Results 1,301-1,320 of 15,060 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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...

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

Helen McEntee: The Department of Justice has responsibility for the regulation governing the importation and use of explosive materials, which includes the importation, sale, storage and use of fireworks and I am very aware that every year in the run up to Halloween, there are concerns among communities about the illegal use of fireworks. The legislation governing the importation, storage, transport and...

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

Helen McEntee: Road safety is a shared responsibility, and while led by the Department of Transport, it is one which is taken very seriously across Government. I continue to engage with colleagues across Government to ensure that every effort is made to increase safety on our roads. Road traffic laws are enforced by both Roads Policing Gardaí and as part of the day-to-day duties of uniformed...

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 all operational policing matters. As Minister I have no role in such matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that, on examination of fixed charge penalties issued by Roads Policing members, they are unable to provide the requested...

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

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that planning is underway for citizenship ceremonies to be held in Dublin in the first quarter of this year. My Department is committed to providing regular opportunities for applicants to complete the naturalisation process. My Department held 24 citizenship ceremonies last year, an increase from the 15 ceremonies held in 2023, and the 6 that were held in 2022....

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 Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in determining the dates for when Garda recruitment campaigns are run, as these matters rest under...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, on 18 April 2024, the jury at the inquests into the fire at the Stardust nightclub in Dublin in 1981 returned verdicts of unlawful killing in respect of all 48 of the deceased. Following the verdicts, the Taoiseach delivered a State apology in Dáil Éireann to the families of the victims of the Stardust Fire. Subsequently, individual letters of apology...

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 determines the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions and am unable to direct the Commissioner in any operational decisions. However, to be of assistance I have...