Results 12,781-12,800 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, staff in the Immigration Service Delivery function of my Department have had limited access to their offices and to the relevant case files until recently. However, it is expected that the person concerned should receive a determination on their travel document application in the coming days. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: An application for naturalisation in relation to the person referred to is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision in due course. Documentation requested from the person concerned on 13 June 2020, has yet to be received. The granting of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (10 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: Naturalisation Applications (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person concerned was granted a Certificate of Naturalisation at a citizenship ceremony held in Killarney on 9 December 2019. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Burgh Quay Registration Office for the Dublin area reopened on 20 July 2020. To protect the safety of staff and applicants and comply with social distancing and public health guidelines, it has been necessary to reduce capacity. The Public Office is now accepting applications for first time registrations on an appointment only basis. Priority for appointment allocation was given...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Significant demand accumulated during the four months that the Registration Office was closed due to COVID-19. To assist in addressing this demand, a new online system for the renewal of Registrations in the Dublin area was developed and launched on 20 July, enabling applicants to safely engage with the Registration Office without the need to attend in person at Burgh Quay. My Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The restrictions attendant to the current COVID-19 pandemic have regrettably resulted in significant challenges to the delivery of normal services within the Immigration Service Delivery function of my Department. Currently there are approximately 21,000 applications on hand, at various stages within the system, ranging from those just received by the Citizenship Division to those where a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Liquor Licences (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: My officials have requested information from An Garda Síochána to be of assistance to the Deputy and I will revert with a reply to the Deputy as soon as it is received.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (9 Sep 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 administration of An Garda Síochána. In addition, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles. As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles among the various...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 241 together. The State is obliged under domestic and international law to examine the application of anyone who arrives at the State to claim international protection. While we are examining their application, all applicants are offered accommodation and other supports such as healthcare, education for children and a weekly payment for personal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, transposing the EU (Recast) Reception Conditions Directive, came into effect from 30 June 2018. The Regulations include a provision on access to the labour market for eligible international protection applicants. Any applicant who has not received a first instance decision within 9 months can make an application for a labour...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: An application for naturalisation in relation to the person referred to is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision in due course. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The International Protection Appeals Tribunal is a statutorily independent body and exercises a quasi-judicial function under the International Protection Act 2015. I have asked for and received a report from the Tribunal’s chairperson on the matter. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further pending full consideration of the report.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, on Friday 21 August 2020, I appointed former Director of the Probation Service, Vivian Geiran, to carry out a scoping exercise to assess the impact that criminal activity in Drogheda is having on the community and make recommendations for action going forward. I am delighted to have appointed Mr Geiran to carry out this scoping exercise which will make...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (9 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: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together. The Deputy will be aware that 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...

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

Helen McEntee: As I have previously informed the Deputy, following the appointment on 27 June of the former Tánaiste as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, I understand the Garda Commissioner determined that it was appropriate for already existing security arrangements to remain in place for the Minister. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate to comment further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 879 and 887 together. The Government’s approach to meeting the terms of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (“the Convention”) is one of progressive realisation. Work is continuing on the reforms needed for an optimum level of compliance with the Convention's requirements. The National...

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 880 and 950 together. On 18 March 2020, in response to the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department entered into a 12 month contract to use the former Skellig Star Hotel in Cahersiveen as a temporary accommodation centre for international protection applicants. On 30 July 2020, I announced that the residents would be transferred to permanent...