Results 12,121-12,140 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Reviews (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The review was to start three years after the legislation was passed. It was to start in March, but with the election, the formation of the Government and Covid-19, there was a slight delay. There is also the fact that Maura Butler, who is conducting the review, is also undertaking a review of familicide. Two pieces of work are taking place concurrently. I spoke to Ms Butler this week...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Reviews (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I undertake to get those figures for the Deputy. As I said, of the 20 people who have been charged, 17 are female and three are male. I must admit, I asked the same question as to why out of the 60 incidents, 31 of the 37 were female. Is there a situation where many of these women are doing so under coercion or pressure and do not necessarily wish to be there? Of the 60, only 17 have been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I agree with the Deputy. If somebody needs to travel, he or she needs documentation. In my Department, specifically the section dealing with immigration, visas and those type of requests, there is a paper-based system. It is very much behind compared with other Departments, such as my previous Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs, which has an award-winning online system for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising the question. My Department provides funding to a range of organisations, allocated subject to a number of conditions appropriate for public funds. This is applicable to most Departments when they give out funding. These conditions include confirmation of charitable status, tax clearance, audited accounts and so on. In 2020, my Department committed almost...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. The Department has offered to meet the group and that has not been taken up, but I am happy to meet the group. The legislation that was passed criminalises the buying of sex, the buying of sex from persons who are trafficked and also criminalises those who manage, organise or own brothels. I accept what the Deputy is saying, that this group might have a different view,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The challenge here is that we have legislation that criminalises the buying of sex and those who run brothels. I have spoken with officials at great length and inquired myself. This particular organisation does not agree with the idea that it should be criminalised and that this is something that potentially exploits women and girls. A significant number of women who find themselves in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy has rightly outlined, this issue was addressed following a referendum of the Irish people. Every person who was suitable and of age to vote was entitled to vote in this referendum. The twenty-seventh amendment to the Constitution changed the position regarding entitlement to Irish citizenship and as a result, section 6 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I genuinely understand this issue and have met many of the people who are undocumented in this country. I met the MRCI recently and spoke to one such individual who has not seen his family in many years. I understand how difficult this is. I personally know people who are living outside Ireland and are in a similar situation. That is why we have committed in the programme for Government...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I confirm that will happen. Once we receive the report, it will be important that the Attorney General be consulted, as well as the family. After that is done, and the family are satisfied that they have received the report, it will then be published and made public.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together. On 14 October 2020, the Government approved the transfer of functions which has moved responsibility for international protection accommodation, integration and equality to my colleague, the Minister with responsibility for children, equality, disability, integration and youth, with effect from that date. The transfer...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I will start by expressing my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and community of Patrick Nugent on their tragic loss.  Although this happened more than 36 years ago, I know the pain of losing Patrick will not have diminished in this time and I greatly appreciate deeply the family's desire to understand the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. All I can say is that I am sorry it has taken this long to get to where we are. I have read through the circumstances myself. This young man was working and, unfortunately, met his death in circumstances that are still unknown. It must be very difficult and challenging for the family. I am sorry it has taken this long to even get to where we are today. Having spoken...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Parole Boards (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this issue. I am fully committed to establishing the new parole board as soon as possible. This is an important programme for Government commitment and is something I have identified as a priority action for my Department. Government has supported this commitment with funding in our first budget to make sure this priority is delivered in 2021. As the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Parole Boards (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy and I reassure him that this is an absolute priority for me. This is why I have included it in my own list of priorities as Minister for Justice. While I cannot account for what may have happened last year or what stage it was at last year, a number of new things have happened in recent months with the establishment of the project board, which is driving forward the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Parole Boards (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I stress again that this is a priority. I have met with some of the victims' groups. I reassured them that this is a priority and that we want to enact this as quickly as possible. I hope that the additional funding we allocated this year, and the progress of the project board in progressing this, highlights and shows that it will be done as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: 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 2020, and my officials have been in close contact with Dublin City...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Stardust fire was a horrific tragedy that has left a legacy of pain for many people in the Artane community.  As the Deputy will be aware, in September 2019, the then Attorney General wrote to my predecessor as Minister for Justice and Equality to inform him that he had “formed the opinion that fresh inquests into the Stardust deaths are advisable” and in December...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders Notification Requirements (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and I know it is one on which he is particularly focused. As the Deputy is aware, a person found guilty in court of a sexual offence automatically becomes subject to the registration / notification requirements of Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001. The sex offender is obliged to notify the Gardaí of their name and address for a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, I consider the provision of appropriate mental health supports to be a matter of the highest importance.  This was one of a number of key issues I discussed with the  Garda Commissioner and his senior team when I met with them on 29 September 2020. The issue was also raised when I recently met the Garda Associations. Notwithstanding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Information and Communications Technology (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have made driving the modernisation and digital agenda across the Justice Sector a key priority for me as Minister.  My objective is to drive efficiency and deliver more accessible public services to all who need them. So I am particularly pleased to have secured additional ICT spending in key areas to support this objective. This prioritisation of technology and modernisation will...