Results 12,841-12,860 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Refugee Status (29 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Community Sponsorship Ireland is a new community based sponsorship programme which invites members of the public to play a key role in the integration of refugees into Irish society. Under the programme, private citizens and community based organisations provide direct support and assistance to refugees settling in their locality through a structured programme of supports.  To...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Direct Provision System (29 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: During the school year, the centre to which the Deputy refers runs a daily bus into Wicklow Town for adult education classes (twice daily on Tuesday and Wednesday). The centre also runs a daily bus to Ashford crèche for the afternoon session.  In addition the following transport service is available for residents of the accommodation centre: - A bus leaves the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Immigrant Investor Programme (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. He has raised a specific case with certain details on which, perhaps, I cannot respond directly to him now. However, it is important to outline what the process is in the immigrant investor programme, the type of investments and the role of the specific committee he referenced. The immigrant investment programme, IIP, was introduced by the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Immigrant Investor Programme (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Again, I refer to the fact that it is only when the committee deems a project suitable for funding that the submission is made to me for final approval. What my Department must seek, and what I can benefit from, is the expertise that is available beyond my Department. That is why the structure is set up as it is. Obviously, the applicant is also subject to rigorous screening within my...

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am very happy to present this Bill to Seanad Éireann and to discuss it with the Members of the House. As Members will be aware, it is the Government's intention to progress the Bill through all Stages in the House today and I look forward to the exchange of views that will flow from the debate. This important legislation constitutes the Government's response to the new challenges...

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I will not hold it against the Cathaoirleach. I sincerely thank all Senators for their support of this legislation, which is genuinely appreciated. This is the first Bill I have brought through the Houses and I am under no illusion it will always be the case that the legislation will pass as quickly, but I appreciate Senators' support in that regard. I take on board the points that have...

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. These are not ideal circumstances in which to pass legislation.These measures, however, are different. It is not just, as Senator Ward has outlined, that they are contingencies for unforeseen eventualities. They are also changes, many of which have been sought for some time, that happened to be needed to try to deal with Covid and to ensure there...

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I apologise as I had intended to address this issue in my previous remarks. These provisions are not meant as an attack. What is envisaged by them is nothing more than what is set out here. The intention is that this should be an alternative. It is not meant as a replacement. The rules of court may provide for a statement of truth in place of an affidavit but this is obviously where the...

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I wish to reassure the Senator that this is not a pluralist measure but a reform that allows the rules of court to be made, allowing a statement of truth to be made and communicated electronically. It is not in place of swearing an affidavit or oath.

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Earlier, I outlined the provisions of the Bill on Second Stage and informed the House I would bring in this amendment. It is a small technical amendment. Section 31 provides for the designation of bodies by relevant Minsters for the purposes of holding hearings remotely. Under the provisions the Ministers may designate bodies that may hold remote hearings, and persons who would otherwise...

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Section 31 of the Bill provides for the designation of bodies by relevant Ministers for the purpose of holding meetings remotely. A person required to attend a hearing in person shall be required to do so by remote means and the designated body shall have the power to make any arrangements to conduct the hearings by remote means. Designated bodies will also have the power to determine,...

Seanad: Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank all Senators for their co-operation and look forward to working with them in the years ahead.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on an individual case. Parental alienation has been described as a situation when a child’s resistance or hostility towards one parent is not justified and is the result of psychological manipulation by the other parent. The issue of parental alienation is highly complex and I am aware that some professionals advocate for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 747, 748, 751, 752 and 791 to 793, inclusive, together. The Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee of the Reform of Family Law System which was published towards the end of last year made almost 40 recommendations across the area of family justice. All of the recommendations are currently being examined by my Department.  As the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The position 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 liquor but licensees of licensed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: In recognition of the particular challenges that mothers and fathers have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government is considering a proposal to advance the extension of Parent’s Leave and Benefit to five weeks for all parents of children born after 1 November 2019, to enable every eligible parent of young children to spend additional time with their child. At present,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 753 and 754 together. There have been 1,455 adult wards of court declared since the signing of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015. The Wards of Court office does not collate data on the number of applications brought by the Health Service Executive and it is not possible to retrieve this data from its systems. During the period March to June...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 755 to 757, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Until the commencement of the various parts of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, 2015 the Wards of Court Office is required to comply with the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act, 1871. Where it is appropriate the Court will appoint a Guardian ad Litem during the wardship application to represent the views of the person and ensure that their voice is heard by the Court. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Published in December 2016, the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill's stated purpose was to address remaining legislative barriers to Ireland's ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).  The opportunity was also taken to progress other miscellaneous amendments to statute law. The Bill amends: - the Juries Act to accommodate (i) deaf...