Results 12,861-12,880 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: All persons making an application for a certificate of naturalisation are required to provide satisfactory evidence of their identity and nationality. This is usually in the form of a current valid passport along with other original supporting documents, such as a previously held or out of date passport. As such the person concerned will be required to submit a current passport with any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: There are currently 596 residents in the accommodation centre referred to by the Deputy.  The centre accommodates a mix of families, couples and male and female single people.   These residents occupy 197 accommodation units. These units are a mixture of houses (54) and apartments (143) and all units have their own kitchen, living room and bathroom. 20...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. I have requested information from An Garda Síochána on the matter raised and will write directly to the Deputy when it is received.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by An Garda Síochána that section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended by section 12 of the Road Traffic Act 2006, creates the offence of 'Driving without a Driving Licence', namely, upon summary conviction, a fine not exceeding €1,000, and in any other case, a fine not exceeding €2,000. I am further informed that section 38 (5) of the Road Traffic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources.  As Minister, I have no role in these matters.  I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Safety (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that my Department, alongside An Garda Síochána and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, is acutely aware of the severe difficulties and dangers the misuse of quadbikes, scramblers and similar vehicles can cause in the communities it impacts. Targeted enforcement measures have been introduced in a number of areas where quad bikes and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: All permanent accommodation centres under contract to my Department are subject to three unannounced inspections per annum: twice by officials of the Immigration Service of my Department and once by an independent company (QTS Limited).  Inspections cover a wide range of issues including fire safety and other health and safety issues....

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

Helen McEntee: A request has been received both in my office and Minister of State Charlie McConalogue's office in relation to arranging a meeting with the group referred to. The request is currently being considered and an official from my Department will contact the organisation directly in relation to their request shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: A number of complaints received by my Department from the named person are of a sensitive and confidential nature and they are the subject of ongoing independent investigations.  It would not be appropriate for me to expand on the nature of these concerns. Recent correspondence received from the named person is under consideration and a response will issue as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 769 to 772, inclusive, together. I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to implementing the only remaining recommendation of the Magdalen Commission Report (The Quirke Report) which is the establishment of a suitable memorial. My Department provided substantial funding to the Justice for Magdalenes Research Group (JFMR), the organisers of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Students (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The question of entry for any individual, visa or non-visa required, is determined by the Immigration Officer at the port of entry at the time the individual seeks entry into the State.  All relevant factors are taken into account with the principal ones being the purpose of the visit, the duration of stay, the ability of the individual to support themselves during their stay,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Brexit Issues (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The United Kingdom left the European Union at midnight (CET) on 31 January 2020, on the basis of the Withdrawal Agreement. This Agreement includes a transition period, which is due to last until at least 31 December 2020.  During the transition period, EU rules and regulations will continue to apply to the United Kingdom and its citizens who will still benefit from the Freedom of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 775, 802 and 811 together. I can inform the Deputy that there is already comprehensive legislation in place to address crimes of theft and fraud. The Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 provides for offences of theft, the handling of stolen property and the possession of stolen property. The offence of theft provided for by this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Civil Registration Service (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: After being closed for four months due to COVID-19 restrictions, Registration Offices outside of Dublin, which are operated by An Garda Síochána, are reopening on a phased basis, in line with the Government Roadmap.  Email addresses for each Registration Office are provided for queries and the arranging of appointments. Further information on the contact...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The premises referred to by the Deputy has been contracted by my Department on a rolling basis since April 2020, to support the Department’s COVID-19 response and specifically to provide short-term accommodation to persons in the Direct Provision system who are required by the health authorities to isolate after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.  For this reason, details of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The join spouse visa application referred to by the Deputy was submitted to the Visa Office in Athens, Greece on 18 December 2019. The application was subsequently received by the Immigration Service in Dublin on 28 January 2020, for further processing, in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Substance Misuse (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 779, 796 and 797 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Health leads on Government policy in this area and is guided by the national drugs strategy "Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025". This represents a whole-of-Government response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government recognises the importance of ensuring more visible community policing, in line with the report of the Commission for the Future of Policing in Ireland. To this end, the Government is committed to supporting the continuation of the training of new Garda recruits annually. This commitment to prioritising the implementation of the report,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is the accounting officer of An Garda Síochána and is statutorily responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including human resource matters. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I am assured however, that Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The budget approved for Vote 21 (Prisons) for the year ending 31 December 2020 is €345,674,000 in current expenditure including salaries, wages and allowances, excluding capital funding (€46,689,000).  The current expenditure  includes a once-off amount of €9 million for an additional payday falling due in 2020. On the basis of total current...