Results 1,261-1,280 of 15,060 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence remains a priority for this Government, for my Department and for the Garda Commissioner. 'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), sets out an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, I established a Prison Overcrowding Response Group (PORG) in 2023 to develop proposed actions to address the problem of Irish prisons operating above capacity. The Group comprises representatives from the Department of Justice, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, the Probation Service, and the Courts Service. In 2024, the Group presented its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: European Union (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the agenda for the Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Council on 12 December included a range of issues for discussion. Among the matters tabled for discussion were the implementation of the Migration and Asylum Pact, which included a focus on the preparatory steps being taken to apply these laws from June 2026 and how the European Commission can support...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: Under current Irish and EU law provision is made for the designation of safe third countries, whereby international protection applicants entering from such a country, where a person has sufficient connection with that safe third country, and that country is a safe country for that individual person, any international protection application they might make may be deemed inadmissible. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and stationing of An Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a distribution model is used which takes into account all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer the Visa was issued on 9 January 2025. Entry into the State is solely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry. The onus is on the individuals to have all documentation relating to their reasons for entering Ireland for presentation to the Immigration Officer to gain entry. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner determines the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. It is important to note that ratios such as the number of Gardaí per head of population are not an appropriate tool to use when considering the allocation of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes all operational and investigative policing matters. As Minister I have no role in these matters and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to such matters. The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: It is important to note that the Department has not paused accepting applications from Syria or processing any such applications: it is only the issuing of decisions on those applications that has been paused. When assessing any international protection claim, it must be evaluated against the current situation in that country. With the fall of the regime in Syria, the context against which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the applications referred to were created on 04 June 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the Abuja Visa Office on 11 June 2024 where it awaits examination and processing. It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Abu Dhabi on 13 February 2024. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 02 April 2024. Appeals for applications of this type are processed in the order in which they are received, to be fair to all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer the Visas referred to were issued on 16 January 2025. Entry into the State is solely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry. The onus is on the individuals to have all documentation relating to their reasons for entering Ireland for presentation to the Immigration Officer to gain...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: Security clearance is an important element of the State's national security framework. Cases do arise where it is simply not possible to provide the required security clearance. As the Deputy will appreciate, as Minister for Justice I cannot comment on any individual case.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, engineering consultants were engaged by the Irish Prison Service in late 2023 to carry out a detailed assessment of the old Cork Prison facility and to provide a feasibility report on the site with various options for its use. The draft report was received by the Irish Prison Service in October last year and it is currently being considered by them. The site...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Racial Profiling (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: Ireland is, in general, a diverse and welcoming country, but regrettably there is a small minority who subject others to abuse or attack resulting from their own prejudice. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on individual cases but this behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated. Anyone subjected to attacks of the nature outlined in the correspondence should report it to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department has worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance. While a specific admission programme in respect of Gaza...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. It is important to note that no two applications are the same and some take longer than others to process. All...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. This application is based on Section 16 'Irish Association', which can take typically longer to process than applications based upon residency. Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The review of the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which was last amended in 2016, is examining a wide range of matters relating to applications for family reunification, including the nature and suitability of current income thresholds and waiting periods. My Department has consulted with a wide variety of stakeholders and the expectation is that the review will be brought...