Results 12,381-12,400 of 17,539 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced a number of customer focused immigration changes, in particular for our citizenship applicants. I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it. My Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and at all levels of public health restrictions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (25 Nov 2021)

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 the performance of its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided me with the following update on this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service have recently experienced COVID-19 outbreaks in Cloverhill, Midlands and Mountjoy Prisons. The Midlands Prison Outbreak Control team was stood down on 19 November 2021 following the successful containment of the spread of the virus and the prison was returned to a more normal regime. The Prison Service has a comprehensive contingency plan for the management of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring that there is strong, visible policing right across Ireland. Prioritising visible policing in rural and urban communities will ensure community policing is at the forefront of our police service and an integral strand of our social contract with the public. I am pleased that Budget 2022 reflects the commitment of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Reforming the system to better support vulnerable victims as they come into contact with our criminal justice system is a priority for this Government. I know this was true too for the Deputy during his time as Minister for State in the Department of Justice and the important work he did under the equality aspect of his...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the administration of An Garda Síochána, including its various crime prevention operations, fall within the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Hurdle has been established in the Wicklow Division each year since 2012 to target the theft of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 the performance of its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided me...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (25 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, including the enforcement of legislation pertaining to illegal drugs, and Garda operations concerning same. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I can inform the Deputy that the Garda National...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that according to the latest snapshot of the prison population, taken on the 19 November 2021, there was a total of 3,836 prisoners in custody of which 2,971 are sentenced prisoners. A breakdown of sentence length for all 2,971 sentenced prisoners is set out in the table below. The balance of 865 prisoners consisted of 863 prisoners held on trial/remand warrants, 1...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 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 Garda business, including decisions related to the deployment of resources within the organisation. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. However, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, Budget 2022 provides for the establishment of the new Community Safety Innovation Fund. It is intended that this fund will support investment in projects which will improve community safety. The fund, which is expected to grow in the coming years, will have an initial outlay in 2022 of €2m. A call for funding proposals will issue seeking applications...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, commissions of investigation are carried out pursuant to the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. That Act provides for a Commission to be established by Government Order. Before making the Order, a draft must be laid before each House and a resolution approving the draft passed by both Houses. A tribunal of inquiry is an inquiry established by Statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his correspondence on matters relating to the relocation, by the Legal Aid Board, of its Law Centre in Waterford. A response to this correspondence has now issued to the Deputy from my office.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Spiking a person’s drink or spiking someone by injection are obviously very serious offences. They are, in effect, poisoning and they are criminal offences, under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, that can result in a three year prison term. I can assure the Deputy that any incident of this type of crime, including those with evidence to suggest a link with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 306 to 308, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled and I will write to him directly when it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The primary harm reduction intervention utilised by the Irish Prison Service is a healthcare professional consultation with the patient. This includes doctors when prescribing, addiction nurses and addiction counsellors, pharmacists and nurses when dispensing and administering Opioid Substitution Treatment. Training and harm reduction education is provided by the peer-led Irish Red Cross...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This responsibility includes the organisation of specific operations and the assignment of personnel. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the winter phase of Operation Thor was launched on 1 October...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes responsibility for the promotion and appointment to certain ranks within An Garda Síochána under the Garda Síochána (Appointment to the Ranks of Inspector and Sergeant)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs 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 demands placed on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of Garda business, including matters relating to the deployment of Garda personnel. As Minister, I have no direct role in this process. I am advised by the Garda Authorities that Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLOs) are specially trained to fulfil a key role in...