Results 10,041-10,060 of 16,378 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Speaking Community: An tAire Dlí agus Cirt: Plé. (30 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The stipulation is that people must have English or Irish as their base. Irish is treated equally in this instance and if people have other languages, then that is obviously great too. It is not just English with Irish as a potential addition.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As he said, the deployment of body-worn cameras by An Garda Síochána has been sought for some time. The recommendation in this regard was made by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland in September 2018 and work commenced on the legislation in March 2019. The Deputy has raised the issue many times in the Dáil and I know...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: In addition, it will ensure that when incidents occur, including where members of An Garda Síochána are attacked, there is evidence to ensure prosecutions are carried out.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: Much of my response focused solely on the legislation because it is the part that applies to me and my Department. The code of conduct that has to be set out and the procurement process are matters on which the Garda will be, and already is, working. A lot of meetings have been taking place between my departmental officials and me, the Garda Commissioner and his team, the Attorney General...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Citizens Information Services (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, sends her apologies for not being able to be here. The Citizens Information Board, CIB, under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, is the statutory body with responsibility for the Citizens Information service, CIS. The Citizens Information Board provides funding to 22 companies in order to deliver services on its behalf. This includes eight CIS...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Citizens Information Services (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: While it is not my area and I am not fully up to speed on this, I do appreciate that providing services in Arklow and Bray is not the same kind of support for people living in Wicklow town. At the same time, they really have tried to make sure there is as much support available as possible while the service is not immediately available in the town. Arklow Citizens Information centre is open...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I agree with the Deputy. CCTV systems are very important in local communities. The legislation to which the Deputy referred, the general scheme of the Garda Síochána (digital recording) Bill 2021, has been approved by the Government and was published in April 2021. We are ensuring that it will be brought before the Houses this term and the aim is to complete the Bill's passage...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I join the Deputy in thanking members of the Garda in Clare and other counties for the work they do in seizing these types of criminal assets from criminal gangs. It has been raised time and time again by the Deputy and many of our colleagues that it would be important to communities to see the assets going directly back into communities which are negatively impacted by these gangs. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The intention is that the pilots will run for two years. That is to allow the communities to come together to set up community safety partnerships, to put a plan in place and embed that plan. That is well under way. I visited Longford recently, where they are on target to have a plan in place. They have engaged with members of the community, from Comhairle na nÓg to the local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gangland Crime (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy said, the two issues he raised relate to various other Departments. At the same time, my Department has taken responsibility for leading in the response to and the implementation of this report. We are engaging on a regular basis with the Departments of Education and Health and the HSE, to make sure that we can follow through and implement the recommendations that are set out....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank Deputy Carey for raising this issue. As he is aware, budget 2022 provides for the establishment of the new community safety innovation fund, which will enable local communities to seek funding for innovative projects which will improve community safety in their areas. Community safety is about people being safe but also, as I have mentioned a number of times this evening, it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for the question. I am acutely conscious that the roll-out of community CCTV schemes across the country has benefited many communities, helping people to feel safer in their local areas. It ensures people are safe and supports the Garda in its work. It also supports local authorities, particularly in trying to address illegal dumping. A number of Bills are being...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I hope my legislation will be enacted this year. That will ensure that the GDPR issues are addressed. It will set out in a clearer way the role An Garda Síochána and the local authorities have in community CCTV. In some areas there has been a reluctance to take on these schemes because of the uncertainty in the local authorities and An Garda Síochána. The Circular...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gangland Crime (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I acknowledge his contribution and commitment to the implementation of this strategy. I also acknowledge the community in Drogheda. As the Deputy will be aware, the implementation of the recommendations of the report are key actions in my Department's justice plan, which was published this week. I am grateful to the former director of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gangland Crime (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I also acknowledge the people who are working, not just those on the board but also the community members. If we are to make the progress we need, it is important that everybody comes together and works together, as has happened to date. I thank everyone for their co-operation and their collaborative approach. Resourcing is one element. The Deputy has rightly mentioned the possible...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I reassure Deputy Ó Cuív and Deputy Murnane O'Connor that there will be engagement from the interdepartmental group soon. It is working to identify how we can improve the overall process. There will then be engagement with county councils and those already working on the ground. It is really important that Tusla remain deeply involved in this process. While the delivery of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am very much aware that Deputy Murnane O'Connor is very passionate about making sure her county and the community she works with has a refuge and accommodation for women and their families who are fleeing violence and instances of domestic abuse. A number of streams of work are under way at present. As I have outlined previously, we are working...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic Violence (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: Initially we need to engage with the groups working on the ground in Carlow that are ready to go with progressing and opening up a new refuge and new accommodation. I said a decision had been taken to bring services to the Department. A decision was subsequently taken to establish an agency that will be responsible for the delivery of services. This agency will work very closely with the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Drug Dealing (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: First, in terms of Garda numbers, there has been an increase across every county in the country, and Limerick is no different. The number of members of all ranks assigned to the Limerick division is 596, which is a 7.6% increase since 2015. As well as that, the number of Garda staff has increased from 51 to 78, which is an increase of 52%. That obviously allows more gardaí to be out...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Drug Dealing (29 Mar 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that the deployment of gardaí and resources and how they are deployed are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister for Justice, I must make sure the resources are available and that gardaí are coming out of Templemore. As I mentioned earlier, more than 10,000 people have applied to the recent Garda recruitment campaign. That is very welcome....