Results 10,501-10,520 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are examined individually and assessed on their own merits. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. The nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. Furthermore, the scheduling of individual court cases and the allocation of court business are matters for the Presidents of the Courts and the presiding judges who are, under the Constitution, independent in the exercise...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the administration of the traffic watch phone line is a matter for An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no role in this matter. Traffic Watch is a partnership approach to reducing the number of road collisions and fatalities. It brings road users, An Garda Síochána, the National Roads Authority and the Road Safety Authority together in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Procedures (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the administration of the traffic watch phone line is a matter for An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no role in this matter. Traffic Watch is a partnership approach to reducing the number of road collisions and fatalities. It brings road users, An Garda Síochána, the National Roads Authority and the Road Safety Authority together in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Pensions (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy is referring and I understand that the Garda Authorities will contact the person concerned directly. As the matters concerned are personal to the individual and should be dealt with on a confidential basis, I will write to the Deputy directly with an update on this case in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Debt Collection (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in its functions. Moreover, Sheriffs (or County Registrars acting as Sheriffs) are officers of the Court and are also independent in the exercise of their functions and duties under statute and rules of court. However, in order to be of assistance to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: As part of Government efforts to tackle the pandemic, on 27 January 2021, I signed an Order that imposes new visa requirements on passport holders from a number of South American countries and South Africa. In addition to the new requirements, the Immigration Service of my department also took the decision to temporarily cease accepting new visa/preclearance applications with the exception of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: My Department is committed to the implementation of the recently published White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Protection Support Service, as it relates to responsibilities under our remit. I have established a Programme Board in my Department to oversee the implementation of recommendations of the Advisory Group relevant to my Department’s areas...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Probate Office is an office of the High Court. Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update on this matter. The Courts Service advises...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: English Language Training Organisations (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: Since the start of the pandemic, my Department has been part of a Working Group facilitated by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). The Working Group includes representatives of relevant Government Departments, English language providers, staff, and students. Part of the work of the Group has included the development of re-opening...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Section 15A of the Act provides that, where the application is based on being the spouse or civil...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1429 and 1430 together. My Department is committed to achieving efficiencies to reduce processing times for international protection applications of both first instance decisions and appeals to 6 months respectively as advised by the Catherine Day Advisory Group and as outlined in the recently published White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: As part of Government efforts to tackle the pandemic, I signed an Order that has imposed new visa requirements on passport holders from a number of South American countries and South Africa. This Order and the associated measures came into effect at midnight on 27 January 2021. The framework for these restrictive measures is set out in the Government’s Resilience and Recovery: Plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: My Department does not record or retain passport details of persons entering the State. Similarly, I am advised by the Department of Transport, Sport and Tourism that they also hold no records of passenger passport details. The statistics maintained by that Department only take account of the passengers arriving on direct flights and are compiled on the basis of the flight’s last...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: As part of Government efforts to tackle the pandemic, I signed an Order that has imposed new visa requirements on passport holders from a number of South American countries, including Brazil and South Africa. This Order and the associated measures came into effect at midnight on 27 January 2021. The framework for these restrictive measures is set out in the Government’s Resilience and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I understand that the letter referred to did not issue. The contents of it related to the position at that time and events were overtaken as a Topical Issue debate tabled by the Deputy was taken on 7 November 2019. As the Deputy will be aware, a retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, is currently conducting the scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane's death. Judge...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mental Health Policy (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1435 and 1451 together. As the Deputy may be aware, the establishment of the Taskforce is further to the Government’s commitment to ensure the critical mental health needs for people in prison are met, addiction treatments are provided and primary care support is available on release, in order to ensure improved outcomes for individuals and for society....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, however, this has not been provided in time. I will write to the Deputy once the requested report is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Mental Health Services (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that, as of 14 April 2021, the total number of permanent Psychologists employed by the Irish Prison Service stands at 30. A breakdown by location is set out in Table 1. Psychologist by location Location Staff numbers Staff numbers Staff numbers Arbour Hill – HQ Longford 1 Head of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (21 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1439 and 1455 together. As the Deputies will be aware, a retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, is currently conducting the scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane's death. Judge Haughton furnished an interim report to the then Minister for Justice in November 2019. In his interim report, the Judge stated that he would not restrict or limit...