Results 11,101-11,120 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service (IPS) provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to those in custody including education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, addiction counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes can offer purposeful activity to those in custody while serving their sentences and encouraging them to lead...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 657 and 658 together. Prisoner care and rehabilitation is a core aim of the Irish Prison Service. The Service tries to achieve a balanced approach in the effective performance of its care and custody functions and seeks to manage sentences in a way which encourages and supports prisoners in their efforts to live law abiding and purposeful lives on release. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The information sought has been requested and will be provided to the Deputy once it has been received, checked and collated.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient use of Garda resources, including all Garda stations. Further, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. Works in relation to Garda accommodation are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service defines an absconder as a prisoner who leaves an Open Centre without the relevant approval. The Deputy will wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána are informed when prisoners abscond and they have the power to detain, arrest, and return such persons to prison. Experience has shown that the vast majority of offenders who abscond return voluntarily or are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Government is fully committed to the fight against racism, prejudice and bigotry, and strongly condemns the actions of those who abuse and attack others, because of their own prejudices against a person’s religion, ethnic origins, sexual orientation or any other part of their identity as a human being. Ireland is a diverse and tolerant country, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of prisoners in custody in each of the prisons is published on a daily basis and this information is available on the Irish Prison Service website www.irishprisons.ie. This breakdown includes the number of prisoners in custody and the bed capacity in each prison. The information can...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that all prisoners who are sentenced to a term of imprisonment, with the exception of prisoners without a determined sentence, for example, life sentence prisoners, qualify for one quarter remission on the basis of good behaviour. In addition, prisoners who have engaged in authorised structured activity may apply to receive enhanced remission of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the decision to grant bail in a particular case is a matter for the presiding Judge, who is independent in the exercise of his or her judicial functions. There is also a Constitutional presumption in favour of the grant of bail as, under Irish Law, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The specific information is not yet maintained in such a way as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: Diverting young people away from getting involved in criminal activity is a key priority for the Government and the exploitation of young people and children is a particular concern. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to criminalise adults who groom children to commit crimes. To this end, on 15 January 2021, Minister of State James Browne and I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target the assets, wherever situated, of persons which derive or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Leave to Remain (10 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 Operations (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to all those impacted by the shocking incidents which have taken place in Dublin in recent weeks. My Department is keeping the law in relation to sentencing for knife crimes, as well as all other policies around knife crimes, such as targeted interventions, under review. Following a number of initial discussions on our shared concern about...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, 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 advised me that they are currently in the process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. In addition, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles. As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that, following the consideration of the relevant case under section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the Deportation Order referred to was formally revoked on 22 January 2021. This decision was notified to the relevant parties by letter dated 26 January 2021. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (10 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: Citizenship Applications (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of processing and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. If any further documentation is required, it will be requested from the applicant in due course. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 675 and 676 together. I am informed that funding in Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR), North Central Division for Garda Youth Diversion Projects and activities has increased from €566,236 in 2018 to an allocation of €1.2m in 2021. Alongside this increase in funding, the currently funded projects are being provided with increased staffing and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 677 and 678 together. I know the Deputy will appreciate that judges are independent in the matter of sentencing, as in other matters concerning the exercise of judicial functions, subject only to the Constitution and the law. In accordance with this principle, the court is required to impose a sentence which is proportionate not only to the crime but to...