Results 11,401-11,420 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (21 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have established a high level Programme Board to assess the recommendations of the Catherine Day Advisory Group report and oversee their implementation, as relevant to my Department and as appropriate, including those related to access to bank accounts for international protection applicants. An Implementation Working Group has also been established in my Department to oversee the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Services (21 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that tackling domestic abuse and providing supports for victims is a priority for me as Minister for Justice and for Government. I am working with my colleagues and with our partners to ensure we have an appropriate collective national response that supports victims and holds perpetrators to account. There is no doubt that restricted movement in the context of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (21 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The visa application for the person referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Dublin. A letter issued to the applicant on 9 December 2020, which outlines the reasons for this refusal. It is open to the applicant to appeal this decision, in writing, within two months of the date of the refusal. All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (21 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I recognise and acknowledge the crucial role frontline workers are continuing to play in responding to the threat of COVID-19. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. Their exceptional commitment has been particularly clear throughout the pandemic, during which they have been playing a key role in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiries into Garda Activities (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: As previously, I 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 fatal shootings are deeply distressing, and I know that the local community are experiencing real trauma as a result of these events. As is the case in every incident involving a member of An Garda Síochána that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The application for a labour market access permission, for the person referred to by the Deputy, is currently pending as the Immigration Service of my Department is waiting for the applicant to provide identity documents or to confirm the efforts they have made to establish their identity. To date, the applicant’s responses have not provided either identity documents or an explanation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to ending the Direct Provision system and replacing it with a new international protection accommodation policy, centred on a not-for-profit approach. The Government has also committed to the development of a White Paper, which will set out how this new system will be structured and the steps to achieving it. Responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: Current travel advice is to avoid all non-essential travel in and to Ireland. The situation will continue to be reviewed in consultation with the relevant authorities and any changes to the restrictions on visa processing will be announced on the Immigration Service website at: As part of the combined efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure customer safety, the Immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I understand that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes first formally notified the Coroner for North Galway on 2 March 2017 of its discoveries at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home. Both the Coroner and the Gardaí provided any cooperation requested by the Commission during its work at the Tuam site. However, I understand that there is no active investigation being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigrant Investor Programme (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) provides non-EEA nationals with a number of options to invest in Ireland. Successful applicants are granted a permission to reside in Ireland for a fixed period. Projects seeking funding under the IIP are assessed by an Independent Evaluation Committee, composed of senior civil and public servants from relevant Government Departments and State...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: To date, none of the employees of my Department have been vaccinated due to their role in the Department. Staff of my Department will be vaccinated in line with the National Covid-19 Vaccination Programme – Implementation Plan, which has been approved by Government.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Property Services Regulatory Authority (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The provision of property services to consumers in Ireland is subject to a detailed legislative framework of licensing, regulation, monitoring and enforcement, under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011. The Act also established the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), a statutory regulatory body specifically tasked with responsibility for licensing and regulating property...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: Written representations have been submitted on behalf of the persons concerned in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). 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: Community Policing (20 Jan 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: Departmental Inquiries (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that all persons in this jurisdiction are fully subject to our laws and any evidence of breach of the criminal law would be fully pursued in the normal way by the relevant authorities. I am aware of the inquiry referred to by the Deputy and if anything arises relevant to policing in this jurisdiction, it will be further considered.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Citizenship Division of the Immigration Service of my Department have checked their records and there is no record of an application from the person referred to by the Deputy for a post-nuptial citizenship certificate prior to the scheme ending on 30 November 2005. I understand that the person concerned was previously included on her husband’s Irish passport. As matters in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Services (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Domestic Violence Act 2018 makes provision for the issuance of a barring order which can be granted for a period of up to three years, and can be extended on application to the court before the order expires or on the expiration of the order. The District Court Family Law courts are operating during current Level 5 restrictions where applications to renew domestic violence orders...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Pensions (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that all pensionable allowances have, since 2008, been calculated in accordance with Circular 10 of 2008, Public Service Pension Reform: Revised method of reckoning variable pensionable allowances for pension purposes.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: My Department has not suspended the receipt or processing of citizenship applications at any stage during the pandemic. However, processing rates have unfortunately been negatively impacted by the attendant health and safety related restrictions. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused by the Visa Office in Abuja on 2 November 2020. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. The refusal letter also sets out whether or not the applicants are allowed to appeal. Where an appeal is allowed, there is no fee for such an appeal. An appeal must arrive with...