Results 10,561-10,580 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Domestic Violence Policy (19 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: Absolutely. While I do not have the exact figures, we know there has been a significant increase in the number of reports of domestic violence and in Garda engagement with victims of domestic violence over the past year. The numbers increased between 2019 and 2020 and have increased even further since the pandemic commenced. I am very conscious of that. The work we are doing to support...

Seanad: Children Amendment Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (19 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: First, I thank Senator McDowell and other proposing Senators for bringing this Bill before the Seanad, and I thank all Senators who have engaged with the Bill and contributed to the discussion in the House. Having had a debate on the Bill and given further consideration to issues raised in both this House and the Dáil, the Bill is returning to this House with some Government amendments...

Seanad: Children Amendment Bill 2020: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (19 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank all the Senators for their support. Senators will see me again, hopefully, next Monday.

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2021: Second Stage (19 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to bring the Criminal Procedure Bill 2021 before the Seanad today. This is a relatively short Bill whose primary purpose is the introduction of preliminary trial hearings. The need for these hearings has been agreed for many years and is a priority action in the programme for Government and my Department's justice plan. A number of reports have highlighted the benefits of such...

Seanad: Criminal Procedure Bill 2021: Second Stage (19 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senators for their important contributions to this debate. I note some of the points made. On the point Senator Ward made about the exact wording around no previous hearings, it is only to say that the prosecution or the defence is entitled to a preliminary trial hearing for a relevant offence if there has not been one but it does not preclude it from having a second one. Again,...

Children (Amendment) Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I will respond specifically to the points raised by Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I am very sympathetic to the points she has raised. On foot of her raising that the last time we spoke in the Dáil, I asked my officials to engage with her and explore this potential change. What became very apparent, as the Deputy outlined, was that this is quite a complex area. In some cases, it goes...

Employment Permits (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: First Stage (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: No.

Children (Amendment) Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, line 21, to delete "another child" and substitute "another child who is alive" The amendments to subsections (1A) and (1B) are basically technical and are to make it clear beyond doubt that any restrictions on publication only relate to the protection of the interests of living children. They are being proposed following a careful review of the...

Children (Amendment) Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, to delete line 1 and substitute “child and is alive, or”.

Children (Amendment) Bill 2020 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, to delete lines 8 to 18 and substitute the following: “and (c) by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (2): “(2) The court— (a) shall, subject to such conditions (if any) as it considers appropriate, dispense with the requirements of subsection (1) in relation to a child referred to in that...

Labour Exploitation and Trafficking (Audit of Supply Chains) Bill 2021: First Stage (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: No.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have established a Programme Board in my Department to oversee the implementation of the relevant recommendations of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process, including the recommendation related to access to basic bank accounts for International Protection applicants. The Programme Board is supported by an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: As recommended by the Catherine Day Expert Advisory Group, my Department is currently at an early investigative stage in the process of changing the labour market access permission letter to a card format. I expect to bring this change this change into effect before the end of the year. Employers have a duty under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: For people currently living in Ireland and who hold either a valid immigration or an international protection permission registered with my Department, I announced on 26 March 2021, that all such permissions due to expire between 21 April 2021 and 20 September 2021, are automatically renewed to 20 September 2021. In each instance, the automatic renewal of permission is on the same basis as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Government is fully committed to addressing human trafficking in all forms, including through the provision of supports for victims of human trafficking, by educating the public to recognise the signs of trafficking and by continuing to work with our international partners in all relevant forums. Officials within my Department have been preparing Ireland’s response to the TIP...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insurance Fraud (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner has responsibility, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation of Garda resources, in light of identified operational demands. The Garda Commissioner is solely responsible for the allocation of personnel, as well as organisational matters including the structure and number of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Security Authority (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Private Security Authority (PSA), an independent agency under the remit of my Department, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in the State. The Private Security Services Act 2004 (as amended) sets out the security services licensable by the Authority. I have no involvement in the day to day operations of the PSA. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Security Authority (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Private Security Authority (PSA), an independent agency under the remit of my Department, is the regulatory body with responsibility for regulating and licensing the private security industry in the State. The Private Security Services Act 2004 (as amended) sets out the security services licensable by the Authority. I have no involvement in the day to day operations of the PSA. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that the GSOC annual report for 2020 was submitted to me on 31 March 2021. Officials from my Department are currently considering the report with a view to publishing it as soon as practicable.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (1 Apr 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that my officials are currently finalising the draft General Scheme of the Garda Síochána (Digital Recording) Bill, which I intend to bring to Cabinet for approval in the coming weeks. The General Scheme will be published on the Department of Justice website shortly thereafter. When enacted, this legislation will replace Section 38 of the Garda...