Results 13,161-13,180 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy raised a number of matters. Whereas the separation of some elements of my Department is still under consideration, I absolutely assure the Deputy that I will work as closely as possible with the Minister with responsibility for children, disability, equality and integration, Deputy O'Gorman, on the range of matters where I feel the connection remains and where it is necessary. ...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the three Deputies for raising these issues. First, let me touch on the issue raised by Deputy Richmond, namely, the support for An Garda Síochána. The Deputy is correct that gardaí are often placed in very difficult circumstances and asked to respond to very challenging situations. They put themselves at risk every day of the week. We have seen this most recently...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I will try to respond to a number of the questions. On the retirement age, as with many issues, this issue is highlighted in the commission's report. It provides that An Garda Síochána should reflect the diversity of Irish society and should, therefore, develop recruitment strategies to try to achieve a more diverse intake. These recommendations echo those of the Garda...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his contribution. It might be good for me to outline some of the work that has been done, particularly in the implementation of the commission recommendations and in A Policing Service for the Future, which is a four year plan to implement the report. An increase in garda numbers and ensuring that continues as well as ensuring training continues are extremely...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising two very important points. The report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland underlines exactly what the Deputy spoke of regarding a human rights-based approach and also a community policing model whereby gardaí work on the ground and are visible and engaged with the community. Covid-19 gave a good glimpse of what that would look like,...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising both of these issues. On the anti-racism committee, as the Deputy has rightly outlined, it was announced and formed in June by my predecessor, Deputy Flanagan. I thank him for his work in this role. Its terms of reference have a wide scope. It is there to review the current evidence on racial discrimination in Ireland, to examine international practice in...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised) That a sum not exceeding €1,782,581,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2020, for the salaries and expenses of the Garda Síochána, including pensions, etc.; for the payment of certain witnesses'...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am conscious of demands on parents at this time and hope that the additional measures to support working parents that my department has introduced in recent years, including the new parent’s leave scheme and an extension of parental leave, are helping to ease some of these demands. Presently, each parent may avail of two weeks of parent’s leave during the first year of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: My Department is currently responsible for the management and delivery of immigration and decisions on international protection for the State and these functions will remain under my remit. However, as announced by the Taoiseach on the 27th June, some of the responsibilities of my Department will be changing in the coming weeks and months. The responsibility for provision and coordination...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Districts (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and operations of An Garda Síochána. As assigning divisional boundaries is an operational matter, the Commissioner is responsible and I as Minister have no direct role in these matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Since commencement of the relevant provisions on 7 October 2019, the first point of contact for new complaints in relation to the professional conduct of solicitors and barristers is the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) which is the independent regulator for the provision of legal services in the State. I am assuming from the overall context of the Deputy’s question,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy is referring to the recent European Council decision on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel in the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction. The measure in question constitutes a development of the Schengen Acquis in which Ireland does not participate, therefore Ireland is not taking part in its adoption. The Deputy may wish to note however that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update on this matter. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am conscious of demands on parents at this time and hope that the additional measures to support working parents that my department has introduced in recent years, including the new parent’s leave scheme and an extension of parental leave, are helping to ease some of these demands. When the first Parental Leave Act was enacted in 1998, parental leave ended on the day on which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update on this matter. A...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update on this matter. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the persons concerned have submitted written representations. Their position in the State will now be decided by reference to the provisions of Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation. All representations submitted will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am informed that sadly, in the period from 12 March 2020 to 29 June 2020, 111 wards of court died, 86 of whom were resident in nursing homes or community hospital settings. The General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court was Committee for 19 of those 86 wards. The Wards of Court Office does not always receive the cause of death. However, the Office has been informed that Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court is committee or guardian to 624 wards of court, including 10 minor wards of court. The General Solicitor is appointed as committee or guardian when there is no family member available to act, willing or in a position to act. The General Solicitor may be appointed as committee where the family are unable to agree who will act as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Programme for Government (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government has wide-ranging implications for the work of my Department, and a detailed analysis of the measures included in it is ongoing. Work is also ongoing to implement the changes in the allocation of responsibilities between Departments that have been announced. The Deputy may wish to note that the briefing notes prepared by all Departments to assist in the Government...