Results 9,841-9,860 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that work is continuing on the review of the Prison Rules 2007. The review is taking account of the updated European Prison Rules, which were published in 2020, and also considering changes within the Irish Prison Service, the prison system and also changes that have occurred within the wider criminal justice system over the past 15 years. The public consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory body, independent in how it carries out its work, set up under the Prisons Act 2007. The Inspector's key role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons and the Inspector plays a vital role in ensuring effective independent oversight of our prison system. The current Inspector of Prisons, Ms. Patricia...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service has continued to review and modify Covid-19 restrictions throughout the pandemic. Restrictive measures have been 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 Control Team. In 2021, the unwinding of restrictions was linked to the roll out of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to obtain the information requested by the Deputy in the time permitted. Relevant information has been sought and I will send it to the Deputy directly when it has been compiled.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service have a range of programmes, support services and through-care options for prisoners who wish to address their substance misuse. While drug treatment services are provided in all closed prisons, the same type of programmes are not offered in open prisons as a condition of transfer to an open prison is that the prisoner is drug free. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, I opened the special Afghan Admission Programme for applications on 16 December 2021. Applications will be accepted until 24 February 2022, with up to 500 places available for eligible Afghan family members. The Programme enables current or former Afghan nationals living legally in Ireland to apply to have certain close family...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that Oireachtas members may raise issues directly with the Irish Prison Service using the following email address - ipsrequests@irishprisons.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 1 February 2019. However, they made a request on 23 October 2020, under section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to have that Order revoked and this will be considered as soon as possible. All applications are examined on a case by case basis, on the documentation supplied and as provided...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (27 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (26 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: Proposals for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme and the applicable criteria were developed by my Department in line with the published Programme for Government commitment. The Programme for Government commits to bringing forward a regularisation scheme within 18 months of the formation of the Government, to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: I would like to again extend my deepest sympathies to all those impacted by this tragic event in Hartstown, and in particular to the Nkencho family. Any fatal shooting is deeply distressing, and I know that the local community continue to experience real trauma as a result of these events. As the Deputy will be aware, and as is the case in every incident involving the Gardaí that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (26 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: Officials from the Citizenship Division of my Department contacted the person referred to by the Deputy in January 2021, seeking further documents. To date, there has been no response to this request. To progress their application, they should now submit a full colour copy of their national passport which must be certified by a solicitor, commissioner for oaths or notary public. Upon receipt...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the management of criminal investigations as well as for the management and administration of Garda business. The Commissioner is also responsible for the deployment of An Garda Síochána, including to the various Garda Regions/units and operations. As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (26 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy will be contacted directly by my officials with a view to resolving the matter raised. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides that the Commissioner is responsible for the direction and control of the Garda Síochána, including arranging for training of its members and staff. I have no direct role in the matter. I have, however, discussed this matter recently with the Commissioner and I know he is committed to members...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Divorce Process (26 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act 1986 governs the recognition of foreign divorces granted on or after the coming into operation of the Act on 2 October 1986. Section 5 of the 1986 Act provides that a foreign divorce may only be recognised in Ireland if it was granted in the country where either spouse was domiciled on the date the divorce proceedings were instituted. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (26 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: Flashing is a criminal offence under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017. While flashing is a term we are all familiar with, the concept of cyberflashing is relatively new. There are, however, a number of offences already on the statute book which criminalise behaviours that can be described as cyberflashing. The existing offence for flashing, contained in section 45(1) of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (26 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: Before Easter, I will publish a Bill which will include new criminal offences for stalking and for non-fatal strangulation. The act of stalking itself is already covered by existing law, but I will propose the following changes to make the law clearer and stronger: - Explicitly reference stalking as a criminal offence - Make it clear that stalking includes watching or following a victim,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of Way (26 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, following strong concerns expressed by stakeholders, I recently brought to enactment an important reform of the law relating to prescriptive easements, the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2021. That Act came into operation on 30 November 2021. It will be appreciated in a civil dispute between private parties, the best course is for the person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (26 Jan 2022)

Helen McEntee: In order to work in Ireland, a non-EEA national, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit, which is administered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). Any changes to the employment permit system are a matter for that Department. In relation to the role of my Department, non-EEA nationals cannot work in Ireland unless they have an immigration...