Results 12,961-12,980 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that there are no plans to accommodate 18 and 19 year olds together on a separate wing within Wheatfield Prison. The creation of such separate unit, in Wheatfield or in any other Prison, would be a major policy decision which would require careful consideration and assessment given its operational implications for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, I consider any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls a very serious matter. This falls significantly below the high standards that the public expect from the Gardaí and the high standards that An Garda Síochána set for themselves. I am particularly concerned that anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or indeed anyone in a vulnerable position, who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the construction of the new Garda station at Macroom is to proceed on the basis of a major Public Private Partnership (PPP) project which also includes the construction of a new Garda Station in Clonmel.  Planning permission for the new Garda station in Macroom was granted in March 2021. There is ongoing engagement between my Department, An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the training of Garda members and staff, and personnel matters such as promotions. As Minister, I play no direct role in these independent functions. I am informed by the Garda authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible for the distribution and deployment of members of An Garda Síochána throughout the State...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 144 together. As the Deputies will be aware, Budget 2022 provides for the establishment of the new Community Safety Innovation Fund. It is intended that this fund will support investment in projects which will improve community safety. The fund, which is expected to grow in the coming years, will have an initial outlay in 2022 of €2m. A...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter. The resources provided by the Government to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Investment is required to significantly increase digital services in my Department in line with our strategy. This will include developing a fully digital, customer-centric immigration service, as well as integrating digital systems across the justice sector to increase efficiencies and provide data-informed insights to support policy development. The implementation of a new ICT strategy for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The government is committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence in all its forms, and to supporting victims of this heinous crime. My Department provides funding to support the work of An Garda Síochána to combat such violence. It also provides funding to promote and assist the development of specific support services for victims of crime within the criminal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am acutely aware of the sustained and significant damage that drug dealing has on the communities across the country. Organised criminal activity, including drug dealing, represents a serious threat to community safety. As the Deputy will be aware, the National Drug and Alcohol Strategy, which emphasises a health-led approach to addressing the challenge of drugs in our society, is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.952 billion for 2021. Budget 2022 provides over €2 billion in funding to An Garda Síochána. Since 2016 the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by approximately €500m, or 33%. This has enabled 1,400 extra...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, the Data Protection Commission is independent in the performance of its tasks and the exercise of its powers. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits to ‘recognise the domestic and international importance of data protection in Ireland’ and states that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management, administration and operational functions of An Garda Síochána. The detection of and response to any criminal activity, and the distribution of Garda resources are strictly operational matters for the Commissioner and his management team. As Minister, I have no direct role...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the judiciary are, under the Constitution, completely independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. The conduct of court business is entirely a matter for the Chief Justice and the Presidents of the Courts.  Judicial conduct and ethical guidelines are the responsibility of the Judicial Council. As per Section 6 of the Judicial Council Act 2019, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the deployment of Gardaí. As Minister, I have no direct responsibility for this matter I am informed by the Garda authorities that as at 30 September 2021, the latest date for which figures are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Tackling criminal gang activity is a key priority for the Government and an ongoing priority for An Garda Síochána. The Government has supported An Garda Síochána in addressing the threat from organised crime gangs through the introduction of a range of legislative measures. This includes the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which was approved for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to assure the Deputy that I recognise the ongoing pain and anguish of the O'Farrell family on the tragic death of Shane and I very deeply sympathise with them on their loss. As the Deputy will be aware, a highly respected retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, has been conducting a scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane O'Farrell's death.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the purchase, allocation and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market.  The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long-term unemployed and is payable for up to a 24-month period from the commencement of their new...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (21 Oct 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision issued on 13 July 2021.  Under social welfare legislation a decision of the Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed under Section 317 of the Social Welfare...