Results 10,261-10,280 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am acutely aware of the sustained and significant damage that drug dealing has on communities across the country. Organised criminal activity, including drug dealing, represents a serious threat to community safety. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the detection of and response to any criminal activity is an operational function for the Garda Commissioner, as per the Garda Síochána Act 2005. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. The operational review of crime statistics, at a national and regional level, is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner under the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Vaccination Programme (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service continues to engage with Public Health/Health Services Executive with regard to access to the Covid-19 booster vaccine. Prisoners will receive their booster vaccinations in line with the roll of the booster vaccination in the general community. The Deputy will be aware that a prison vaccination programme commenced on a prison by prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 22 July 2020. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. The granting of Irish citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the construction of the new women's prison forms part of a major redevelopment project currently underway at Limerick Prison. The construction of the new women's prison, which will provide accommodation for 50 female prisoners, is a core element of the project which also includes the construction of a new accommodation block for male...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that a total of 11,079 children physically visited an adult in prison in 2020 and 2,238 children physically visited an adult in prison in 2021. The Prison Service is acutely aware of the importance of assisting prisoners to maintain close contact with family and friends while in custody. Families and friends play an important and supportive role in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Commissioner is also responsible for the maintenance of Garda discipline under the Garda Discipline Regulations. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. To be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: My Department is currently reviewing all international protection applications on hand from Afghan nationals with a view to expediting their progress. This is in line with updated advice provided by UNHCR. These applications are already prioritised, as agreed with UNHCR. The processing of these applications takes full account of whether a person will be in danger if not provided with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy of the ten closed prisons under the remit of the Irish Prison Service, six have in-prison access to specialist hepatology services provided by St. James’s Hospital. I can further advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service, in conjunction with the HSE, have planned a pilot programme for two of the prisons who do not have in-prison access to specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, all prisoners committed to prison are subject to a medical assessment by the Prison Healthcare Team. Healthcare staff are guided by the infectious disease policy with support from prison and national committees to implement a range of infection control measures for TB, HIV, Hepatitis B and other infections. Hepatitis screening is offered to all new prisoners...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Non-custodial penalties, particularly supervised community sanctions, play a significant and important role in addressing criminality, reducing reoffending and providing a degree of protection to the public. This is supported by Central Statistics Office figures on recidivism. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government 2020 contains a broad range of policies and proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Safe and secure custody is one of the key pillars of the Prison Service Strategic Plan 2019-2022. Addressing self-harm in Irish Prisons is a central part of delivering that. Since 2016, the Irish Prison Service has put in place a system to provide robust data on the incidence and profile of self-harm and suicide attempts in Irish Prisons. A copy of the 2019 report will be published on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Compliance with the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour is a condition of employment within the Department of Justice. Where a breach of the Code arises it is dealt with in accordance with the Civil Service Disciplinary Code (Circular 19/2016) which contains a range of sanctions up to and including termination of employment. Since 2011 one individual was given a written warning and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Protecting and supporting victims of crime is a key priority for me as Minister for Justice and I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As part of our work in this area, my Department operates a funding scheme for NGOs who provide specific supports to victims of crime, which of course includes victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence. These services provide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Association referred to is a representative association that is primarily funded through membership dues. I can confirm that my Department does not provide funding to the Association in question. The Association is provided with subventions for certain expenses from the Garda Vote representing a subvention in respect of post, telecommunications and accommodation costs originally provided...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the detection of and response to any criminal activity is an operational function for the Garda Commissioner, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of arrests which occurred during the period 2016 to date in 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (24 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: Prison Service (23 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service has put in place an extensive range of measures to prevent Covid-19 transmission into our prisons. The Prison Service Covid-19 response aims to prevent the spread of infection into a prison; detect early any possible infection in a prisoner or staff member; and prevent the spread of infection within a prison should there be a confirmed case. The measures which have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (23 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 carrying out 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mental Health Policy (23 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I very much welcome the publication of this report from the Mental Health Commission. I thank both the Inspector of Mental Health Services and the Inspector of Prisons for their work on this important issue and I believe the publication of this report is very timely. We know that the healthcare needs of vulnerable, sometimes seriously ill, people who interact with the criminal justice system...