Results 13,901-13,920 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: What I am saying is that I made a recommendation. It is my job and my role as Minister for Justice to make a recommendation. When I made that recommendation to the Taoiseach, the Taoiseach did not object. It is a long-standing practice, and has been the case for many years, that there is not just the JAAB process, there are expressions of interest from judges-----

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: Again, I can repeat what is in the Cabinet handbook. I cannot talk about what happened in a Government in which the Deputy served. As Minister for Justice, it is my job to bring forward a name and that is what I did exactly in this instance.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: In terms of appointing a judge, again I will read out the only reference in the handbook to the appointment of judges-----

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The only memorandum concerning judicial appointments that is referred to says that I should inform the relevant individuals that I have just outlined, namely, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Attorney General, any other party leader and, in this instance, the Minister for Finance who was informed in the esubmission that would have gone to all of the Cabinet before the appointment was made.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: So I have adhered to the letter of the law.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: So that is not the case. As I outlined in my earlier response, what I receive initially is an edocument, which is a draft memorandum. I received that on 6 July. After I have signed off on that, it is then adjusted to be sent to Cabinet. It has always been the case that a name itself does not even go to Cabinet; a memorandum informs colleagues that a name is going to be brought for...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: That is my understanding, yes. That is my understanding that that is the precedent that has been set.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have asked my officials what is the precedent here. What I was informed is that no names went to Cabinet. Therefore, I asked the question and my officials in the Department informed me that only one name goes to Cabinet. What we have heard from many previous Ministers for Justice is that only one name ever goes to Cabinet.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am aware of this non-statutory advisory group. I am also aware that this group was established specifically for the sole purpose of appointments of Chief Justice and presidents of courts, not for actual judges, so this did not apply in this regard.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: In making that decision I looked at all of the names myself. Before sending a name to Cabinet, I made my recommendation to the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and to the Attorney General. Having had those conversations, I then made a recommendation to Cabinet.

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: First, I did not discuss this with the now Supreme Court judge, Mr. Justice Woulfe. I did not discuss this with my former colleague, Deputy Flanagan. I have said that I did have an informal conversation with my colleague and Tánaiste who informed me that Séamus Woulfe had come through the process and that in his view he would make a good judge. He did not tell me that this was to...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Ceann Comhairle has outlined that I cannot get into criteria and I will not get into criteria. This is my job. There are still names of persons who applied for that position sitting on file in my Department. There is still a vacancy and if that vacancy is to be filled, they will be again looked at. It is not for me to get into criteria. There is no specific criteria for me. I do not...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: What I have said is that for me to make that decision and to engage with my colleagues, there is no criteria. However, through the JAAB there are very clear criteria. Where it makes a recommendation, it has to show that the individual has displayed in his or her practice as a barrister or solicitor a degree of competence and a degree of probity appropriate to, and consistent with, the...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I do not think anybody's political persuasion should prevent him or her from being promoted or moving through the ranks of any job, whether for a judicial appointment or not. I was appointed on 27 June, which was a Saturday. On Sunday, 28 June, I came into the Department and, as is customary, I was given a huge amount of notes and information. As part of that information, I was told by my...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am not saying that the Tánaiste is the only person I spoke to. I am saying that he gave his view and made his opinion known. Following that, after I received other names, I looked at those names-----

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I ask the Deputy to please let me answer. It is my role, as the Minister for Justice, to make a recommendation. I made that recommendation to the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Attorney General. Deputy Kenny's colleague earlier mentioned the former Minister and Deputy, Dermot Ahern. If the Deputy was to quote from his article this week, what he said...

Judicial Appointments Process: Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am happy to take this opportunity to update the House on the appointment by the Government of members of the Judiciary. Over the past century, one of the great successes of the modern Irish State has been the Judiciary, which has consistently acted in a robust and independent fashion and earned the respect of fellow judges in Europe and around the world. Since I was elected to this House,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents to regularise their status, bearing in mind European Union and Common Travel Area commitments. The necessary work to give effect to this commitment is currently being advanced in my Department and is being informed by an assessment of international best...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: A number of FOI requests have been received by my Department in recent days in relation to the appointment of a Supreme Court judge. It is the intention of my Department to publish on its website any relevant records, once they have been compiled.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am aware of reports of the incident referred to by the Deputy which I understand is currently under investigation by An Garda Síochána. As such I'm sure the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment further on this matter. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enact legislation in this area, and I am supporting the progression of the Harassment, Harmful...