Results 13,121-13,140 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter but it was unfortunately not possible to compile it in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly with the information requested, when it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that all funds collected by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) in the course of its activities are returned to the Exchequer for the benefit of the Central Fund, in accordance with the relevant legislation. I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that the following table sets out monies returned to the Exchequer by the Bureau, under section 4(1) / 4(A) of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: 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 therefore progressed by the Garda authorities working in close...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I understand the concerns that people have in relation to the purchase for delivery of alcohol products and am very conscious of the detrimental effects of alcohol dependency on families and society. In terms of assessing whether a review of legislation is required in relation to the delivery of alcohol, however, it is essential that there is a clear understanding of what the current...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 came into operation on 15 July 2014 and my Department has a formal Protected Disclosures Policy in place. The Act provides comprehensive protections for workers in both the public and private sectors against penalisation by their employers in circumstances where they have raised concerns about potential wrongdoing. Those employed in the Irish Prison Service...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Seized Property (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: It is a matter of great importance that the proceeds of the crime are recovered and reinvested back into keeping communities safe. Ireland has a robust legislative framework in place allowing for the freezing, seizure and confiscation of assets that are derived from criminal conduct. As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the identification, tracing, freezing, and ultimate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 20 June 2002 and therefore has no entitlement to residency in the State. Representations were received on behalf of the person concerned pursuant to Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to revoke the Deportation Order. Following the consideration of those representations, a decision was taken that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: There is no record of a current application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy. A decision on their previous application issued by letter on 22 October 2018. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: It is important to note that the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for all Garda operations, including stopping and reporting drivers for driving without insurance, tax, an up to date NCT and speeding. I, as Minister, have no role in these matters. I am, however, informed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Grand Hotel is currently the only permanent accommodation centre in County Wicklow and, as of 5 July 2020, is accommodating 87 residents. 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 5 July 2020, there are 198 persons living in emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: A confidential Freephone telephone support service, funded by but independent of my Department, was established in May 2020 to provide further support to residents in both permanent and temporary accommodation centres during the COVID-19 pandemic. This Freephone helpline is operated by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). As the service is confidential, the data from the calls is not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Immigration Service Delivery 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 its individual merits. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Welfare (14 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. Safe and secure custody is one of the key pillars of the Prison Service Strategic Plan 2019-2022. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the self-harm in Irish prisons 2018 report will be published before the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that there were 36 reported incidents of self harm across the prison estate from 12 March 2020 to the end of June 2020. I am further informed that 33 of these reported incidents occurred within the male prison population and three within the female population. It is important to note that these are provisional figures as the full analysis of such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic a range of measures including restrictions on access to prisons have required to protect our prison population, in line with public health advice. While physical family visits to prisons were suspended on 27 March 2020, I understand that the Prison Service introduced a number of new initiatives to allow families to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and as the Deputy will appreciate, a wide range of measures have been required to protect our prison population, in line with public health advice. I have previously set out detail on the measures adopted to address the risk presented by Covid-19 in a prison environment, guided by the advice of NPHET and consistent with the prison-specific guidance of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The 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. The Deputy will appreciate that a wide range of measures were necessary to address the particular risks posed by the Covid-19 pandemic in the context of prisons. The measures adopted by the Prison Service were in keeping...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The statutory position regarding the provision of civil legal aid derives from the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 under which the Legal Aid Board was established as the statutory provider of legal aid through the civil legal aid scheme. To qualify for full legal aid under the scheme, an applicant must satisfy both a means test and a merits test. Approximately two thirds of the cases dealt...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government provides for the establishment of a gambling regulator focused on public safety and wellbeing, covering gambling online and in person, and the powers to regulate advertising, gambling websites and apps. At present, the general regulation of advertising in the media is a matter for the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland and the Broadcasting Authoring of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to continues to be 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. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a...