Results 11,621-11,640 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As I’m sure the Deputy is aware, on October 28, I published 'Supporting A Victims Journey' - A plan to help victims and vulnerable witnesses in sexual violence cases'. This is a detailed roadmap for the introduction of the recommendations contained in the O'Malley review which, when implemented, will protect vulnerable witnesses, during the investigation and prosecution of sexual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: There are three judicial vacancies in our national courts at present: 1 Supreme Court, 1 Circuit Court and 1 District Court.   As I outlined to the House recently, it has been the practice to maintain a vacancy in the Supreme Court due to the reduction achieved in waiting times in that court in recent years.   However, this arrangement is kept under review, having regard to...

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

Helen McEntee: I am informed by the Garda authorities that crime trends are monitored by the Garda Síochána Analysis Service, who provide data analysis capabilities to the Commissioner. Further, such trends are reported by the Commissioner to the Central Statistics Office on a regular basis. The CSO is responsible for reporting on these trends and this information is published on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As I outlined to the House recently, it has been the practice to maintain a vacancy in the Supreme Court due to the reduction achieved in waiting times in that court in recent years.   However, this arrangement is kept under review, having regard to emerging pressures, planned retirements etc. When I met with the Chief Justice last week, he restated to me that there is no...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (10 Dec 2020)

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. The Government has included a large county town standard courthouse in Naas as part of the National Development Plan 2018-2027. The current courthouse site...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is currently developing a Community Safety Policy which takes a new approach to policing, crime prevention and youth engagement.  Central to the new policy is a more collaborative approach to service delivery, as harm prevention issues go beyond policing and should include other service providers such as Tusla and the HSE. Services need to work...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, on 13 November I announced that my Department will pilot three Local Community Safety Partnerships in Dublin’s North Inner City, in Longford and in Waterford.  Local Community Safety Partnerships are the new structures proposed in my Department’s new Community Safety Policy to take a holistic approach to safety issues in partnership with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Programme for Government (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I wish to assure the Deputy that providing for the complex needs of people with mental health difficulties who come into contact with the criminal justice system is a priority issue for this Government and for my Department. Its priority status is acknowledged in the Programme for Government in that it commits to establishing a high-level cross-departmental / cross-agency taskforce...

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

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his interest in this important initiative.  I welcome the report by former Assistant Garda Commissioner Jack Nolan outlining a socio-economic and community plan for Darndale and its surrounding areas. Dublin City Council commissioned this report in response to the escalating levels of violence in the Darndale, Belcamp and Moatview areas of north Dublin in 2019 and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: It is now more than 40 years since the Legal Aid Board was established and over 25 years since the statutory scheme of civil legal aid in Ireland was introduced.  I am committed to conducting a review of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme as was recommended by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality in its 2019 Report on Reform of the Family Law System. I believe...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service as of 4 December 2020 there have been 22 confirmed cases of Covid-19 identified amongst the prisoner population. Of the 22 cases, 15 were community based infections and were detected by the early intervention testing of all new committals to prison.  The remaining 7 cases were prisoners in general population. A breakdown of location is set out...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Mental Health Services (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 74 together. Oversight and evaluation are important elements in developing and improving our penal system and 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. I consider that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that addressing all forms of domestic abuse and sexual violence is a key priority for me and my Department. We are continuously working to ensure that we have robust legislation, policies and infrastructure that can support and assist victims and hold perpetrators to account. We are also working proactively to raise awareness in society about domestic abuse and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I fully acknowledge the important contribution that migrants have made to health and social care and other essential services in Ireland during the pandemic and beyond. I can assure the Deputy that humanitarian factors, employment records and other elements are considered as part of the permission to remain process. Each case is examined in detail on its individual merits, taking all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: In general, the current target is that it should take around 12 months for a standard application for a certificate of naturalisation to be processed from the date it is received to the date a decision is made. However, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process.  In some instances, completing the necessary checks, including security...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, work is at an advanced stage in the Department to prepare a General Scheme of a Bill to provide statutory underpinning for Garda overt recording, which will include CCTV authorised in local communities by the Garda Commissioner.  When enacted, this legislation will replace Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. As part of this work,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Sittings (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that current public health guidelines limit the numbers of people that can circulate in indoor venues and court buildings are no exception to this.  In addition to enhanced cleaning, people traffic management and sanitisation facilities, arrangements have been put in place to ensure social distancing in courthouses to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: At the outset I would like to take this opportunity to commend the management and staff of Irish Prison Service 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 including their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parole Boards (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I wish to assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to establishing the new Parole Board as soon as possible on a statutory footing to take account of the concerns of victims and survivors As you may be aware, the establishment of the Board has been identified as a priority action for my Department and aligns with the Programme for Government commitment to ensure full...

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

Helen McEntee: At the outset, I can assure the Deputy that officials from my Department and An Garda Síochána keep all criminal legislation under continuous review to see whether there might be a requirement to change the law. As previously stated, I strongly condemn any assault on, or action that causes harm to, serving members of An Garda Síochána or any action that causes...