Results 12,581-12,600 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Data (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The work of An Garda Síochána is directed by the Garda Commissioner and his team, but I can say that where a particular increase has been identified in these types of crimes it has been possible for An Garda Síochána to place particular emphasis and a focus on trying to improve the response to and support for those individuals affected by crime. Regarding the area of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Data (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I do not have the figures now, but I can respond to the Deputy later. I have exact figures for Kildare, the Deputy's county, but I appear to have mislaid them in my documents. I will pass those figures on to the Deputy once these Questions are finished.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Female Genital Mutilation (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Deputy will be glad to know that female genital mutilation has been an offence in Ireland since 2012. It is barbaric and should never happen. The Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Act was enacted in 2012. It was sponsored by the then Minister for Health and the Act created the offence of female genital mutilation and related...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Female Genital Mutilation (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy has asked a number of questions there. He is right in saying that first and foremost, we need to stop this practice and a lot of that is done through education of parents and within communities. We will progress this through the second domestic, sexual and gender-based violence strategy, which includes a number of measures. A review is under way and we are looking to develop a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Female Genital Mutilation (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I support the Deputy and I agree that we need to eradicate this process. We have made good strides in recent years with the introduction of legislation as a priority as part of the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence strategy. I mention the fact that we have had one conviction. While the number might seem low, there was a significant problem in Ireland whereby this is often only...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fire Safety (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: While I have not stayed in Dublin in the last few nights, I have friends who live here and they have highlighted this issue to me a number of weeks ago, which was surprising and concerning given how far out we are from Hallowe'en. The importation of fireworks is controlled under law in the interests of safety and security. Government policy restricts the availability of all hazardous...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Investigations (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I agree we need to ensure that any kind of evidence being kept or stored is kept safely. That is why there is a security review under way as to what happened here specifically. I do not know of any other such incidents nor do I have figures of incidents like this. I do not know if that information is available but I reassure the Deputy that this is being looked at and a review is under...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Investigations (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I know it is a long-standing interest of the Deputy and I agree that the perpetrators of this crime should be brought to justice. This was an appalling bomb attack that took place in Belturbet in 1972 which sadly cost two innocent young people their lives and injured many others. I extend my sincere sympathy to those bereaved and injured in that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Investigations (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have not seen the document the Deputy referred to but I would be happy to receive it, as I am sure the Garda and the PSNI would be. They are committed and where there is new evidence or an ability to reach a conclusion and bring the perpetrators to justice, they want to do that. However, it is difficult without new evidence, given the period of time lapsed. This case will remain open....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Investigations (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I agree with the Deputy. The use of violence in any instance is reprehensible and should never be a course of action for anybody, particularly when such innocent young lives are lost. I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering that has been faced by the families of these two victims over the years, as well as by the many victims of violence on this island in recent years. Violence...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I again thank both Deputies for their commitment to this. The implementation of these recommendations will only work, if all agencies, including the various Departments, whether Justice and Equality, Health, Education and Skills or Employment Affairs and Social Protection, come together. This mirrors the work we intend to do through the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Deputy O'Dowd raised the issue of the timeline. I asked Mr. Geiran whether ten weeks would be enough and he absolutely assured me it would be. The sooner we can get the recommendations, the sooner we can start to act on them. In the meantime, there are still concerns about criminal activity in Drogheda and the surroundings area in counties Louth and Meath. Regarding the changes over...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Investigations (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides that the Commissioner is responsible for the direction and control of An Garda Síochána. The Garda Commissioner is also responsible for the day-to-day management of An Garda Síochána, which includes investigations of alleged crimes and other relevant matters. As Minister, I have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Investigations (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I do not want to give the Deputy a short answer, and it is not that I do not want to answer him, but, given the very serious nature of what we are talking about and the situation in general surrounding this case, it is important I do not say anything that could impact a case currently before the courts. As I have outlined, however, there is a very clear process where there is no storage or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Court Sittings (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: No.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Court Sittings (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I do not have the figures to hand. As I mentioned, management of the courts' services is a matter for the courts but I can certainly ask for and seek that information. I know every effort has been made to try to ensure that urgent cases involving the most vulnerable people in complex family situations and victims of sexual and domestic abuse have been seen. From 1 September, a huge amount...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 23 and 173 together. I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. It is obviously very close to both Deputies, who have worked extremely hard in their communities and with local resources and authorities to try to address this. As the Deputies are aware, on Friday 21 August 2020, I appointed the former director of the Probation Service, Vivian...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sex Offenders Notification Requirements (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: This is something that has taken some time and, therefore, I assure the Deputy again that I have asked for an update on the timeline of this and I have asked that it be progressed as soon as possible. I will finish outlining some of the areas included in the legislation. We will have enhanced supervision of high-risk offenders including, in limited circumstances, the electronic monitoring...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sex Offenders Notification Requirements (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I fully accept the Deputy's concerns and that we need to make progress in the area but while there is legislation there, it does not go far enough. That is why we need this legislation. As such I commit again to try to progress this as quickly as possible. There are obviously other areas as well that relates to sexual offences. The Sexual Offences Act 2017 specifically provides for a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Court Sittings (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising what is an extremely important issue. She is correct that we have unfortunately witnessed a significant increase in domestic violence through the Covid months, due to the fact that many people have been at home and have had no other place to go for safety. Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of...