Results 10,221-10,240 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that tackling criminal activity is a key priority for the Government and an ongoing priority for An Garda Síochána which is reflected in the National Policing Plan. As there is already a robust framework of law to address the issue of drug related crime, there is currently no specific legislation in preparation in my Department regarding this issue....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pardons (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, a local group gathered a considerable amount of material relating to this case, and I know the Deputy has taken a very close interest in this application. As the Deputy will also be aware, in early 2020, the then Minister for Justice and Equality engaged an expert on nineteenth century trial law in Ireland for their expert opinion on the safety, or otherwise,...

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

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter. The below table, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the yearly breakdown of the number of incidents of drink and drug driving that occurred in Cavan/Monaghan Division over the time...

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

Helen McEntee: I am pleased that Budget 2022 reflects the commitment of the Government to enhancing community safety and that An Garda Síochána has the resources to be an effective and trusted policing service. The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.952 billion for 2021 and over €2...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Commission of Investigation established pursuant to S.I. 311/2018 (formerly known as the Hickson Commission) is tasked with the investigation of the extent to which a number of organisations, including State bodies, and individuals were aware of the activities of Bill Kenneally and whether they failed to take appropriate action. Mr Justice Michael White...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow employees to bring alleged wrongdoing to the attention of the appropriate authorities. Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 requires public bodies to prepare and publish a report each year in relation to the previous year, on the disclosures received and dealt with under its policy, in an...

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

Helen McEntee: I share the Deputy’s concerns for the Afghan people and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Ireland has acted swiftly and compassionately to demonstrate our support and solidarity with the Afghan people. My Department continues to work closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth...

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

Helen McEntee: Non-fatal strangulation and asphyxiation are common features of domestic abuse and are often an indication that victims are at further risk of potentially lethal violence. While strangulation is currently prosecuted as a crime under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, I have discussed with the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris making it a standalone offence. I believe there is an...

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 by law for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I am advised however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review to ensure their optimum use in light of...

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 Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the deployment of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. The Commissioner is also responsible, under Section 26 of the Act, for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced a number of customer focused immigration changes, in particular for our citizenship applicants. I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it. My Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and at all levels of public health restrictions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in the performance of its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided me with the following update on this...

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

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service have recently experienced COVID-19 outbreaks in Cloverhill, Midlands and Mountjoy Prisons. The Midlands Prison Outbreak Control team was stood down on 19 November 2021 following the successful containment of the spread of the virus and the prison was returned to a more normal regime. The Prison Service has a comprehensive contingency plan for the management of...

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

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring that there is strong, visible policing right across Ireland. Prioritising visible policing in rural and urban communities will ensure community policing is at the forefront of our police service and an integral strand of our social contract with the public. I am pleased that Budget 2022 reflects the commitment of the...

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

Helen McEntee: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Reforming the system to better support vulnerable victims as they come into contact with our criminal justice system is a priority for this Government. I know this was true too for the Deputy during his time as Minister for State in the Department of Justice and the important work he did under the equality aspect of his...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the administration of An Garda Síochána, including its various crime prevention operations, fall within the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Hurdle has been established in the Wicklow Division each year since 2012 to target the theft of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in the performance of its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided me...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the enforcement of legislation pertaining to illegal drugs, and Garda operations concerning same. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I can inform the Deputy that the Garda National...

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

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that according to the latest snapshot of the prison population, taken on the 19 November 2021, there was a total of 3,836 prisoners in custody of which 2,971 are sentenced prisoners. A breakdown of sentence length for all 2,971 sentenced prisoners is set out in the table below. The balance of 865 prisoners consisted of 863 prisoners held on trial/remand warrants, 1...

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 Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including decisions related to the deployment of resources within the organisation. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. However, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual...