Results 11,521-11,540 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, Garda numbers are now over 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide. Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As you 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 a person's assets, wherever situated, 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 organised...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (10 Dec 2020)

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. As previously indicated to the Deputy, public safety is an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service work closely with An Garda Síochána and the Probation Service in respect of the monitoring, supervision and compliance of those on temporary release. As the Deputy may be aware, any prisoner who breaches his or her conditions, including committing a criminal offence, may be arrested and returned to prison immediately by the Gardaí or may be refused...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that figures in relation to cell occupancy levels and in-cell sanitation are collated by the Prison Service Statistics Unit and are published in the IPS website. This information can be found in the Information Centre section under "Statistics and Information - Census Reports" at www.irishprisons.ie. According to the latest available report (dated 20...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Security (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service is committed to addressing both the demand for and the supply of illegal drugs. The prevention of access to contraband including illegal drugs into prisons will always be a high priority for the Irish Prison Service.  It is considered that approximately 70% of prisoners who are committed to custody have addiction issues. Many of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Facilities (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service is committed to the provision of safe, secure and humane custody for people who are sent to prison in this State.   I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that there is a standard operational procedure in place to ensure that upon committal, all offenders are assessed and accommodated appropriately according to their needs and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: 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. It 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 understand that a wide range of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Staff (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 368 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service operates as an executive office within the Department of Justice and Equality. It is headed by a Director General supported by five Directors.   The allocation of staffing across the prison estate is based on the security and operational needs of each...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including decisions on the deployment of personnel.  I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.  Garda management keeps this deployment under review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána.  Further, the allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demands.  This includes deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including case management and allocation. I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Authorities.  I will respond to the Deputy in writing when the information is provided to me.

Seanad: Deportation Moratorium (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: Thank you. I thank Senators Higgins and Ruane for proposing and seconding the Bill, as well as Senators Flynn and Black, who are also supporting the legislation. I fully agree with and support the overall aim of this Bill that compassion is shown to those issued with deportation orders for the duration of the pandemic. The need to show compassion during this extraordinary time is one we...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to take this opportunity to commend the management and staff of Irish Prison Service (IPS) for the assured and safe management of our prisons during this pandemic. The Deputy will be aware that the IPS has put in place a range of measures to protect our prison population from Covid-19. Prisoners are a recognised vulnerable group for a number of reasons and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Rights (9 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I welcome the recent publication of the report from the Council of Europe Committee on the Prevention of Torture (CPT), together with the responses returned by Ireland in respect of the issues raised by the Committee.  This report is perhaps the most positive account on Ireland since the process began in 1987 in that it recognises the progress which has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Policy (9 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy may be aware that my Department has agreed with the Central Statistics Office that it will conduct a major National Sexual Violence Prevalence Study, which will look in detail at the experience of women and men victims of sexual violence and abuse in Ireland, with repeat large scale surveys every decade. This will be a key element in ensuring that we develop an informed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pardons (9 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I understand that the Deputy is enquiring about the process of a granting a Presidential pardon for historical convictions.  Given the rarity and the importance of the awarding of a Presidential Pardon, as well as the importance of obtaining an unbiased expert opinion, where an initial consideration of a case by officials in the Department of Justice forms the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies Data (9 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the composition of board memberships of the bodies under the aegis of my department is set out below in tabular format.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (9 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: My Department recognises the critical importance of beneficiaries of international protection being reunited with their family members as soon as possible. Family reunification visa applications are processed by the Immigration Service of my Department on an expedited basis where they are accompanied by the family reunification grant letter.   Such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (9 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for generally controlling, managing, administering and carrying on the business of An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. The...