Results 13,261-13,280 of 15,536 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. The scheduling and hearing of court cases is a matter for the Presidents of the Courts and the presiding Judges. To be of assistance, I have had enquiries made with the Courts Service who have confirmed that anyone with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policy Functions (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that I, as Minister for Justice, am responsible for policy in relation to the policing and security of the State. Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and I have no function in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Visiting Regulations (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am acutely aware of the supportive role that families and friends play in the rehabilitation of prisoners and in their preparation for life in the community after release from prison. I understand that, with this in mind, the Irish Prison Service continued to facilitate physical family visits to prisons for as long as it was safe to do so. However, the Covid-19 pandemic clearly...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 to 339, inclusive, together. At the outset it is important to be clear that 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I would like to express my deepest condolences to all of those who have lost loved ones during the current pandemic. Deaths which have occurred due to COVID-19 infection are due to natural causes. While decisions on the necessity to carry out an inquest into any death are at the discretion of the Coroner, inquests are not carried out into deaths due to natural causes.

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (29 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and I wish him well in his new role. I offer my warmest congratulations to all Senators, especially those who are taking up their seats for the first time. I wish them all well. I acknowledge the huge honour that it is for me to serve the State as Minister for Justice. It is a somewhat daunting task but it is one I am looking forward to and I hope to make...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (29 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senators for their time and for moving quickly given, as many have mentioned, we are close to the wire. I am very grateful to the House for its consideration of these two motions and I thank Senators on all sides for their contributions to the debate on both. Naturally, I welcome the support expressed by all of the speakers for continuing these provisions and I appreciate the shared...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: Again, there has been no change in terms of state aid or any of the parameters for the negotiations.

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: To correct the record for Deputy Harkin, there is an additional €200 million on top of the sum in question. Therefore, the overall figure is €650 million.

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: In state aid. I will get the details and have them sent to the Deputy. On Deputy Cian O'Callaghan’s questions, contrary to reports, the USA has not pulled out of the OECD process. It has raised concerns about the timeframe and the implementation. It has sought an extension of the overall discussion. At European level, France, Italy and Spain have been asked to pause their...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I will take the time, if I may, because there are a number of issues that may not have been touched on. I join colleagues in offering my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. It is a sad day if a member of An Garda Síochána goes to work and unfortunately does not return home. I thank the gardaí for the work they do...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: On our overall ask with Belgium in respect of Brexit and what that means for the MFF and the recovery fund, what we have consistently asked for is flexibility within the budget-----

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: We are still at that stage. This was the first time that EU leaders had an opportunity to meet since the presentation of the recovery fund and the new MFF proposals. The Taoiseach reiterated our position that there would need to be flexibility within the budget and raised the fact that, although we are talking about front-loading many of the funds and immediate funding is required, if any...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: The figures suggest there is approximately €1.9 billion and €1 billion in loans and grants, but this is not something we consider acceptable. When the two funds are taken together, we are talking about paying more money than we had previously, while we are seeking less funding in the Common Agricultural Policy, which is a key priority for us, and receiving an overall fund that...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: For fisheries, "No" is the short answer. Michel Barnier was clear when he addressed the General Affairs Council on Tuesday that without a deal on fisheries, there would not be an overall trade agreement, and vice versa. The mandate is clear, therefore, and it has not changed.

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: We are still examining the proposals for the MFF and for the recovery fund, and nothing has yet been agreed. It is welcome that there are certain priorities for us where we have seen an increase in funding. In the MFF, there has been an increase in Pillar 1 and Pillar 2, while for the CAP in the recovery fund there has been an increase in Pillar 2 of €15 billion. While that amounts...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: Our position on settlements is absolutely clear and we are opposed to them. As I outlined earlier, the Government's position on what it would like to see happen is a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel. The Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, however, is different, given that it would move into an EU competence. The Attorney General's advice on this is...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: As I raised at the General Affairs Council, we have argued that the Commission was given a clear mandate and that it needed to base any instrument on the impact that Covid is having on a particular member state or industry. We believe that the Commission is looking at a pre-Covid economic picture, which is obviously very different. We have argued that point and are not the only country that...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: On this issue, as the Taoiseach outlined earlier, the Next Generation EU financing will be raised by temporarily increasing the ceiling on own resources to 2% of the EU gross national income. This will allow us to borrow the money. In terms of how we repay that, this is a debate that is still ongoing and on which there has been no agreement. Ireland's perspective has not changed. We have...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: Our position on this, as the Deputy mentioned, has been stated clearly by the Tánaiste. The long-standing support for a two-state solution has been part of our foreign policy for some time now and will continue to be part of our overall foreign policy. We would prefer to recognise-----