Results 12,341-12,360 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Engagement with the Minister for Justice (6 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: On the last point, that is something I could consider. Obviously, it is not something we are considering for the purpose of this Bill, where the particular section under Part 17 is to change an anomaly whereby those from the UK would automatically be termed as “non-national” and that would, of course, mean that citizens coming from the UK to Ireland would have to produce a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Engagement with the Minister for Justice (6 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am assured that, as with all other Departments and State agencies, the Garda Síochána is preparing for potential outcomes by the end of the year. Obviously, we hope there will be a deal but they are also preparing for the potential of a no-deal between the UK and the EU. As the Senator mentioned, there has already been close co-operation between the Garda and the PSNI, with a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Engagement with the Minister for Justice (6 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I assure the Deputy that it is on my radar.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Engagement with the Minister for Justice (6 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The answer to the first question is that the existing infrastructure will continue to apply. I am not aware of any other proposed arrangements in that regard. With regard to the right of appeal, people will continue to have the same right to appeal as they do at present. The same timeframe will apply. On the section on marriages and divorces, this was simply a result of the timeline....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Engagement with the Minister for Justice (6 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I will come back to the Senator on his final point, as I am not aware of the details of the ruling in the Bosman case, or its implications. With regard to advocating on behalf of the legal profession or any other business community, we have been in a unique and lucky position at the centre of many of the negotiations as they have taken place. Granted, a huge focus has been on the Northern...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Engagement with the Minister for Justice (6 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: It is not something for which we are preparing within my own Department. The First Stage of the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill has been progressed. If it is implemented, we will find ourselves in a very challenging situation should the UK breach international law and an international agreement. We know that there are already checks on certain amounts of goods coming from the UK...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As he clearly outlined, this is an issue and an area of concern that falls under a number of Departments and Ministers. The Deputy mentioned particular groups and funding and, unfortunately, while I cannot help in that area, I will outline the area that falls under my remit, which is the work of the Garda, and I certainly would be happy to speak...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. Again, I appreciate the urgency with which he is raising this issue. We have seen in the past in Dublin, as he mentioned, that where not just the Garda but the community, the local councils, the education bodies and the community groups come together, a huge amount of work can be done in tackling this very issue. We have a project under way and a scoping exercise in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 249 together. The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, provides the statutory periods of residence required in the State, and that the final year be continuous residence. However, it has long been recognised that many people may travel abroad for a holiday, or may have some unexpected or unavoidable reason...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pardons (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I want to thank the Deputy for raising this matter with me, which I know he has previously raised with my predecessor as Minister. The case in question has received detailed consideration by officials in my Department and a relevant academic has been engaged to provide expert opinion on the matter. I will write to the Deputy directly with a further update.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child and Family Agency (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter but it was unfortunately not possible to compile it in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly with the information requested, when it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child and Family Agency (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted GSOC in relation to the information sought and will write directly to the Deputy when a response is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Data (1 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 the waiting times for solicitors applications in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of People with Disabilities (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: My Department is coordinating the compilation of Ireland’s first State report to the Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This function will shortly be transferring to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Ireland's State Report was scheduled for submission earlier this year, two...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of People with Disabilities (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enshrining disability rights by finalising the legislation necessary to meet the terms of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (“the Convention”). The approach being taken is one of progressive realisation, with work continuing on the reforms needed for an optimum level of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Prison Service (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that at present, there is no recruitment moratorium in place and that the recruitment process has been ongoing since 2017 having regard to such factors as service needs and retirement levels. The Deputy will wish to be aware that new recruits into the organisation take up their positions on a scheduled basis, throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Districts (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Minister of State will be aware, under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and operations of An Garda Síochána.  This includes the effective and efficient deployment of the resources available to An Garda Síochána taking into account crime trends and policing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Welfare (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have asked the Irish Prison Service for an update on the issues raised in the Chaplain's report and will revert to the Deputy when this is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Council (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: Following enactment of the Judicial Council Act 2019, the Judicial Council was established in December 2019. The Act provides for the establishment of several committees of the Council, all of which have been established. The Act sets out various timeframes for the production of relevant guidelines by the committees.  The timescales set out in the Act have regard to the significant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, Community-based CCTV is governed by section 38(3)(c) of 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...