Results 13,061-13,080 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Visa Offices have temporarily suspended the processing of all non-priority short stay visa applications due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A limited resumption of visa services was commenced from 22 June 2020. During this initial resumption phase, the Immigration Service has only been accepting Long Stay “D” visa applications, including Study, as well as those identified under its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: My Department registers persons residing in the Dublin area only. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) processes all applications outside of Dublin through the Garda Station network. A new online Registration Renewal system for all non-EEA nationals based in Dublin went live on 20 July 2020. This means that anyone within the Dublin area looking to renew their registration will no...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: My Department does not comment on individual cases. However, I can confirm it is standard practice in the case of legal proceedings such as this to conduct a full review of what occurred and improve or amend any procedural or administrative arrangements, including in relation to arrangements with An Garda Síochána, so that the immigration service can continually improve how it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Controls (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: My Department is aware of the Report to which the Deputy refers. Indeed, officials of my Department, the Prison Service and other agencies participated in key stakeholder interviews for the purposes of the Report. As the Deputy will appreciate, every State has a duty to protect its borders and to refuse entry to those persons not entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The first round of the IRPP Humanitarian Admission Programme (IHAP) granted permission to 165 beneficiaries. To date, with respect to the second round of the IHAP (IHAP 2), approximately 255 applications have been granted in respect of 440 beneficiaries. There are currently 80 pending applications in respect of 185 beneficiaries and it is expected that these pending applications will include...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am very conscious of the impact that anti-social behaviour and crime like dog thefts has on the quality of life for residents in local communities. Gardaí are working hard to tackle this, and all forms of criminality in our communities, to make them safer for all members of society. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda National Crime Prevention Unit coordinates a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As part of the Europeans Union's cooperation with Afghanistan in the area of migration, both have committed to a Joint Way Forward on Migration Issues between Afghanistan and the EU (JWF). The JWF, which is not considered a binding international agreement, was signed on 3 October 2016 and was automatically extended for another two years following the provisions of Part VIII of the JWF. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am informed that the seizure and detention provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2016 can only be invoked by the Chief Bureau Officer and Bureau Officers appointed pursuant to sections 7 and 8 respectively of the of the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996 (as amended). The Criminal Assets Bureau is a separate statutory body independent of the Garda Síochána and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: A person who is in a long-term relationship with an Irish citizen may be eligible to apply for De Facto Partnership permission to remain in the State. In order to apply for De Facto Partnership immigration permission, a non EEA national (the Applicant) who wishes to remain the State and is in a relationship with an Irish National or an Irish Resident (the Sponsor) must be in a position to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Immigration Service of my Department started a limited resumption of visa services from 22 June 2020. During this initial resumption phase, it has only been accepting Long Stay “D” visa applications, including Study, as well as those identified under the Immigration Service's current criteria as Emergency/Priority visas. While we are again accepting long stay visa...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: In December 2018, the Government published A Policing Service for our Future– the 4-year Plan (2019-2022) to implement the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) – The Future of Policing in Ireland. In that context, the Government approved the development of the General Scheme of the Policing and Community Safety Bill. The Bill will provide for a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner has responsibility for management of An Garda Síochána and for the allocation and efficient use of Garda resources. This includes responsibility for personnel matters and the distribution of personnel across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister I have no direct role in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (21 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: On the 28 April 2020 my Department agreed to undertake, on behalf of the health authorities, the collection of public health passenger locator forms on a temporary administrative basis. The Border Management Unit (BMU) collect these forms at Dublin Airport, which is the principal route through which people enter the State. While the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) manage the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (16 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person to whom the Deputy refers was granted, on 2 June 2020, a temporary permission of two months to reside in the State under Stamp 4 conditions. I have today announced that immigration permissions, due to expire between 20 July and 20 August 2020, will be automatically extended for one month. Therefore the person referred to will now have their permission automatically extended until...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Maternity Leave (16 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the law now stands, a mother is entitled to paid maternity leave of up to 26 weeks, and up to a further 16 weeks of unpaid leave. Two weeks must be taken before the baby is due, and at least four weeks must be taken after the birth. Any amendment to the legislation governing the provision of maternity leave, which falls under my responsibility, would require primary legislation. As such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (16 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 is being reviewed this year. This review arises under the provisions of the Act itself, and will include an assessment of the impact of the Act on the welfare of those who engage in sexual activity for payment. I recently announced the launch of this review, which will be conducted by Maura Butler as the independent expert. The Terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (16 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, a review of Ireland’s anti-fraud and anti-corruption structures, chaired by the former DPP Mr James Hamilton, is currently examining the effectiveness of the State’s procedural, legislative and resourcing frameworks for the investigation, prosecution and prevention of fraud and corruption offences. I am advised that the Hamilton Review Group is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (16 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to on the 29 May 2019. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible It is not possible to provide a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (16 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda powers in response to the Covid -19 pandemic were provided for under section 31A of the Health Act 1947, as inserted by the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 and brought temporarily into effect through subsequent regulations – the Health Act, 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary...