Results 13,421-13,440 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Policing (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, community-based CCTV is governed by Section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006 (SI 289 of 2006). This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must: - be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee, - have the prior support of the relevant Local Authority, which must also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Inquiries (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that all persons in this jurisdiction are fully subject to our laws and any evidence of breach of the criminal law would be fully pursued in the normal way by the relevant authorities. I am aware of the inquiry referred to by the Deputy and if anything arises relevant to policing in this jurisdiction, it will be further considered.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Citizenship Division of the Immigration Service of my Department have checked their records and there is no record of an application from the person referred to by the Deputy for a post-nuptial citizenship certificate prior to the scheme ending on 30 November 2005. I understand that the person concerned was previously included on her husband’s Irish passport. As matters in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Services (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Domestic Violence Act 2018 makes provision for the issuance of a barring order which can be granted for a period of up to three years, and can be extended on application to the court before the order expires or on the expiration of the order. The District Court Family Law courts are operating during current Level 5 restrictions where applications to renew domestic violence orders...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Pensions (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that all pensionable allowances have, since 2008, been calculated in accordance with Circular 10 of 2008, Public Service Pension Reform: Revised method of reckoning variable pensionable allowances for pension purposes.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: My Department has not suspended the receipt or processing of citizenship applications at any stage during the pandemic. However, processing rates have unfortunately been negatively impacted by the attendant health and safety related restrictions. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The visa applications referred to by the Deputy were refused by the Visa Office in Abuja on 2 November 2020. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. The refusal letter also sets out whether or not the applicants are allowed to appeal. Where an appeal is allowed, there is no fee for such an appeal. An appeal must arrive with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that a total of €34.8 million (VAT inclusive) has been spent to date in respect of the project at Limerick Prison. The total estimated cost of the project is €71.5 million and it is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to the impact of the pandemic and restrictions imposed on construction activity under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. In addition, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles. As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, there are now some 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide. Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to 620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda staff....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters . The allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demand. This includes deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Recruitment (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government recognises the importance of ensuring more visible community policing, in line with the report of the Commission for the Future of Policing in Ireland. To this end, the Government is committed to supporting the continuation of the training of new Garda recruits annually. This commitment to prioritising the implementation of the report, including ongoing Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Prison Service (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in Table 1 and Table 2 below. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the information set out in Table 1 outlines the vehicle budget and spend for 2019 - 2021. Table 2 outlines the Prison Service Vehicle Maintenance budget and spend for years 2019-2021. Table 3 outlines Fuel, Parking and Toll Expenditure for the years 2019 - 2020. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is the accounting officer of An Garda Síochána and is statutorily responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including human resource matters. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I am assured however, that Garda management...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Karachi on 26 October 2020. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal of this decision was then submitted and this appeal was subsequently refused on 25 November 2020. It is open to the applicant to submit a new visa application at any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: To ensure that people do not fall out of permission during the Covid-19 pandemic, six automatic extensions of immigration permissions have been provided, the most recent to 20 April 2021. The renewal of permission is on the same basis as the existing permission and the same conditions attach. This automatic extension applies in the case of the person referred to by the Deputy. The person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 11 March 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. If any further documentation is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Tests (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 439 together. From midnight on 15 January 2021, all passengers arriving into Ireland by air or ferry are required to produce evidence of a negative/not detected RT-PCR Covid-19 test, taken up to 72 hours prior to arrival. Regulations under the Health Act 1947 underpin these new requirements. Under these Regulations, passengers are legally required to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: In line with the clear commitments that both I and the Taoiseach have given, the position remains that no further deportation orders are being enforced during the Covid-19 pandemic except in circumstances where an individual may be a threat to national security and whose presence in Ireland would be contrary to the public interest. Furthermore, my Department has consistently adopted a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (20 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I was pleased to announce earlier this week that a temporary system is now in place that will enable citizenship applicants to complete their naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty. This signedstatutory declaration replaces the requirement for citizenship applicants to attend citizenship ceremonies, which have been temporarily suspended during COVID-19. Under...