Results 12,721-12,740 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Vetting (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: As you are aware, the National Vetting Bureau conducts vetting in accordance with the requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016. Vetting is an operational matter for the Garda authorities and neither I, as Minister, nor the Department of Justice and Equality have a role in these matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service (8 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 private solicitors from its private practitioner panels. The Legal Aid Board provides independent legal assistance to its clients subject...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: In 2016, the Department of Justice and Equality established an Open Call for proposals under the European Social Fund’s (ESF) Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL). Activity 2.9 of that programme relates to the combating all forms of discrimination and promoting equal opportunities. The specific aim of this activity was to develop and deliver one or more training...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Section 27 of The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 provided for a review of Part 4 of the Act 3 years after it was commenced and in July of this year I commissioned an Independent Expert, Ms Maura Butler, to undertake this review. Part 4 of the Sexual Offences Act 2017 introduced two new offences - paying for sexual activity with a prostitute and paying for sexual activity with a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 919 and 920 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the spread of Covid-19 is unprecedented in almost every aspect for every sector, both private and public, and this includes communications. A key objective of Government throughout the Covid-19 pandemic has been to be able to provide regular updates in uncertain times to the public. As part of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 921 and 922 together. In August 2019, the new National Standards for accommodation centres were published. These Standards were developed through an Advisory Group including representatives from UNHCR Ireland and the NGO sector. The Standards will come into force in January 2021, and will address a broad range of themes including accommodation; food...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy may be aware that fireworks are classified into four separate categories, depending on their level of hazard and whether they require specialist knowledge for use. Category F1 is the least hazardous category and covers party poppers and sparklers, while Category F4 represents the most hazardous. In the interests of safety and security, it is Government policy to restrict the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: All accommodation centres are carefully following the guidelines for our centres that have been published by the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre, which can be found on its website www.hpsc.ie. That guidance exists precisely because it is recognised that congregated settings such as Direct Provision centres present specific challenges in this pandemic. During this time,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Status (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: For reasons of maintaining full confidentiality, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State. An applicant for such protection status, or their legal representative, should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 926 and 927 together. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents meeting specified criteria to regularise their status within 18 months of the formation of the Government, bearing in mind European Union and Common Travel Area commitments. Ireland along with other Member...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order, signed on 24 February 2020, requiring him to remove himself from the State and remain outside the State. The enforcement of the Deportation Order is a matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). It is open to the person concerned to submit representations in writing under Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Data (8 Sep 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 provided the following update on this matter. Dublin Probate Office...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The immigration case of the person concerned is under active consideration at present, pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). In that context, all representations submitted by the person concerned will be considered under the various headings set out in section 3(6) of that Act before a final decision is taken in the case. Once final a decision has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (8 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: Deportation Orders (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order signed on 3 March 2011. This Order requires the person concerned to remove themselves from the State and remain outside the State. The enforcement of the Deportation Order is a matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau. Representations were received on behalf of the person concerned on 14 December 2016, requesting that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: In March 2019, my Department amended the policy to allow the non-EEA national spouses, dependents and partners of hosting agreement researchers access to the labour market. The Stamp 1G permission granted is in line with the permission granted to the PhD hosting agreement candidate. Those who study here under a research hosting agreement abide by strict conditions as to the research...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigrant Investor Programme (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was introduced in April 2012 to encourage inward investment and create business and employment opportunities in the State. The programme provides investors with the opportunity to invest in Ireland. Key to the programme is that the investments are beneficial for Ireland, generate or sustain employment and are generally in the public interest. Successful...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigrant Investor Programme (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was introduced by the Irish Government in 2012 to encourage inward investment for the creation of business and employment opportunities in the State. The IIP is designed to encourage investors and business professionals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to avail of opportunities of investing and locating their business interests in Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (8 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 including matters relating to recruitment, training and assessment. I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that due to the current situation regarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy has very recently made an application for citizenship through the naturalisation process. This application will be processed with a view to establishing if the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. The application will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. As the Deputy will appreciate,...