Results 12,241-12,260 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person concerned originally applied for a Short Stay, category “C”, visa on 25 October 2019. This visa was refused on 18 November 2019, and was subsequently granted on appeal on 15 April 2020. As part of the combined efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure customer safety, the Immigration Service of my Department took the decision to temporarily cease...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Bill 2019 provides for two weeks of parent’s leave and benefit for all new parents in employment or self-employment in respect of children born or placed for adoption on or after 1 November 2019. This is to facilitate parents to spend more time with their children in their critical first year of life. The Minister for Public Expenditure announced...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The objective of Changing Places Ireland to introduce fully accessible toilets in public places such as shopping centres, libraries and sporting arenas across the country is important and requires careful consideration. While Part M of the Building Regulations do not, at present, require the installation of changing place facilities, some local authorities have installed them. An example of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 to 378, inclusive, together. The number of citizenship applications granted in 2019 and to date in 2020 is set out in the table. Certificates issued in 2019 and 2020 relate to applications received in 2019, 2020 or earlier years. Year Certificates Issued 2019 5,792 2020 5,473 The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 to 382, inclusive, together. I can inform the Deputy that An Garda Síochána are currently operating an Assaults in Public Reduction Strategy 2019-2021, which is targeted at tackling all types of assaults in public. This national strategy is informed by a pro-arrest, early-investigation and proactive high-visibility approach to assault reduction....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: At various times, nationalities will have difficulties renewing or obtaining passports due to conflict, etc. The Immigration Service of my Department takes this into account when considering the renewal of an immigration permission of a person who does not hold a valid passport, if the applicant can provide a satisfactory explanation of any circumstances that may prevent them from producing a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may 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. 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 act as data...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to was notified by letter dated 24 February 2020, from the Immigration Service of my Department, that they were granted permission to remain on a Stamp 4 basis, for one year effective from 11 February 2020 until 11 February 2021. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Probate Office is an office of the High Court 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 personal applications to the Dublin Probate Office are being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person concerned is the subject of a transfer decision to the United Kingdom by the International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department, under the EU Dublin III Regulation, which determines the State responsible for examining a protection application. The transfer decision was subsequently affirmed on appeal to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal. I understand that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer of An Garda Síochána and is responsible for the Garda budget including the Garda Overtime Budget. In addition, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: 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 functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that all District Court venues are taking new applications from litigants and their legal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: My officials have requested information from the Courts Service and I will revert with a reply to the Deputy as soon as it is received.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 to 394, inclusive, together. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, continues to be processed. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government commits to ending the current system of Direct Provision within the lifetime of the Government and replacing it with a new international protection accommodation policy centred on a not-for-profit approach. Dr Catherine Day has chaired an expert group with representation from asylum seekers and NGOs to examine best practice in the provision of services to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Justice Strategy (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, Part 4 of the Children Act 2001 (as amended) provides the statutory basis for the Garda Diversion Programme. The intention is to divert children and young people who have engaged in criminal or anti-social behaviour away from the Criminal Justice system and towards more positive life choices. Children who commit criminal offences are considered for admission to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (13 Oct 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. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that all county towns have dedicated...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Policy (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Department of Justice is committed to combatting and addressing Domestic Abuse in all its forms, and coordinates the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, which is a whole-of-Government approach addressing the many actions necessary to address these matters fully. Provision for family leave currently falls under the remit of the Department of Justice and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The processing of citizenship applications has had a number of challenges over the past 12 months. A legal challenge taken in the High Court last year by an applicant who was refused a certificate of naturalisation due to his absences from the State during the last year continuous prior to the date of his application. The outcome of this ruling – which was subsequently successfully...