Results 13,461-13,480 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commencement of Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I wish to assure the Deputy that I am committed to ensuring the necessary arrangements are in place for the Parole Act 2019 to be commenced and the new Parole Board to be established this year. On 26 December 2020, I announced my plan to begin the full operation of the Parole Board, including the development of a critical path to its establishment, which envisages the new Board being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 689, 700 and 727 together. While neither I nor my Department can comment on individual cases, I can confirm that 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: As Deputy O’Callaghan will be aware, a retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, is currently conducting the scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of the late Shane O'Farrell. Judge Haughton furnished an interim report to my predecessor in November 2019. In his interim report, the Judge stated that he would not restrict or limit Shane's family in their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Animal Welfare (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I understand that all complaints of cruelty to animals made to An Garda Síochána are subject to investigation. The Deputy will appreciate that in any case, it is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide if a prosecution should take place, and for what offence. Matters relating to animal welfare are not under my remit as Minister for Justice. I understand that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The sudden and untimely death in this case was an awful tragedy and I offer my most sincere condolences to the bereaved family on their terrible loss. I can inform the Deputy that I am aware of the investigation undertaken by the Ombudsman Commission in this case. However, as the matter is still open pending the conclusion of an inquest into the death by the Coroner for Westmeath, it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: Coroners are statutory officers exercising quasi-judicial functions, in relation to which they are completely independent. Neither I nor my Department have any function in this regard. However, to be of assistance, officials from my Department contacted the relevant Coroner’s office. It is understood that the death referred to occurred on 30 September 2018 in Tallaght Hospital, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Mental Health Services (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I wish to assure the Deputy that providing for the complex needs of people with mental health difficulties who come into contact with the criminal justice system is a priority issue for this Government and for my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, the priority status afforded to this issue is acknowledged in the Programme for Government in that it commits to establishing the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Consultation Process (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 696 together. My Department is fully committed to engaging with the public and our stakeholders as part of the development of new strategies, public policy or proposed changes to legislation. In recent years, the Department of Justice has put a lot of energy into transforming the way it works, with the objective of becoming a more outward facing,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Facilities (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I wish to reassure the Deputy that the Dóchas Centre is operated in full compliance with the Bangkok Rules passed at the United Nations in 2010. The ethos upon which the Dóchas Centre is operated is that the women prisoners should live together in a community style setting. The women are accommodated in houses rather than cell blocks and there is no categorisation of female...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) area of my Department that the person concerned has ongoing legal proceedings before the High Court in the context of their immigration case. As a result, it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment on the immigration case of the person concerned at this time. Queries in relation to the status of individual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process. It is a requirement of the naturalisation process that a current passport must accompany every...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law System (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 701 and 707 together. The Government is committed to modernising the operation of the Family Justice system, to ensure we have more efficient and user-friendly family court system that puts the family at the centre of its work. I have noted that the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality Report on Reform of the Family Law System includes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: As you are aware, I recently announced my intention to bring forward new legislation to combat incitement to hatred and hate crime in Ireland. This announcement followed on from the publication of the results of a widespread consultation process, which included in-depth consultations with various civil society and community groups, academics and experts, a public consultation process and a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: All applications for family reunification are acknowledged or receive a response once the application is initially examined. However, there may currently be some delay in doing so due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had a significant impact on my Department’s Immigration Service Delivery (ISD). In line with Government and public health advice, ISD has implemented a suite...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: My Department implements a policy whereby programme refugees, which includes IHAP beneficiaries, can apply for family reunification under the eligibility requirements and criteria as set out in the International Protection Act 2015. They can also apply for family reunification under my Department’s Policy Document on non-EEA Family Reunification. The Irish Refugee Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Rights (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána intend to launch a new non-emergency Hate Crime Online Reporting system in the coming weeks. The reporting system is fully developed and user acceptance testing has been carried out. Following a public launch, with an accompanying explanatory video, the system will be available through the Garda website, www.garda.ie....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 706, 708, 709, 715 and 716 together. As the Deputies will be aware, former Chief Constable Jon Boutcher heads up a series of ongoing independent UK police investigations or reviews into Northern Ireland legacy cases that are collectively described as the Kenova cases. ‘Operation Kenova’ was the first such investigation and is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011). The application fee, stipulated at €175, is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a certification fee is payable on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: I recognise and acknowledge the crucial role frontline workers are continuing to play in responding to the threat of COVID-19. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. Their exceptional commitment has been particularly clear throughout the pandemic, during which they have been playing a key role in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cannabis for Medicinal Use (13 Jan 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matter. 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...