Results 12,541-12,560 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am very conscious of the huge distress that can be caused by the crime of dog theft and the strong emotional bonds that owners have with their pets. I can inform the Deputy that there is already comprehensive legislation in place to address such crimes of theft and fraud as well as related animal welfare offences, including: - The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013; -...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: All accommodation centres for people seeking international protection, whether State-owned or privately owned, are operated by commercial companies under contract. There are currently 43 accommodation centres being operated under the Direct Provision reception system, along with a reception centre for newly arrived applicants in Balseskin, Co. Dublin. My Department contracts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application relating to the person referred to is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether they meet the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision when processing is complete. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: An application for a certificate of naturalisation in relation to the person referred to is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether they meet the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has ratified the UN Convention against Torture and has signed but not yet ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT). The Optional Protocol is preventive in nature and provides for the establishment of National Preventive Mechanisms which would inspect facilities where persons can be held involuntarily. Legislation is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda College (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no role in the allocation of financial resources within An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will also be aware that the Estimates process for Budget 2021 is currently underway and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The 'join family' visa applications referred to by the Deputy were submitted to the Visa Office in Abuja, Nigeria on 1 April 2019. They were subsequently received by the Immigration Service in Dublin on 20 January 2020, for further processing, in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. The Policy Document contains a stated business...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commencement of Legislation (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: In accordance with the terms of the Judicial Council Act 2019 the Judicial Council was established on 17 December 2019. Orders bringing various sections of the Act into operation were made by my predecessor last year. As required by the Act, the Committees of the Judicial Council have now been established by the Council. In some cases, the Act sets out timeframes for the completion...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 590 and 605 together. As the Deputy will be aware, a retired judge, Gerard Haughton, is conducting a scoping exercise into the tragic death of the person in question, whose case has been discussed in Dáil Éireann on a number of occasions. The judge furnished an interim report to my predecessor on 13 November last. Following consultation with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Last year, Dr Catherine Day was asked to bring together an expert group with representation from asylum seekers and NGOs to examine best practice in other European States in the provision of services to international protection applicants, to examine likely longer term trends and to set out recommendations and solutions. Any new system for the provision of accommodation and additional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: It is important to be aware that fireworks, because they are explosives, are regulated under national and EU legislation and can only be imported into the country under licence and stored and sold in accordance with the explosives law. Government policy restricts the availability of all hazardous fireworks to the general public and licences under the Explosives Act are issued by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commencement of Legislation (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (“the 2015 Act”) provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties. The 2015 Act was signed into law on 30 December 2015 but has not yet been fully commenced. The Act provides for the establishment of new administrative processes and support measures, including the setting up of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Licence Applications (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The statutory provisions concerning the licensing of premises for the purposes of public dancing are set out in the Public Dance Halls Act 1935 as well as sections 2 to 10 and 21 of the Licensing (Combating Drug Abuse) Act 1997, in so far as they relate to public dancing licenses. The primary purpose of these statutory provisions is to ensure the welfare and safety of persons while present at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including training. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. In respect of training courses supplied by the Garda College, they are provided on the basis of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all matters relating to the recruitment, training and appointment of its members. This responsibility extends to members of the Garda Band. As Minister I have no role in these matters. However, I am informed by the Commissioner that he is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. I have requested information from An Garda Síochána on the matter requested by the Deputy and will write directly to the Deputy when it is received.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that detailed information in relation to Community Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, at the following link: As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the issue raised involves a range of health, medical and ethical considerations, which are matters where the Department of Health would have a substantive policy role. The legal position in relation to assisted suicide is that it is an offence, under Section 2(2) of the Criminal Law (Suicide) Act 1993, to assist another person in taking his or her life. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (15 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: With regard to the south inner city, I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are two Community Policing Fora within Community Engagement, Pearse Street, however there are currently no scheduled upcoming meetings. The Community Safety Forum last met on 19th October 2019 and under pre-COVID circumstances a meeting would usually have been scheduled for early 2020, however this was...