that is, we need to introduce this as quickly as possible, but we also need to ensure it is watertight and there are no challenges, particularly in the context of the GDPR rights of people. I am conscious we are probably one of the few countries that do not have these cameras yet. I am conscious this is not only important for protecting members of An...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Garda Commissioner is constantly engaging with his colleagues and police services across Europe, but also internationally. As is the case with departments, governments and agencies, they work with each other to share information and ways in which they can progress their services. From a policy point of view and that of my Department, when introducing legislation we look at best practice...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, I met a significant number of front-line and community organisations, some of which are already delivering refuge supports for people across the country. The report and the accommodation review published by Tusla clearly highlight the need that exists and the work that has to be done in delivering additional refuge spaces. It identified ten areas of 82 units on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Of the 66 actions contained in the Government’s action plan for insurance reform, which includes four Departments, 26 have been completed by my Department. A major focus has been placed on insurance reform in the Department of Justice. We have already introduced legislation. While a number of deadlines have, perhaps, been missed, the focus has not been taken away from insurance....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Having met and engaged with the Alliance for Insurance Reform, many members of it and, indeed, members of my community, I am very aware that there is no silver bullet and that a single action is not going to facilitate the changes we need. Of the 66 actions, 51 of which have been completed, we are starting to see changes in some, not all, areas. In the context of some of the larger...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Government and I are committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs. As I have said many times today, the unprecedented allocation provided, in budget 2022, of in excess of €2 billion reflects that. This includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Garda members and up to 400 Garda staff. It should be noted that many of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: While they have a title, and it is important to acknowledge that the community gardaí and the specific work that they do, what we have seen throughout Covid-19 and the last two years is that every member of An Garda Síochána is essentially a community garda. The work they do is about responding to crime, needs and incidents as they arise, but it is also about outreach. It is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Inquiries (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: No, it is not on my desk. The judge is independent in the work he is doing. It is important that I do not comment on, pre-empt or discuss what work he may be doing but I can say that any support required by him and his team has been provided. There is regular contact with the O’Farrell family. There are a few responses to be obtained. Once this is done, the judge will be able to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Inquiries (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy has outlined, none of this is straightforward. I do not pretend to know the time the scoping exercise should or needs to take, but we must allow the judge to do the work he feels necessary in order to provide a clear, direct and pointed response to the questions asked, based on the terms of reference that have been set in this instance. I continue to support the work he is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Inquiries (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I reiterate that once it is brought to me, I will respond as quickly as I can.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Insurance reform is a key priority of the Government. It is reflected in the programme for Government, the Government’s action plan for insurance reform, which the Deputy has just mentioned, my justice plan for 2021 and my justice plan for 2022, which I will publish shortly. This is a whole-of-government effort. I am pleased to say that, of the 66 actions contained in the action...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy rightly said, where gardaí are deployed to or how they might be redeployed is a matter for the Commissioner but also for gardaí locally within the divisions and districts. From my own experience, while a member of An Garda Síochána starting out is sent further from home, as time goes on and as families evolve, where there are requests there is generally an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am aware of reports of the nature referred to by the Deputy. I assure him that the matter is being taken very seriously and is under consideration by the Government. I cannot imagine the level of distress that somebody must feel, particularly a tenant, where people are in a vulnerable position or living on their own and find themselves not being able to pay their rent. On top of that,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The fact of the matter is that there is no law against this at the moment, unfortunately. It is difficult to know the prevalence of it. I know in the UK a survey was conducted last year in which 40,000 women responded that they had found themselves in this position within a period of about three months. That is really an unbelievable figure and I do not know how it corresponds to our own...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy has outlined, there is a huge amount of work going into our housing plan. This has been identified as a gap and something we need to address. I assure the Deputy and colleagues here that we are working to try to address this and to bring forward proposals as quickly as we possibly can.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Inquiries (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I assure the Deputy that I recognise the pain and anguish the O'Farrell family has been going through because of the tragic death of their son Shane. 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's death. The purpose of this exercise is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Protection (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The response of the Department of Justice is that we must uphold the European laws and regulations that have been set out. If there is a situation in which somebody believes information that should not be removed has been removed, that person, be it Deputy Naughten or anybody else, has the right to make a complaint, which would be address by the Data Protection Commissioner. The law is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Protection (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The laws and guidelines area clear. The companies are to adhere to them. I have no problem in restating exactly what the companies are required to do. Individuals must have a right to apply for the right to be forgotten. However, it is very clear where it is relevant to the public interest, including previous convictions, that has to be applied. If companies are not applying this, a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: At a time when we celebrate the centenary of service by the members and staff of An Garda Síochána, I am pleased to say that the Government is in a position to continue to increase the number of gardaí on our streets. A sign of that was seen last week with the new recruitment competition that was launched by An Garda Síochána through the Public Appointments Service....