Results 12,461-12,480 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Information and Communications Technology (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána and the efficient and effective use of resources. This includes responsibility for Garda ICT platforms.  As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.  An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 20 June 2002 and therefore has no entitlement to residency in the State.  Representations were received on behalf of the person concerned, pursuant to Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to revoke the Deportation Order.  Following the consideration of those representations, a decision was taken...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care of any unaccompanied minors in the State. If an unaccompanied minor indicates that they wish to apply for international protection, they are referred to TUSLA, either by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at the airport/port of entry, or by staff at the International Protection Office (IPO)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. The Coroners Act 1962, Section 60 (inserted by Section 24(b) of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013) sets out the procedure for the application for legal aid and advice by a family member at an inquest. Section 60(1) requires a coroner to determine a request for legal aid or advice made to them by a family member...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and decisions on the deployment of resources.  As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.  I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: When setting a date for the introduction of entitlements to family leaves, there are a number of factors for consideration in order to allow for an orderly transition. At the time of the launching of the Parent’s Leave and Benefit scheme, 1 November 2019 was considered the optimal choice to prevent a backlog of applications upon introduction, thereby creating unforeseen cost...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Legal Aid Board provides legal advice and aid under the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996-2017. The Board delivers these services through directly employed solicitors in its network of law centres around the country and through private solicitors from its private practitioner panels. Section 3(3) of the Act provides that the Board shall, subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Immigration Service of my Department does not collect the statistical information sought by the Deputy. When a record of a deportation order is being created, the Immigration Service does not, as a matter of course, record the relevant applicant’s place of birth, as opposed to their country of nationality, which is recorded. The applicant's...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 209 together. The amount spent by my Department on media monitoring and media clipping services for the years 2017, 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 is set out in the table below. The Department receives daily National and Regional Press Cuttings from Kantar Media, based on a wide set of key-words and phrases relevant to the work of the Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Regular media engagement and monitoring of current media issues is essential for my Department to fulfil its public role and democratic mandate. My Department has hard copy and digital subscriptions to daily and weekend national publications as set out below: Hard Copy Subscriptions Online Subscriptions  The Irish Independent The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (29 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Since September 2018, due to a lack of capacity within our accommodation portfolio to meet the demand for accommodation for persons seeking international protection, temporary accommodation has been provided in a number of hotels and guesthouses. Temporary accommodation was sought by way of public advertisement, and the company referred to by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (29 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: It is a contractual obligation on all service providers of accommodation centres that a 28 day menu be provided and that residents are consulted on that menu. Menus must meet the reasonable dietary and cultural needs of the different ethnic groups accommodated at the centre and the reasonable prescribed dietary needs of any resident. Menus must include a vegetarian option and all food...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (29 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 687 and 701 together. My Department takes any complaints from residents very seriously and all residents are made fully aware of their ability to contact my Department at any time in confidence. There are fair complaints procedures in place for residents. Where appropriate, most complaints should be brought to the centre manager in the first...