Results 12,921-12,940 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: It is intended to bring forward legislation that will contain proposals to update the law relating to the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol in licensed premises and registered clubs, by replacing both the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2018 and the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2008 with streamlined provisions more suited to modern conditions. These legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient use of Garda resources.  Further, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.  Works in relation to Garda accommodation are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (30 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: Brexit Issues (30 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 Movement...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of my Department examines each case of an undocumented or illegal person in the State on a case-by-case basis and has consistently urged anyone in this position to come forward if they wish to apply to regularise their position in the State.  A pragmatic approach is taken in relation to each case, which is considered on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to taking action to tackle the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. I am conscious of the deeply harmful effects which behaviours and actions such as those referred to can have on those affected. A Private Members Bill sponsored by Deputy Brendan Howlin , the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017, provided for many of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Today, 30 July, is World Day against Trafficking in Persons. Trafficking in persons is a crime and a serious human rights violation.  Addressing this crime is an ongoing challenge and the Government is committed to further legislation to combat human trafficking and people smuggling as well as to implementation of a comprehensive strategy to combat trafficking of women and girls. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that, as of 28 July 2020, the total number of staff assigned to both the prisons and support functions in the Irish Prison Service, across all grades is 3,215.  Taking all staff and prisoners into account, this figure equates to a ratio for that date of .85:1. On 28 July 2020, the number of discipline grade Officers assigned to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: At the outset it is important to note that Ireland’s laws are already in line with the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (commonly referred to as the Lanzarote Convention). This was largely achieved by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017. The 2017 Act brought in a new offence of accessing child...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The provision of safe and secure custody and dignity of care to those individuals in the penal system in Ireland is a priority area for my Department and the Irish Prison Service.   The Irish Prison Service commits in its capital strategy plan 2016-2021 to a prison estate that provides safe, secure and humane custody, that upholds the dignity of all users, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy refers to the working group chaired by Tom O’ Malley, Senior Lecturer in Law at the National University of Ireland, Galway and member of the Law Reform Commission which was established to examine the adequacy of measures available to protect vulnerable witnesses during the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences. The working group chaired by Mr...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Eligibility (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: According to the Department's records an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was approved on 20 March 2007 and a certificate of Naturalisation was issued on 18 June 2007. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which incorporate the principles of section 11 of the PMSA Act, are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Border Management Unit of the Department of Justice and Equality, has responsibility for securing Ireland’s border at Dublin Airport in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Acts and Orders as they relate to entry and refusal of entry to the State. The Unit has also been collecting and checking Public Health Passenger Locator Forms at Dublin Airport since 28th April...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not engaged the services of Sodexo Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Bench Warrants (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, difficulties in relation to the execution of warrants, including bench warrants, are a long-standing issue for many police forces around the world; notably relating to persons actively seeking to evade detection and where limited identification information might be available to support enforcement.  These difficulties are compounded where the warrant has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Due to a lack of spare capacity within my Department’s accommodation portfolio, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has had no other recourse but to contract bed spaces in hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses to meet demand. The premises referred to by the Deputy is one of those premises contracted on an emergency basis.  As it is not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Advertising (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy within the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy to provide this information as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Eligibility (30 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Citizenship Division of my Department that no application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person concerned. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can only be made after an application is received. Every application is considered on its individual merits.  It is open to...

Perjury and Related Offences Bill [Seanad] 2018: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Regional Group of Deputies for moving the motion in the House this evening. I am pleased to inform the House that the Government supports the motion and is fully committed to enacting the Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018 as soon as possible. The importance the Government attaches to this legislation is reflected in our commitment to enact it in the current programme for...