Results 11,181-11,200 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Children (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (15 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senator McDowell and the other proposing Senators for bringing this Bill before the Seanad. As we are all aware, and as the Senator and others have clearly explained, the Bill is in response to issues from the recent decision of the Courts in DPP and EC v. The Irish Timesand others. Section 252 of the Children Act 2001 contains mandatory reporting restrictions where the trial...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I want to record at the outset my sympathy for all those affected by issues arising from CervicalCheck. I met with the 221+ Patient Support Group before Christmas and they explained their concerns in relation to a number of matters including the issue raised by the Deputy concerning the operation of the Civil Liability Act 1961. I have received a copy of a draft Bill that the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter. 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: Departmental Staff (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that staff can express an interest in moving internally to other areas of the Department, and this is taken into consideration when filling vacancies. HR fill vacancies in line with sequencing obligations as set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). Transfers for Department of Justice staff to bodies under the remit of the Department (such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I wish to assure the Deputy that I understand and recognise the difficulties that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on all immigrants including our international student population. Through their participation in part-time and casual employment in many essential services they have made a valuable contribution during extremely difficult times. Since March 2020, I have extended immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, 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. This includes the provision of information on the courts system. In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have made enquiries with the Courts Service, who have informed me that statistics in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that it is the role of An Garda Síochána to investigate alleged offences, to gather whatever evidence may be available and to submit a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP, who is independent in the performance of her functions, then decides whether or not someone should be prosecuted, and for what offence, on the basis of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy applied for a right of residency, accompanied by a right to work, based on their parentage of an Irish citizen child on 19 March 2020. The application is one of a large number of applications on hand and in the interest of fairness to all applicants, applications are dealt with in chronological order. If any further information or documentation is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, community-based CCTV is governed by Section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006 (SI 289 of 2006). This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must: - be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee, - have the prior support of the relevant Local Authority, which must also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: My objective, and that of my Department, is to have decisions made on international protection applications and permission to remain considerations as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. I welcome the key recommendation of reducing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that problem of illegal dumping is addressed in the provisions of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 and the Waster Management Act 1996. Both of these Acts are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment. I understand that the Data Protection Commissioner has written to that Minister about the use of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 21 March 2019. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether they meet the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision when processing is complete. The granting of Irish citizenship through...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The immigration case of the person concerned was considered under section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), which resulted in a Deportation Order being made in respect of them on 24 February 2020. Notification of that Order was issued by registered post dated 19 August 2020. That communication also advised the person concerned of the requirement that they attend at the Offices...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (11 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Probate Office is an office of the High Court and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made regarding the steps being taken...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2021: Second Stage (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank all Deputies for their comments and their support for this Bill. It is clear that there is overwhelming support from all Members for the many reasons we have all touched on. The Bill will ensure that we have more streamlined, efficient and effective criminal proceedings. Particularly in the context of juries and jurors, it will enable us to create a system where they know that when...

Criminal Procedure Bill 2021: Referral to Select Committee (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice pursuant to Standing Orders 95 and 181.

Criminal Procedure Bill 2021: Second Stage (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to bring the Criminal Procedure Bill 2021 before the House. It is a relatively short Bill the primary purpose of which is the introduction of preliminary trial hearings. The need for these hearings has been agreed and their implementation has been called for over many years. The programme for government highlights the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Minister for Health is primarily responsible for our overall national Covid-19 strategy. The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) is the independent statutory body established under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011, with responsibility to licence and regulate property services providers (auctioneers, estate agents, letting agents and property management agents). To...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Northern Ireland (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, this Government is deeply conscious of the enduring suffering and hardship that survivors of Troubles-related attacks bear. The Government has always sought to acknowledge and address the legitimate needs and expectations of victims’ families and survivors of Troubles-related attacks in this jurisdiction. A substantive measure in this regard was the...