Results 13,921-13,940 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: I wish to assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to establishing the new Parole Board as soon as possible. This is an important Programme for Government commitment and is something I have identified as a priority action for my Department. Furthermore, the Government has supported this commitment with funding in our first Budget to make sure this priority is delivered in 2021. The...

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

Helen McEntee: Judicial appointments are made in accordance with Articles 13.9 and 35.1 of the Constitution, by the President acting on the advice of the Government. This is a Constitutional function that cannot be transferred or delegated. The Constitutional prerogative on advising the President on judicial appointments lies with the Government alone. Eligible serving Judges who wish to express an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 328 and 329 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is an independent statutory body established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. I, as Minister, have no role in the operational matters pertaining to the Ombudsman Commission's remit, such as the direction of investigative priorities....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I recently announced that citizenship ceremonies will be temporarily replaced, while COVID-19 restrictions are in place, with a requirement for citizenship applicants to sign an affidavit declaring loyalty to the State. I can confirm that work is at an advanced stage in my Department on the preparation of regulations under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 to make...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, there is no specific legislative provision regarding parental alienation in Irish family law. Section 246 of the Children Act 2001 provides for an offence of frightening, bullying or threatening a child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to the child's physical, mental or emotional health or wellbeing. There are also legislative provisions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, Community-based CCTV is governed by section 38(3)(c) of Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006. This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must: 1. be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee, 2. have the prior support of the relevant local authority, which must also act as data...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Extradition Arrangements (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, Ireland is a party to the European Convention on Extradition 1957. Under this Convention, Ireland will extradite its own citizens to another party country that will extradite its citizens to Ireland. Ireland has bilateral extradition treaties with the US and Australia. Ireland does not currently have an extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates and there...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pardons (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the case in question has received detailed consideration by officials in my Department and a relevant academic has been engaged to provide expert opinion on the matter. The academic examining the matter has informed my officials that they have now considered all the information / evidence submitted in support of the application. However, they need to access the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Information and Communications Technology (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter and I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

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

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enact a Family Court Bill to create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structure and to provide for court procedures that support a less adversarial resolution of disputes. In September, the Government approved the drafting of a Family Court Bill to provide for the establishment of a District Family Court, a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter and I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (26 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demands. This includes deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I...

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

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that there are already provisions in existing law to support the management of sex offenders after they have been released from prison. The Sex Offenders Act 2001 provides that a Court can impose conditions on a convicted sex offender as part of their post-release supervision. Further, where An Garda Síochána believe that a convicted offender poses a...

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

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board (JAAB) is an independent body set up to identify persons and inform the Government of the suitability of those persons for appointment to judicial office. Its functions are set out in section 16 of the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995, as amended. Section 18 of the 1995 Act makes specific provision that the...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No 17: In page 94, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “PART 20 AMENDMENT OF DEFAMATION ACT 2009 Amendment of Schedule 1 to Defamation Act 2009 122.Schedule 1 to the Defamation Act 2009 is amended— (a) in Part 1— (i)in paragraph (11), by the substitution of “under the law of a Member State or of the United...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 18: In page 9, line 27, after “Gibraltar;” to insert the following: “to make provision for the defence of qualified privilege to a defamation action to continue to apply to the publication of certain statements concerning certain events in, or connected with,the United Kingdom;”.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: There is an issue with resources but delays are matters for the courts to adjudicate on. We are studying the correspondence from the Commission and are taking the matter seriously. As the Deputy outlined, this part of the Bill is important. It deals with extradition and provides for amendments to the Extradition Act 1965. One of the key issues that has been identified by my Department is...