Results 14,061-14,080 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases can continue to be made by Deputies directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained. The Citizenship Division of the Immigration Service of my Department is working very hard...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (17 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.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the committee for making time available to me to consider the Supplementary Estimates for the Garda Síochána, Prisons and Courts Service Votes, and the Further Revised Estimates for the Justice Vote. I am joined by my officials from the Department of Justice, Seamus Clifford, principal officer, and Martina Colville, assistant secretary. A net Supplementary Estimate...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am not aware of the specific figure of €15 million for checkpoints.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: There are a number of additional operations and Operation Navigation, Operation Faoiseamh and Operation Fanacht are continuing. The cost of these operations is included in the overall figures. I am not sure the €15 million relates to the travel restrictions specifically.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can provide an update on the overall situation if that is what the Chairman would like.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I was recently asked in the Dáil to come before the committee and to give updates as to how these operations are proceeding, the numbers involved and the types of engagement the public is having with An Garda Síochána. I am very happy to do that.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: It is important to say, as I mentioned in my initial speech, that while the number of sexual offences seems to have reduced, the number of domestic violence cases and breaches of orders has increased significantly. The number of cases brought to the Director of Public Prosecutions has increased frighteningly since the beginning of March. I believe the increase has been more than 86%. A...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I will respond to that. I will raise the first issue with the Commissioner. I mentioned in the initial comments that there was an increase in payments for those who are out and not in Templemore and who should technically be still in Templemore. I understand Deputy Kenny as saying that what they are being paid is not the same amount as others on duty. I will raise that with the Garda...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I will come back to you on the first question, Chairman. The figures mainly relate to personal protective equipment. It is broken down as outlined in my statement. We have looked at clothing as well. There is a process under way for new Garda uniforms. Most likely this will come at the end of next year. That is taken into account in the figures. What was the second question?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: There is an additional €4 million. Is this under the Department of Justice Vote?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: There are two aspects to that. There are injuries on duty - the figure for that is down. The second relates to the actions against the Garda. Both figures are down but I will get more detail on that.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: Let us consider the overall numbers, including Garda recruits in general. We have 14,600 Garda members at the moment and 700 recruits for the front line. That takes into account the approximately 300 retirements that take place yearly. We have gone from a situation since 2018 where 18% of the overall Garda workforce are now civilian staff. We have seen a significant increase in the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The answer to the first question is that it relates to superannuation contributions. Several issues have come into the public domain in several prisons in recent months. There are several mechanisms through which there can be investigations either through An Garda Síochána or the Prison Service. We have the Inspector of Prisons as well. This year as part of the budget the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The additional funding we have sought, which has been specifically identified for the Irish Prison Service, has been to ensure the safety of those who work in the prisons, the prisoners and their families. The Deputy made a valid point. At the outbreak of the pandemic we managed to keep Covid-19 out of the prisons. It was a credit to the Irish Prison Service, the prisoners and their...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I do not have the exact percentage but there has been an increase of over 60% in video links being used between the prisons and the Courts Service. I will get the exact percentage, but it is over 60%. As the Deputy rightly says, it reduces the need for prison staff to have to transfer but also for gardaí to have to be physically present in the courts. As the use of vehicles reduces...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I would not rule anything out but that is without any information on how it would operate separate to what is already there. There is a huge amount already there in terms of oversight and working with the Prison Service.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: Without trying to avoid the question, the facilities themselves fall to the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, in his remit as Minister with responsibility for youth. While some of the responsibilities have come back into my remit or into the Department of Justice, there are specific programmes separate to any facilities that might exist. There is over €2 million in funding connected...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: While not being able to respond to any individual case, there are a significant number of compassionate leave cases for medical reasons and, obviously, genuine recommendations are made by the Prison Service as to whether or not security is needed. There is a very clear process that has to be undertaken, and that is adhered to. However, there are compassionate grounds for many prisoners and...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (17 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: With regard to legal aid, there has been an increase of €2 million in this year's budget which, obviously, applies to the various different elements within the legal aid structure. There is a continuing increase in need for it. Having met the Legal Aid Board, in recent weeks, I have given a commitment to review the overall process and how people can access legal aid. There was a...