Results 11,681-11,700 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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...

Organisation of Working Time (Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I welcome the Bill and discussion and the collegiate way in which we are responding to it. Christmas is fast approaching, and for all of us, it will be a different kind of Christmas for the reasons we know. While it may be different, for the vast majority of us it will still be a joyous occasion. I, along with all Deputies, am acutely aware that for many people, this can be a time of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As Deputy will be aware, the courts are, subject only to the constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and the conduct of any court case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. Also, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) are a fundamental support to the operation of the statutory Garda Diversion Programme and provide a vital ingredient in enhancing community policing partnerships. The projects are community based multi-agency crime prevention initiatives, which are funded directly by my Department. GYDPs seek to divert young people who have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The High Court has jurisdiction in wards of court matters and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998.  However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that there were 346 wards of court declared in 2019...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commemorative Events (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Decade of Centenaries is a programme of commemoration of the period from 1912 to 1923.  The Programme is broad and inclusive,  complementing the on-going programme of formal State commemorations with special centenary events on the anniversaries of key historical events. It seeks to record the economic and social conditions of the period, the shifts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 to 493, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for personnel and human resources matters.  I have sought the information requested from An Garda Síochána and will write to the Deputy when I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Students (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The requirement for health insurance, whereby students who are non-nationals are required to be in a position to maintain themselves (and not be a burden on the State) also applies to other immigration schemes and there is no intention at the moment to remove this requirement.  It has not been mandatory to have emergency medical repatriation insurance, although some insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this question and will write to the Deputy directly with the information sought, when it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (8 Dec 2020)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Intelligence Services (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee:  I am sure the Deputy will understand that it would not be appropriate, for sound reasons of security, to elaborate in any detail on what might be entailed in the Garda authorities' relationship with other security and intelligence services. There is a long shared history between the two jurisdictions in counteracting terrorism on the Island. There are in place well established...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the way the Immigration Service my Department conducts its business.  In line with public health advice, the Immigration Service has implemented a suite of measures to help in reducing the spread of the virus. These measures include the implementation of remote working for staff in order to comply with social and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Accidents (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that road safety remains a high priority for An Garda Síochána and for my Department, working closely in cooperation with the Department of Transport.  Any fatality or serious injury is of great concern. An Garda Síochána is responsible for collating information regarding road traffic collisions.  I am informed that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018, also known as the Clancy Amendment, seeks to penalise car owners who knowingly allow their vehicles to be used by an unaccompanied learner driver. The law allows the owners of these vehicles to be fined and gives Gardaí the power to seize their cars if being driven by unaccompanied drivers.   The following table,...