Results 9,641-9,660 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that possession of a mobile phone in prison without the permission of the Prison Governor is a criminal offence under Section 36 of the Prisons Act 2007. Any prisoner found to be in possession of a mobile phone in prison is subject to disciplinary action under the prisoner disciplinary system and the matter referred to An Garda Síochána for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As a result of the unavoidable delays created from the closing of the Registration Office in Burgh Quay during Covid-19 restrictions, and the reduced capacity guidelines when open, a high number of customers are now coming forward to seek an appointment. As of 31 January 2022, the Registration Office of my Department is operating at 70% capacity, and under current plans will increase to 100%...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government committed to bringing forward a regularisation scheme within 18 months of the formation of the Government. It did not suggest any limit or cap on the numbers who might benefit from such a scheme. As previously advised to the Deputy, there is no official data on the number of undocumented people in the State but the MRCI have estimated that there could be up...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The legislation governing the appointment of coroners is set out in the Coroners Act 1962, as amended. Section 8 of the Act makes provision for the appointment of coroners outside of the Dublin District. Coroners are appointed for particular districts within a local authority area by the local authority. Subsection 6A of the Coroners Act 1962 as inserted by the Coroners (Amendment) Act...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Scott Medal is the highest award that can be bestowed by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána and is awarded for ‘most exceptional bravery and heroism involving the risk of life in the execution of duty’. Scott Medal nominees are selected from recommendations that are provided by the Garda Divisions on an annual basis to the adjudication board, which is comprised...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of Way (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: In terms of the registration of prescriptive easements (including prescriptive rights of way), I can inform the Deputy that the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2021 was enacted, and came into operation on 30 November 2021. The 2021 Act repeals a number of changes to the law on prescriptive easements, under the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009, which were due to come into effect...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is 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 also a constitutional presumption in favour of the granting of bail as, under Irish Law, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The presumption that a person is innocent until proven guilty...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Nigerian nationals, who do not hold a document called a “Residence card of a family member of a Union citizen” as referred to in Articles 5(2) and 10(1) of Directive 2004/38/EC, and who wish to accompany or join their EU/EEA/Swiss citizen family member moving to or residing in Ireland, are visa required and must have a valid Irish visa before they seek to enter the State. They...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for decisions in relation to the allocation and control of Garda personnel and resources. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. Budget 2022 has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The amount spent on COVID-19-related consultancy contracts by my Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 is outlined below in tabular form. Company Name Service Provided Amount paid 2020 Amount paid 2021 Amount paid 2022 Tender process Quadra Health & Safety Consultancy & Advisory...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the scheme referred to is administered on behalf of my Department by an external organisation. In order to provide the Deputy with the information supplied in response to the previous Parliamentary Questions referred to, contact was made with this external organisation to provide a response. I regret and apologise that in answering these previous Parliamentary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (8 Feb 2022)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Over the last decade (since 2011), 12,236 deportations orders have been issued. When issued with a deportation order, the person is required to remove themselves from the State. Many people comply with this and leave the country, without notifying the immigration authorities that they have done so. Therefore, it is not always possible for my Department or the Garda National Immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Feb 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 operational by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, is currently being considered under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but it has not been possible for this information to be provided in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: 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 provision of information to members of the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: 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 provision of information to members of the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Budget 2022 has allocated €12m for investment in the Garda fleet, which will mean more high visibility policing in our towns and cities. The Deputy will be aware that under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase of vehicles and their allocation to Garda units. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter. Garda vehicles are purchased under contracts tendered by the Office of...