Results 12,821-12,840 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: I am aware of the issues raised by the Deputy in connection with the online sale of psychoactive substances as well as the potential negative health implications on the unintended and unrestricted uses of these products. Indeed, I understand that the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has recently issued an advisory in connection to the emerging trend in the usage of cream whipper...

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

Helen McEntee: Forensic Science Ireland(FSI) is an associated office of the Department of Justice and Equality and provides comprehensive scientific analysis, independent expert opinion, advice and training to support the Irish Criminal Justice system. FSI analyses submissions from a wide variety of cases including murders, significant drug seizures, aggravated assaults, suspected explosive devices and...

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

Helen McEntee: The position regarding online sales of alcohol is that where alcohol is purchased online and delivered, the same restrictions on the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor apply, including the restrictions in relation to hours of trading and the provisions in relation to the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor to young persons. There is no dedicated licence for online sales of intoxicating...

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

Helen McEntee: Parliamentary Question 297 of 16 October 2018 refers to candidates that failed to progress in the previous two Garda to Sergeant competitions, who sought to have the decision reviewed or appealed; and the number of these decisions overturned on review. I can confirm that a substantive response to Parliamentary Question 297 of 16 October 2018 was issued on 21 December 2018. A copy is...

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

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the complaint referred to by the Deputy was made by a prisoner under Rule 57(b) of the Prison Rules 2007. The complaint was investigated by an external Serious Complaints Investigator and the investigation report was provided to the Governor for his findings and decision. In accordance with Rule 57B (6) an investigation carried...

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

Helen McEntee: The pilot virtual Citizenship Ceremony that took place on 10 July 2020, involved 21 applicants. As I indicated at that time, a review was underway and consideration of that review is now in its final stages. As I have said previously, a critical consideration is the protection of the welfare and safety of the participants and the general public. It is also essential that any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: In setting up the ASBO regime back in 2007, the interventions of warnings, good behaviour contracts and referrals to the Juvenile Diversion Programme were intended to address problem behaviour. The rationale was that if they succeeded, there would be no need to apply to the courts for an order. It was only if they failed to lead to a behaviour adjustment by the person in question that a...

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...