Results 12,861-12,880 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The application from the person referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of processing. It is currently being prepared for submission to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. A decision is expected to issue on the application within 3 months and the applicant's patience in this matter is appreciated. Queries in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 5 June 2019. This application 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 as expeditiously as possible. If any further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: At the end of January 2021, there were 5,279 cases pending at the International Protection Office (IPO).  The table below provides a breakdown of this figure by duration pending. Applications pending at the IPO at the end of January 2021 Duration pending Total Less than 3 months 356 Between 3 and 6 months 378 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Due to the public health restrictions currently in place under Level 5 of the Government's Framework for Restrictive Measures in Response to Covid-19, the Registration Office in Burgh Quay has been closed since 23 December 2020, until further notice. To ensure that people do not fall out of permission during the Covid-19 pandemic, six automatic extensions of immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Government is fully committed to combatting human trafficking and to working to identify and support victims of this terrible crime. I am informed that all accusations of human trafficking in the fishery industry here are fully investigated by An Garda Síochána and files submitted to the DPP.  As the Deputy will be aware, independent decisions on prosecution are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Government is fully committed to addressing human trafficking in all forms, including through the provision of supports for victims of human trafficking, by educating the public to recognise the signs of trafficking and by continuing to work with our international partners in all relevant forums.  My Department has committed substantial funding to NGOs working to combat human...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Data (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Unfortunately, the statistics requested by the Deputy are not maintained by the Immigration Service of my Department in this manner. These permissions are classified on the Immigration Service databases as Stamp 1. There is no way of identifying those specifically granted a Stamp 1 without the requirement for an employment permit. The retrieval of this data would...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Atypical Scheme for non-EEA Crew in the Irish Fishing Fleet was established as a cross Departmental response to address the matter of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet. A number of Departments are involved in the scheme and it is monitored by an Oversight Committee, chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine with members from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021.  The significant level of funding provided over recent years is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff.  As a result, there are now approximately 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1215 and 1216 together. Jury service exists to protect an individual's rights and to involve the public in the administration of justice. Jury service is one of the most important civic duties that a person can be asked to perform. While there are no expenses paid to jurors who are called for jury duty, lunch and refreshments are provided for those...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Section 12 of the Mediation Act 2017, provides that, subject to certain conditions, the Minister for Justice may, by Order, declare that a specified body shall be recognised for the purposes of the Act as the Mediation Council of Ireland.  Under my Justice Plan 2021, it is the intention that the Order be made, with the continuing engagement of the mediation sector, by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1218 and 1254 together. The Justice Plan 2021, which I published recently, contains a commitment to commence a review of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme this year. In this regard, my Department is currently in the process of scoping the review and it is expected that it will commence in the third quarter of the year. One of the areas which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Sittings (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made regarding the average number of sitting days dedicated to family law by court circuit. The Courts Service has informed me that they are compiling...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Family law reform is a major element of my Justice Plan 2021. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enact a Family Court Bill to create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structure and provide for court procedures that support a less adversarial resolution of disputes where this is possible and appropriate. In September 2020, the Government approved the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for a Permanent Residence card to the EU Treaty Rights Unit of the Immigration Service of my Department on 6 February 2020. Processing of this application is ongoing at present.  As each application is examined under its own merits, I am unable to give an exact timeframe for its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, work is at an advanced stage in my Department on the preparation of a General Scheme of a Bill to provide statutory underpinning for Garda overt recording, which will include CCTV authorised in local communities by the Garda Commissioner.  When enacted, this legislation will replace Section 38 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, to which the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: To ensure that people do not fall out of permission during the pandemic, six automatic extensions of immigration permissions have been provided, the most recent to 20 April 2021. The renewal of permission is on the same basis as the existing permission and the same conditions attach. In relation to persons with existing permission under Directive 2004/38/EC (Free Movement Directive), the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Leave to Remain (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy received a final decision on their application on 28 October 2020 and was asked to consider the option of voluntary return, for which my Department would provide assistance. No Deportation Order has been made at this time, as my Department has suspended the issuing of Deportation Orders during the current Level 5 restrictions.  In...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy is the subject of a Deportation Order, signed on 20 February 2019, requiring them to remove themselves from the State and to remain outside the State. The enforcement of the Deportation Order is a matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau. However, representations have since been received on behalf of the person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the need for legislation can arise through many avenues such as court judgments, EU instruments, expert reports or other new policy initiatives. Once such a need arises, and the Government approves, a General Scheme of a Bill is prepared by my Department. The General Scheme sets out, in plain language, the provisions which are necessary to achieve the policy...