Results 12,801-12,820 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: Significant expenditure is being committed by individual departments to responding to the needs of persons with disabilities. For example, €1.7bn was spent by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection on Disability Allowance payments in 2019. €2.054bn has been allocated in the HSE Service Plan for disability-related expenditure this year. Funding for special...

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

Helen McEntee: There is no legally mandated retirement age in the private sector. The age at which private sector employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment agreed between them and their employers. Employers must justify the age of retirement under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. Section 6(3) of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015 provides for the imposition of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Assisted Decision-Making (8 Sep 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: Prison Mental Health Services (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have been informed by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the Prison Service employ a number of various psychologist grades across the Service including, a Head of Psychology, a Psychologist, Principal Manager, Senior Psychologists (Grade I), Psychologists, Staff Psychologists (Grade II) and Assistant Psychologists. Please note Assistant Psychologists are employed on a one year...

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

Helen McEntee: I intend to commence a review of legislation regarding management companies in the coming months. The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). These are...

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

Helen McEntee: My Department takes any complaints from residents very seriously and all residents are made fully aware of their ability to contact my Department at any time in confidence. Where appropriate, most complaints should be brought to the centre manager in the first instance. If the resident is not satisfied with the outcome, they can make a complaint directly to the International Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Government takes very seriously the needs of working parents, and the difficulties they are facing in the current pandemic. There have been a number of advances in the leave available to working parents in recent years. The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced for the first time paid parent’s leave of two weeks for each parent to be taken in the first year of a...

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 890 and 891 together. My Department administers a National Funding Programme to Promote the Integration of Migrants, which has 15 projects located throughout Ireland. Grants totalling almost €2 million (€1,987,890) are spread over three years to support the implementation of these projects. On 11 August 2020, I announced a call for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Pandemics and other crises can have a serious impact on the most vulnerable in society. Since the beginning of the crisis, the effect of the pandemic has been monitored and addressed through the NPHET vulnerable persons subgroup, including Travellers and Roma and vulnerable migrants. My Department has participated in this group and has provided direct support to initiatives for the Roma...

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

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that both visa applications have been examined and refused. Refusal letters setting out the reasons for the refusal were issued on 30 January 2019 and 01 December 2019 respectively. An appeal against either decision was not made and the applications are now closed. It is open to the persons concerned to submit a fresh visa application at any time. Should they do so,...

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

Helen McEntee: For confidentiality reasons, it is not the practice to comment on applications for international protection including whether or not an application has been made. Under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, it is an offence to identify an international protection applicant. The offence is punishable by summary conviction to a Class A fine or a term of imprisonment of 12 months...

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

Helen McEntee: Direct Provision centre inspection reports up to mid 2018 were published on a dedicated website www.ria-inspections.gov.ie. Due to technical difficulties with that website, subsequent reports have been published on a separate website www.ria.gov.ie where reports of inspections up to March 2020 are available. As a result of the health and safety restrictions with respect to the COVID-19...

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

Helen McEntee: 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 expenditure. The provision of accommodation is demand-led,...

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

Helen McEntee: I published the O’Malley review for the Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses in the investigation and Prosecution of Sexual offences on 6 August, which contains a number of recommendations in relation to legal advice for victims of sexual violence. At that time I announced I would develop an implementation plan, working with the NGO sector and stakeholders, and report back to...

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

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that the person in question was granted a Special Ill Health Pension calculated in accordance with the relevant pensions regulations. There is no entitlement to any further pension gratuity payment.

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

Helen McEntee: I intend to commence a review of legislation regarding management companies in the coming months. The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). These are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including operational matters, and I, as Minister, have no responsibility in the matter. I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda powers in response to the Covid -19 pandemic were provided for under section 31A of the Health Act 1947, as inserted by the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 and brought temporarily into effect through subsequent regulations – the Health Act, 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary...

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

Helen McEntee: The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) provides non-EEA nationals with a number of options to invest in Ireland. Successful applicants are granted a permission to reside in Ireland for a fixed period. Applications are assessed by an Evaluation Committee, composed of senior civil and public servants from relevant Government Departments and State Agencies involved in enterprise development...

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

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department is reviewing the matters raised in the correspondence and will communicate directly with the individual in question.