Results 9,701-9,720 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I will come back to the Deputy with the timeline and I am conscious that I did not answer a previous question on reports. There are reports that were signed off in the last few days. The delay has been due to the fact that the inspector has not been able to get into the prisons and inspect in the way that she would have previously. There are reports that will be published in the coming...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: On the gambling piece, this is a work of progress in progress at the moment. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, is working on bringing forward legislation, which he hopes to have enacted by the end of the year. To show our intent in this regard, there was initial seed funding of €200,000 allocated and then a further €500,000 for this year. The...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: There was a 9% fall in Legal Aid (Criminal) because this is a demand-led subhead where we have seen a reduction. It is always difficult to predict the final outturn for the year. It depends on the volume of legal aid certificates that are issued and the length and complexities of cases, especially in the Circuit Court and higher courts. In 2020, the expenditure was in the region of...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am aware. I meet regularly with legal representatives about quite a number of issues regarding to legal aid. What I committed to last year and what we are working towards now is a review of civil legal aid in particular, acknowledging that there are challenges within the structure as it currently exists. That is obviously separate from the funding for those who carry out the functions....

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Vote 21 - Prisons has a gross estimate in 2022 of €401.3 million, plus an additional €3.601 million in unspent capital brought forward from 2021 under the capital carryover provisions. I am pleased that an additional €2.4 million has been made available to increase investment in medical, mental health, psychology and other services to a vulnerable group in our prison...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Regarding the visits and the legal representation, in most instances, there is a hybrid model, where there is still availability for prisoners to speak to or engage with their legal representatives or family members via video link or Zoom. Family visits have returned, but not to full capacity in every prison, because, as people may be aware, outbreaks are still happening within our prisons,...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Regarding Limerick Prison, despite the impact of Covid-19, significant progress has been made. The estimated date for completion is quarter 2 of this year, and we expect to open the accommodation later in the year. Hopefully, that will happen by quarter 4. It will be a welcome and positive development for all the reasons I have outlined.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: It is. On several occasions when I have been here, questions have been posed concerning the practice of slopping out. That is a process and procedure that we want to eliminate completely and this development will play a huge role in bringing that about.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: A total estimate in gross terms of almost €164 million is being provided for the Courts Service in Vote 22. This is in addition to €3.648 million of unspent capital being carried over from 2021. The allocation of a further €1 million for the new courts modernisation programme builds on €8 million already provided in the Estimates in 2021 and retained in 2022....

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Regarding the allocation for the modernisation programme, that has been set out through the Courts Service. I will have to respond later to the Deputy on whether those funds cover the costs for translators. In the last year, however, we have allocated €9 million specifically for the courts modernisation programme, and I would be surprised if translation did not form part of that...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: On the PPP, this applies not just to the courts' capital programme but also to An Garda Síochána as well. What I have seen in the past is that PPP projects tend to start and be delivered within the timeframe that is set out. It is important that we are commencing such significant projects, Hammond Lane being one example, and that we know there is a start, middle and end and that...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: It is hard for me to comment on individual cases without knowing the detail of the overall costs and the starting costs. PPPs are only progressed if they provide value for money. To go back to my original point, in the vast majority of cases, they have been delivered on time and within budget. New PPP projects will only be approved if they are going to provide value for money and if they...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Yes, work is due to commence in 2023. This is part of a PPP bundle that includes Macroom and Clonmel Garda stations. Significant work has already taken place and the intention is that building will start next year. It is a significant investment. What we have seen, especially in Dublin, when it comes to the family courts in Dolphin House and other places, is that there has been a lack of...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: In Vote 41, a gross Estimate of €3.9 million has been provided for the Policing Authority Vote. A gross estimate of €23.3 million is being made available to the Data Protection Commission, which is Vote 44. This allocation includes an increase of €4.1 million or 21.5% compared with the previous year. The Data Protection Commission budget has increased significantly in...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: In the context of funding, the fact that we have seen a 21% increase shows the commitment we have in developing and evolving the office overall. It is seeing a significant increase in staff and there is an ongoing competition as well in that area to recruit additional staff. In the past six months, my Department has said we will look at the potential of increasing the number of...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I note what Deputy Costello said.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Again, I very much see my role in supporting the commissioner and her team and ensuring they have the resources to carry out the work they do. The conversation I had recently with the commissioner around this very clearly shows that the commission is operating within the data protection legislation, that is, the Data Protection Act, which was passed in 2018. Obviously, that is what we would...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 – Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 – Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (8 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The scheme was rolled out prior to the new data protection legislation that was introduced in 2018. It had been working off Garda legislation from 2015 and, obviously, the changes meant that much of the work that was being carried out was incompatible and issues had arisen. The legislation that will be and is currently being progressed, which also includes the body-worn cameras, will...