Results 11,061-11,080 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank the House for the opportunity to speak on the Health (Amendment) Bill 2021. The Government this week took the decision to extend significant restrictions. This was not a decision we took lightly but while reflecting on a number mentioned by many Deputies today, namely, those 4,237 people who have died because of Covid-19. Everything we are doing is to keep that number as low as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insurance Industry (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 to 219, inclusive, together. I would like to assure the Deputy that insurance reform is a key priority for this Government. That is reflected in the Programme for Government itself and in the Government’s Action Plan for Insurance Reform which was launched last December. The Action Plan sets out 66 actions designed to bring down costs for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff.  As Minister, I have no direct role in such decisions. The Deputy may wish to note that on 19 January 2021, 69 Garda Reserves attested on completion of their training along with 71 Garda members. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, and in accordance with section 80 (1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission shall submit an annual report on the activity and work of the Commission for the immediately preceding year to the Minister no later than 31 March of each year. I anticipate that the annual report for 2020 will be provided to me by 31...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 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: Citizenship Applications (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that the Citizenship Division of the Immigration Service of my Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. I accept that there is a significant delay in the processing of applications for citizenship. However, a number of issues have impacted on the processing of citizenship applications over the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am very happy to be able to reply to the Deputy on these matters and for his understanding in allowing the additional time necessary to complete the relevant enquiries with the Legal Aid Board. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy was the subject of a Deportation Order made on 8 March 2019. This deportation was effected on 4 December 2019. The person subsequently made a request on 10 February 2020, under section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to have that Order revoked and this will be considered as soon as possible. The decision will be that the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 1 February 2019. However, they made a request on 23 October 2020, under section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to have that Order revoked and this will be considered as soon as possible. The decision will be that the existing Deportation Order will be either ‘affirmed’ or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that I am very conscious of the impact of this form of theft from car owners, and in particular from individuals owning specific types of hybrid vehicles. I understand that the current interest in catalytic converter theft may be directly associated with the current high price of palladium available on the market. The Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: European Council Meetings (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: Since 27 June 2020 to date, no formal meetings of EU Justice or Home Affairs Ministers were held. There has been a total of four informal meetings of EU Justice Ministers and six informal meetings of EU Home Affairs Ministers in that time period. All of these meetings were held by videoconference.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Orders (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The execution of the Court Orders described by the Deputy is not a matter for the Courts Service, or for this Department. ?It is the responsibility of the parties in the proceedings and/or their solicitors to execute such Orders. The Deputy will appreciate that I, as Minister for Justice, am not in a position to comment on, or provide legal advice, on matters which relate to activities...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigrant Investor Programme (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 to 234, inclusive, together. The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was introduced in April 2012 to encourage inward investment and create business and employment opportunities in the State. The programme provides investors with the opportunity to invest in Ireland. Key to the programme is that the investments are beneficial for Ireland, generate or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter but unfortunately it was not possible to compile it in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly with the information requested, when it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 237 together. I can inform the Deputy that the Department did not enter into any procurement contract by negotiated procedure in the timeframe specified.

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

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department of Justice has ten buildings in its estate. All of the buildings have a dedicated restroom, which may be used by staff for breastfeeding and expressing breast milk.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (24 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: Due to the public health restrictions currently in place under Level 5 of the Government's Framework for Restrictive Measures in Response to Covid-19, the Registration Office in Burgh Quay has been closed since 23 December 2020, until further notice. To ensure that people do not fall out of permission during the Covid-19 pandemic, six automatic extensions of immigration permissions have been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (24 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 698 and 748 together. This Government is committed to ensuring that the inquests into the Stardust will commence as soon as possible, having regard to public health guidelines, and that the families concerned will receive the supports they need in terms of legal aid. Extensive work has been undertaken to deliver on these objectives. Government funding has been...

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

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation under the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements, not only within the State but also at European Union as well as international level. It is therefore important that appropriate procedures are in place to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Visiting Committees (24 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: Appointments to Prison Visiting Committees are made in accordance the Prison (Visiting Committees) Act, 1925 as applied by section 4 of the Prisons Act, 1970 and are generally made for a period not exceeding three years, but members may be considered for re-appointment. The legislation provides that the membership of each Visiting Committee shall consist of not fewer than six, and not...