Results 1,281-1,300 of 15,047 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation applications from the people referred to by the Deputy have been received by the Citizenship division of my Department, but have not yet been registered. Citizenship Division are currently registering applications from August 2024. Once registered, a Personal ID and Citizenship application reference number will formally issue. When the applicant submitted the online...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As you may be aware, the Courts of Justice Act 1924 is one of the most significant pieces of legislation in the State as it established the basic structure of our courts system. I can assure the Deputy that, in proposing new legislation or considering amendments to existing laws on an ongoing basis, my Department consistently evaluates the language used in our legislation and considers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Agreements (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the central concern in deciding on visa applications, as with all visa services worldwide, is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime while at the same time facilitating travel for those who meet the criteria. It should be noted that should any person, who has a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department is responsible for frontline Immigration at Dublin Airport only. Other airports and other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. Immigration officials conduct passport checks, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: Ireland has opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, which will introduce a more comprehensive, streamlined, and efficient approach to asylum and migration. To enable the changes required under the Pact, the International Protection Act 2015 will be replaced. A cross-departmental Programme Board is overseeing the development of a national implementation plan. The national...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that while Ireland is not a member of Frontex, Ireland participates in training with Frontex and engages with Frontex to share trends and assess the movement of migrants into the EU. While Ireland is not party to this aspect of the Schengen acquis, as a Member State of the European Union (EU), Ireland is invited to participate at the Frontex Management Board in a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The State has a duty to protect its borders and following examination, ensure that all arriving passengers are entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise of State sovereignty, which is necessary to protect the security of the State and to prevent illegal immigration. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The primary focus and role of the International Protection Office (IPO) in Mount Street is the acceptance and examination of applications for international protection. The IPO accept thousands of applications and conducts thousands of interviews with international applicants each year. As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based remains a priority for this Government, for my Department and for the Garda Commissioner. 'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), set out an ambitious whole of government five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: One of the overarching goals of Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on DSGBV, which I published in June 2022, is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and under the Strategy we have committed to doubling the number of refuge units across the country. This represents the fastest ever expansion of refuge accommodation in this country. To accelerate the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the applications referred to were created on 18 June 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the Abuja Visa Office on 04 July 2024 where they await examination and processing. My Departments business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. It must be made clear that these are business targets for the immigration service. The business target...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions. The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to fight...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: Since the closure of the programme, the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) Unit has continued to process and submit applications to the Evaluation Committee for consideration and recommendation. At present, there are approximately 100 Immigrant Investor Programme project proposals undergoing, or awaiting, such consideration. My Department’s IIP Unit is committed to ensuring that all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: At the outset, it is important to note that, as Minister, I do not comment on individual Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) applications. I can, however, inform the Deputy that my Department does not receive or hold funds at any stage in the IIP process; this is a private matter between a potential investor(s) and a potential project concerned. The IIP Unit of my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Dublin on 11 March 2024. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 10 May 2024. Appeals for applications of this type are processed in the order in which they are received, to be fair to all applicants. While...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a distribution model is used which takes into account all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The review of the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which was last amended in 2016, is examining a wide range of matters relating to applications for family reunification, including the nature and suitability of current income thresholds and waiting periods. My Department has consulted with a wide variety of stakeholders and the expectation is that the review will be brought...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2025)

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 responsibility for these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021. Section 3(3) of the Act states that the Board shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, be independent in the exercise of its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the expenditure of the Garda budget. As Minister I have no role in how the budget is allocated. The Garda Commissioner is also responsible for the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. I am advised by the...