Results 12,901-12,920 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 810 and 813 together. 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. Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at District Probate Registries in 14 provincial court offices. ...

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

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána.  In addition, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the...

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

Helen McEntee: In order to protect the identity of international protection applicants, my Department does not disclose the location of emergency accommodation centres. However, I can confirm that, as of 19 July 2020, there are 203 persons living in two emergency accommodation premises in County Wicklow. My Department is working very hard to ensure that residents in emergency...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Service Management Act 1997 requires each Government Department to publish at regular intervals a Statement of Strategy, setting out its key objectives, outputs and related strategies for the relevant period. As the Department’s most recent strategy statement covers the period 2016-2019, officials in my Department have been working to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 817 and 818 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996.  The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 prohibits threatening, abusive or insulting conduct that is intended or likely to stir up hatred against a group of persons on account of their sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, or membership of the travelling community.  In addition, a hate motive may be...

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

Helen McEntee: Section 5 of the Immigration Act 2003 (as amended by the International Protection Act 2015), contains the main provisions dealing with the detention of persons refused leave to land. It specifies that a person to whom this section applies may be arrested by an immigration officer or a member of An Garda Síochána and detained in a prescribed place of detention for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The extended family of the person concerned had been resettled in Mullingar several years prior to his arrival in the State under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP). Westmeath County Council fulfilled its allocation for the resettlement of refugee families in April 2019 and no further housing allocation is expected. The Westmeath Refugee Resettlement...

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

Helen McEntee: My Department continues to work closely with all relevant justice sector agencies, including An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service, to address the significant challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and to respond to the evolving situation in line with public health advice.  The welfare and safety of our frontline staff providing essential...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Transport (23 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of Garda resources. I am assured however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in light of operational demand, to ensure their optimum use. I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (23 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Th The Government’s approach to meeting the terms of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (“the Convention”) is one of progressive realisation. Work is continuing on the reforms needed for an optimum level of compliance with the Convention's requirements. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) 2017 – 2021 contains...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (23 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mental Health Services (23 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including the provision of employee welfare supports. 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: Extradition Arrangements (23 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy refers to the Ireland - Hong Kong Agreement on the surrender of fugitive offenders which entered into force in January 2009. In light of the recent adoption of the Hong Kong National Security Law, I understand that my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs is considering the issues involved and our engagement with Hong Kong, including having regard to discussions on these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: An Garda Síochána is responsible for immigration controls at all ports of entry to this State, with the exception of Dublin Airport. Gardaí fulfil immigration control duties at ports which have been approved for the landing of non-nationals and monitor ports which are not approved for entry into the State. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) provides training, backup...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (22 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The premises referred to by the Deputy is currently under contract with my Department for the provision of accommodation and ancillary services for persons in the international protection process. The contract runs until 30 November 2020. My Department does not publicly disclose rates agreed with contractors, as to do so could seriously compromise any current or future negotiations with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (22 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (22 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, it is the function of the Garda Commissioner to manage and control the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. The Commissioner's functions include the allocation of Garda resources is in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (22 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: In recognition of the particular challenges that mothers and parents have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government is considering a proposal to extend Parent’s Leave from two to five weeks for each parent, to enable every eligible parent of young children to spend additional time with their child. All aspects of the proposal will be examined, including whether primary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation (22 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Provision of safe and secure custody and dignity of care to persons in the penal system in Ireland is a priority for me as Minister and for the Irish Prison Service. Delivery of the Limerick Prison redevelopment project is a key element of ongoing work in relation to the prison estate and is reflected in the Prison Service Strategic Plan 2019-2022. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service...