Results 12,281-12,300 of 17,539 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (1 Dec 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Government committed to introducing new pathways to status regularisation within 18 months of its formation.  My Justice Plan 2021 also contains a commitment to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents who must meet specified criteria to regularise their status. I intend to publish details of the scheme shortly. The scheme, which is a once in a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (1 Dec 2021)

Helen McEntee: Under my Department's Policy Document on non-EEA Family Reunification, all sponsors, that are Irish citizens, must not have been totally or predominantly reliant on benefits from the Irish State for a continuous period in excess of two years immediately prior to the application. They must also over the three year period prior to application have earned a cumulative gross income over and above...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Programme for Government (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, on 24 of June 2018, to mark the 25th Anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality, the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, announced the Government’s plan to bring forward proposals for a scheme to enable the disregarding of criminal records in qualifying offences where the acts involved would now be lawful. To take forward this commitment, and following...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that a temporary permission to remain in the State on Stamp 1 conditions will be issued to the person concerned in the coming days. Persons are required under Section 9(2) (a) of the 2004 Immigration Act to register the permission granted with their local immigration office as soon as possible. They are also advised to bring the decision letter with them when they...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Property Prices Register (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) is the statutory regulatory body tasked with responsibility for licensing and regulating property services providers and is independent in the performance of its functions. As such, I have no role in operational matters under the remit of the PSRA. The PSRA has a dedicated email address for Oireachtas Members to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As you are aware, in July of last year, my Department officials contracted an independent expert to undertake the review of Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act. As part of the review, an online public consultation was opened and contributions were received from a broad range of organisations with different perspectives. Further consultation with stakeholders is planned and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Immigration Status (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted to my Department on behalf of the person concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Substance Misuse (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs including crack cocaine remains a priority for An Garda Síochána and the other state agencies tasked with responsibilities in this regard. A concerted effort has been made over the past year to ensure that the detection and prevention of these types of criminal activity have not been adversely affected by the unprecedented...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Visa Applications (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application you refer to was refused. The letter issued to the applicant outlines the reasons for this refusal. It is open to the applicant to appeal this decision, in writing, within two months of the date of the refusal. Appeals must be in written form and sent to the Visa Appeals Officer in the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Garda Síochána (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Garda Síochána (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the arrangement of training courses for Garda members. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I understand that Specialist Interviewing was established in An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Garda Síochána (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Prison Service (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Inspector of Prisons, whose independence in the exercise of her functions is provided for by law, plays a vital role in ensuring effective independent oversight of our prison system. ‘A Framework for the Inspection of Prisons in Ireland’ was published by the Inspector in March last year. This sets out how the Inspector will conduct inspections of prisons and draws...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legal Aid (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means in the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021. On 10 November 2021, I was pleased to announce the appointment of a new Board for the period 1 November 2021 to 31 October...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Prison Service (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that on 19 November 2021 there were 361 people in custody whose most serious offence was burglary. Of this, 294 were sentenced and 67 were being held for trial or on remand. A detailed breakdown of those serving sentences for burglary is set out in the tables below. Table 1. All Prisoners in Custody For Burglary or Related Offences on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Court Judgments (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, 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. This includes the compilation of information relating to convictions. In addition, the decision about whether or not to prosecute a person is entirely a matter for the Director of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, there is a commitment in the Justice Plan 2021 to publish the independent research on Familicide and Domestic Homicide Reviews which has been commissioned by my Department. This will be an important first step in delivering on the Programme for Government commitment to legislate to introduce Domestic Homicide Reviews. The independent study is looking at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Naturalisation Applications (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it and my Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and during all levels of public health restrictions. However, the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones case and the necessary health restrictions arising from the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Work Permits (30 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Atypical Working Scheme was established as a cross Departmental response to address the matter of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet, who are not currently eligible for permission under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's employment permit system. The Scheme provided, for the first time, a framework for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Court Orders (30 Nov 2021)

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. Furthermore, as the Deputy will be aware, the making of a maintenance order is a matter for the presiding judge and I have no role in this regard. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries...