Results 10,681-10,700 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reports (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

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

Helen McEntee: The table below provides the numbers of recommendations made under s21(3) of the International Protection Act 2015, in the years requested by the Deputy. These applications for international protection were inadmissible under s.21(2)(a) of the International Protection Act 2015, as another EU Member State had already granted refugee status or subsidiary protection status to the person, which...

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

Helen McEntee: A total of 498 interviews under section 35 of the International Protection Act 2015, took place in the period 1 March 2020 to 15 March 2021.  Of these, 45 interviews were adjourned and the applicant will be scheduled to attend a further interview to complete the process. The interview schedule for the International Protection Office (IPO) has unfortunately been severely...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: While the Minister for Health is primarily responsible for our overall National COVID strategy, I am happy to supply the following information about the current guidance developed by the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) in this regard. The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) is the statutory body established under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011, with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: A number of issues have impacted on the processing of citizenship applications over the past 18 months. A High Court case which was subsequently successfully appealed to the Court of Appeal resulted in significant delays in 2019. As well as this, a significant backlog has built up regarding the granting of citizenships due to the inability to hold in person ceremonies during the pandemic,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The registration renewal application of the person referred to by the Deputy remains in draft format and is awaiting a submission by the applicant. A confirmation of receipt will only issue after the application is fully submitted. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1180 and 1181 together. 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. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me of the following. Following the...

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

Helen McEntee: I understand that what the Deputy is referring to is an event that was held in the Midlands Prison on the 27 March 2020 to mark the retirement of the then Governor. The Deputy will also be aware that the Director General had, at the time, advised the then Governor that any large gathering, or large assembly of staff, to mark her retirement at that time was not permissible and the large...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow employees to bring alleged wrongdoing to the attention of the appropriate authorities. The purpose of the Act is to afford important protections to persons making protected disclosures. The Irish Prison Service has its own Protected Disclosures Policy in place, with independent external assessment of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1184 and 1185 together. There are currently 34 coroners in 39 coronial districts, with 37 deputy coroners in place. The names of coroners, their deputies and the coronial districts they act in are published and available on the website www.coroners.ie. Coroners are appointed by the local authority, with the following three exceptions: - The coroner for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Justice Plan 2021, which I recently published, commits to reviewing and modernising alcohol licensing. My Department is actively engaged with the Night-Time Economy Taskforce looking at innovative approaches to support and develop a vibrant, diverse night-time culture and economy in Ireland. The work of the Taskforce is ongoing and has included wide stakeholder engagement. A key...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Passport Applications (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: A change of status application from the person referred to by the Deputy, was received by the Immigration Service of my Department on 8 March 2021. Correspondence issued to the applicant on 9 March 2021 requesting additional information. To date, no response has been received. On receipt of a response to the correspondence, the Immigration Service will organise the return of all original...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, tackling crime in our communities is a priority for this government and for An Garda Síochána. As part of Budget 2021, the government has provided a record €1.952 billion to an Garda Síochána in their efforts to tackle crime and to build community resilience against crime. In respect of drug related crime, the Garda National Drugs and...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, there are multiple State agencies involved in the interdiction and seizure of drugs. Some of these agencies, such as the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners and the Irish Naval Service, rest outside of my remit as Minister for Justice. I have, however, contacted An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service and the Criminal Asses Bureau to obtain the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: My Department is committed to implementing our responsibilities under the White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Protection Support Service, which was recently published by my colleague, Minister O'Gorman. There has been regular engagement between my officials and those of the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Policy (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1191, 1214, 1232 and 1236 together. I would like to thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. Protecting and supporting victims of crime for the duration of their journey through the criminal justice system is a key priority for me. The Deputies, I am sure, are aware, that I recently launched a new strategy statement for my department,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1192, 1205 and 1231 together. 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 court cases and the allocation of court business are matters for the Presidents of the Courts and the presiding judges who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Passport Services (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 22 February 2021. 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. If any further documentation is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: From midnight on 15 January 2021 all passengers arriving into Ireland by air or ferry are required to produce evidence of a negative/not detected RT-PCR covid-19 test, taken up to 72 hours prior to arrival. Regulations under the Health Act 1947 underpin these requirements. Under these Regulations, passengers are legally required to produce evidence of a negative/not detected result from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides that the Garda Commissioner is the accounting officer for An Garda Síochána and is responsible for the management and administration of the Garda organisation, including the recruitment, training and appointment of its members. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. Budget 2021 provided for the...