Results 10,961-10,980 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: Family law reform is a major element of my Justice Plan 2021. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enact a Family Court Bill to create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structure and provide for court procedures that support a less adversarial resolution of disputes. In September 2020, the Government approved the drafting of a Family Court Bill along...

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

Helen McEntee: An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 12 February 2018. 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: Parole Boards (24 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The establishment of the Parole Board is a priority under my Justice Plan 2021, which envisages the new Board being fully operational by July 2021. The Government has supported this commitment with funding allocated for the Parole Board for 2021 of €1.3 million, which is more than double previous allocations. I have put in place a dedicated project team to coordinate, track...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Driver Licences (24 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including operational matters and the deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. Further, road traffic legislation and related matters, including drivers licences, are in the first instance matters for my colleague the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Investigations (24 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 738 and 739 together. As the Deputy may be aware, the Minister for Justice is a competent authority, responsible for supervising a range of designated persons for compliance with their anti-money laundering/counter financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) obligations, under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 as amended. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (24 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: For reasons of maintaining full confidentiality, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State. An applicant for such protection status, or their legal representative, should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (24 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the effective and efficient use of Garda resources. This includes responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations and the manner in which Gardaí are to be distributed and stationed throughout the State. The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (24 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic my Department has been working closely with all government departments to support the national COVID-19 effort. At all times my Department has contributed to, and participated in, the large scale cross-Government communications programme which has been running since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has involved supporting and amplifying...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (24 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As part of Government efforts to tackle the pandemic, with effect from close of business on 29 January 2021, the Immigration Service of my Department has temporarily ceased accepting new visa/preclearance applications. The Immigration Service is continuing to accept and process Emergency/Priority applications during this time. Applications received prior to 29 January 2021, continue to be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (24 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The permission to remain of the person referred to by the Deputy expired on 22 September 2019. This permission was granted on the basis of being the parent of an Irish Born Child. As this permission has lapsed for over a year, the person concerned should write to Unit 4, Domestic Residence and Permissions Division, Immigration Service Delivery, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, D02 XK70 and provide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Status (18 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 to 224, inclusive, together. The average processing time for applications decided in 2020 was 13.5 months. A number of issues have impacted on the processing of citizenship applications over the past 15 months. A High Court case which was subsequently successfully appealed to the Court of Appeal resulted in significant delays in 2019. As well as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (18 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (18 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Immigration Service of my Department has, since 29 January 2021, temporarily ceased accepting new visa applications, with the exception of critical/priority applications, which would include healthcare and supply chain workers. In relation to applications which were on hand prior to the 29 January, these continue to be processed. However, where a decision is made to grant a visa, unless...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (18 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy within the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy to provide this information as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (18 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the persons concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (18 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.88 billion for 2020 and of €1.952 billion in Budget 2021. This level of investment is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. There are now approximately 14,600 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 3,000 Garda staff....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (18 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service as of 16 February 2021 that there have been 67 confirmed cases of Covid-19 identified amongst the prisoner population. Of the 67 cases, 40 were community based infections and were detected by the early intervention testing of all new committals to prison. The remaining 27 cases were prisoners in the general population. As the Deputy may be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders Treatment Programme (18 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I fully understand the very natural public safety concerns regarding the rehabilitation of sex offenders and I am aware of the recent media coverage of the participation rates in the Building Better Lives programme. This Programme is an intensive programme aimed at a certain cohort of sex offenders and like all treatment programmes available for people convicted of sexual violence, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (18 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has a very important role to play in ensuring public confidence in An Garda Síochána and it has extensive powers under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Government is committed to ensuring that GSOC has the necessary supports and resources in order to fulfil its statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (18 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I would again like to extend my deepest sympathies to all those impacted by the tragic event in Hartstown, and in particular to the family of the late Mr George Nkencho. All incidents resulting in a fatality are deeply distressing events and I know that the local community have experienced real trauma as a result of these events. I understand that Gardaí have been engaging with the...