Results 12,781-12,800 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Order for Second Stage (2 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (2 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Bill I am proposing today is a short and relatively simple one, with a specific purpose in connection with licensed premises and certain private membership clubs. However, the importance of this Bill is much broader than that. The Covid-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge to all of our society. The public health...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Direct Provision System (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank Deputies Murphy, Barry and Pringle for raising this extremely important matter. Deputy Smith also raised it but she is not here. I referred to this earlier today and it still stands true. I am sorry that residents of the Skellig Star in Cahersiveen felt that for their concerns to be heard this was the only course of action they could take. It is a matter of deep regret to me...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Direct Provision System (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I again thank the Deputies for raising this issue and want to reassure them as I reassured Senators earlier today. The first families will be moved by the end of next week and the remainder of the residents will be moved as soon as possible and as soon as places are found. I have gotten a commitment of no later than the end of the year but, obviously, the objective is as soon as...

Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I will speak to this point and address another one. I ran out of time; I was not avoiding answering questions. The measures in the Bill are Covid-specific, but also address a lot of built-in efficiencies in a system that needs to be reformed. That is why there is no sunset clause in the Bill. The vast majority of what is in the Bill has been thought through. It has not appeared in the...

Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank Deputies for their contributions and their support for the vast majority of what is proposed in this legislation. I appreciate the concerns they raised regarding how quickly the Bill has been introduced and that it required the House to waive the process of pre-legislative scrutiny. I thank colleagues for their forbearance and co-operation in this regard. We have an obligation to...

Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thought I had more time in which to respond.

Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I ask the Acting Chairman to allow me just a couple of minutes more as I have not addressed the most important point in regard to the coroner service. The relevant provisions in the Bill are targeted measures to address an emergency. The overall structure of the service needs a different and more fundamental reform that will ensure additional capacity. It is something I intend to deal with...

Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Yes.

Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I assume I will have an opportunity on Committee Stage to address that specific point.

Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: It should be.

Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am happy to present this Bill. It is the Government's intention to progress this Bill through all Stages and I look forward to engaging with Deputies in that regard. This important legislation constitutes the Government's response to the challenges posed to our courts and legal systems by the current pandemic. The Bill goes beyond the...

Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The provisions of Part 1 of the Bill are standard in nature and common to nearly all legislation. Part 2 of the Bill contains urgent amendments to the Coroners Act 1962. The main provisions at sections 7 and 8 provide new powers for the Minister to authorise temporary additional capacity in the coroner system as necessary to meet the risks and challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic....

Seanad: Skellig Star Direct Provision Centre and the Future of Direct Provision: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senators for inviting me here to speak today on what is a very important topic for them, and for me as Minister for Justice and Equality. The direct provision system has provided accommodation, food, healthcare and other essential needs for more than 65,000 people since its inception some 20 years ago. While it ensures their basic needs are met, the intervening years have taught us...

Seanad: Skellig Star Direct Provision Centre and the Future of Direct Provision: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senators for having this debate. I can hear and see their sincerity in making their points. I hope I have addressed some of their concerns in my opening contributions, but I also take on board the other issues they have raised. I had the pleasure some time ago, having just got back from a European Council meeting together with the then Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, of meeting a large...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Bill 2019 provides for two weeks of parent’s leave and benefit for all new parents in employment or self-employment in respect of children born or placed for adoption on or after 1 November 2019. This is to facilitate parents in spending more time with their children in their critical first year of life. The Government is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the funding is provided for a range of projects across Garda, Prisons and Courts including new projects and projects which had been part of existing enhancement and building programmes. These projects will now be accelerated due to the funding provided in the July Stimulus Plan.   The breakdown is as follows: Courts €5...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Assisted Decision-Making (30 Jul 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: Garda Stations (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Office of Public Works has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.  Works in relation to Garda accommodation are therefore progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW). I am advised that the works required to reopen Rush Garda station have been completed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established in 2015 to deliver upon Government commitments to accept up to 4,000 people into the State in response to the migration crisis in central and Southern Europe. A total of 3,358 people have arrived in Ireland to date under the various strands of the IRPP.  To date, 1,006 persons have been housed in the community by way...