Results 10,181-10,200 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the detection of and response to any criminal activity is an operational function for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. The Central Statistics Office's latest release on Recorded Crime Detection, published earlier this month, identifies the percentage of crimes recorded by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Spiking a person’s drink or spiking someone by injection are obviously very serious offences. They are, in effect, poisoning and they are criminal offences, under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, that can result in a three year prison term. I can assure the Deputy that any incident of this type of crime, including those with evidence to suggest a link with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: My Department's overall objective is to have decisions made on applications from people seeking international protection as quickly as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection in Ireland can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. My Department is fully committed to implementing the key...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on my Department's immigration service delivery. In line with public health advice, my Department has implemented a suite of measures to help reduce the spread of the virus. This has unavoidably led to a reduction in processing capacity across many business areas. We continue to operate to the best of our ability and a number of actions have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that my Department published the general scheme of the landmark Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill earlier this year. The Bill will, inter alia, provide for a key principle from the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland - that preventing crime and harm and making our communities safer does not rest with An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

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 has staff drawn from An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (including Customs), the Department of Social Protection and my Department. The Bureau has been one of the great success stories in Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the detection of and response to any criminal activity is an operational function for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. As the Deputy will be aware, the most recent statistics published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that reported fraud offences have increased by 40.6% across the country...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Injury Claims (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am very much aware of the difficulties faced by many small businesses and consumers in relation to the cost and availability of insurance. Insurance reform is a key priority for this Government and is reflected in the Programme for Government, the Government’s Action Plan for Insurance Reform launched last December, and in the Justice Plan 2021. The Action Plan for Insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, a key pillar of the Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, is building stronger and safer communities. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to ensuring that there is strong, visible community policing right across Ireland, both rural and urban. Making our towns, villages and rural areas safer is best achieved when Gardaí work closely with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Joint Policing Committees (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that my Department published the general scheme of the landmark Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill earlier this year. The Bill will provide for a key principle from the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland - that preventing crime and harm and making our communities safer does not rest with An Garda Síochána and my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I wish to acknowledge the pain and trauma experienced by all families of missing persons in the State. As the Deputy will be aware, the national DNA database, which is administered by Forensic Science Ireland (FSI), has been a significant breakthrough in identifying missing and unknown persons in recent years. To encourage more family members to participate in DNA testing, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

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 An Garda Síochána as well as the allocation and distribution of resources. This includes responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members and members of the Garda Reserve. As Minister, I have no responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that tackling domestic abuse and providing supports for victims is a priority for me as Minister for Justice, and for this Government. There is no doubt that in the context of the pandemic there is an increased risk of domestic abuse, evidenced in the figures reported by frontline services. Additional resources, support, enforcement and services to combat this have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible, under the Act, for the deployment of Gardaí throughout the State. As Minister, I play no role in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Strategies (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Justice Plan 2021 outlines a wide range of actions under the Department's five strategic goals, which are to: 1.Tackle crime, enhance national security and transform policing 2.Improve access to justice and modernise the courts system 3.Strengthen community safety, reduce reoffending, support victims and combat domestic, sexual and gender based violence 4.Deliver a fair...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Government committed to introducing new pathways to status regularisation within 18 months of its formation. My Justice Plan 2021 contains a commitment to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents who must meet specified criteria to regularise their status. The scheme will provide an opportunity for those who meet its criteria to remain and reside...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is leading the development across Government of the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, which will place a priority on prevention and reduction and will include a national preventative strategy. My Department has engaged in an innovative partnership with the sector in leading the development and design of the third...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Insurance reform is a key priority for this Government and is reflected in the Programme for Government, the Government’s Action Plan for Insurance Reform, and in the Justice Plan 2021. In accordance with the Action Plan on Insurance Reform, my Department has completed a review of the Occupiers’ Liability Act, including the duty of care and notices and waivers. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I wish to inform the Deputy that I last met with the Garda Commissioner on Tuesday, 16 November 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the general administration including the allocation of personnel within An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, and the decision to allocate resources to Garda Specialist units is assessed and carried out in line with operational demand. The table at the link below includes the number of...