Results 1,361-1,380 of 15,060 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Misuse of Drugs (22 Jan 2025)

Helen McEntee: Tackling drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities, is a top priority for the government and my Department. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes all operational and investigative...

Seanad: Family Courts Bill 2022 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to be back in the Seanad to outline the amendments made to the Bill by Dáil Éireann. Before introducing the amendments, I thank Senators for their interest in and constructive approach to development of this Bill as it progresses in this House. In this regard I look forward to a continuation of the constructive approach adopted by the House to date. I note these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 17 July 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the New Delhi Visa Office on 26 July 2024 where it awaits examination and processing. It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Division. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. There are no provisions for the spouse or partner of an Irish citizen to acquire Irish citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I would like to inform the Deputy that in just over two years, the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications in 2023, and has already made more than 28,000 decisions to date in 2024. Citizenship Division have taken a significant number of steps to speed up the process for applicants. These included...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Inquiries (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: My thoughts are with the victims, their families and loved ones, and the wider community of Creeslough that were affected by the terrible tragedy that happened two years ago. I had the privilege of meeting families last week along with Minister Eamon Ryan and Minister Charlie McConalogue, where I heard the personal stories of the families who have lost loved ones, and others affected by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fines Administration (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: Road safety is a shared responsibility that this Government takes very seriously. Successful road safety strategies require us to consider a number of matters that together can make our roads safer: technology, road design, driver behaviour and education, severity of penalties, speed limits and funding. And of course, where all else fails, enforcement. Road traffic legislation is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: Road safety is a shared responsibility, and while the whole of Government response is led by the Department of Transport, it is one which is taken very seriously across Government. We have all been shocked by the loss of life on our roads, and concerned by the worrying increase in road fatalities after many years of progress in making our roads safer. I continue to engage with colleagues...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Properties (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware from my answer to his recent Parliamentary Question No. 134 for written answer on Wednesday 23rd October 2024, Engineering Consultants were engaged by the Irish Prison Service in late 2023 to carry out a detailed assessment of the old Cork Prison facility and to provide a feasibility report on the site with various options for its use. The draft report has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda resources. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, each year in the run-up to Halloween, additional efforts are made by An Garda Síochána to combat the illegal importation, sale and use of fireworks, under what is known as Operation Tombola which is a national operation. I am informed by An Garda Síochána that there have been 172 seizures of fireworks objects nationally under Operation Tombola...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for all operational policing matters, including responses by An Garda Síochána to emergency calls. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána operates a Regional Control Room strategy which ensures that Garda resources are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and, as Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I can, however, assure you that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Language (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (7 Nov 2024)

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: An Garda Síochána (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and, as Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I can, however, assure you that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (7 Nov 2024)

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: Domestic Violence (7 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: A central element of delivering on the Zero Tolerance goal of the Third National Strategy was the establishment of Cuan, the statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) agency, which I officially opened at the start of this year. Cuan has a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the strategy across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle...