Results 14,101-14,120 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Leave to Remain (11 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: Since the International Protection Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) commenced on 31 December 2016, the International Protection Office has carried out the function of considering Permission to Remain (under section 49 of the 2015 Act), in respect of those applicants who have been refused international protection at first instance. Table 1 provides the applications made for the years 2017-2019 and to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Investigations (11 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that an inquiry under Section 42 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 was carried out by former Judge Patrick Clyne into the Garda Síochána investigation following the death of Mr Patrick Nugent in 1984. Judge Clyne completed his inquiry on 31stOctober 2020. My Department received Judge Clyne’s report on 3rdNovember 2020 and it has recently been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Properties (11 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The majority of properties occupied by my Department are owned or leased on its behalf by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Any short term accommodation type leased by my Department and it’s agencies directly is for private office space only. Having sought confirmation from agencies under the remit of my Department, I can confirm that neither the Department nor it's agencies have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (11 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: A Family Justice Oversight Group has recently been established in my Department which, in addition to department officials, also includes representation from the judiciary, the Courts Service, the Legal Aid Board and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Group held its first meeting in September and has been tasked with agreeing a high-level vision and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (11 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...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug and Alcohol Testing (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this serious and important issue. While the Garda has been testing drivers for drugs with the assistance of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, MBRS, since 1999, the Deputy will be aware that the drug-driving provisions in the Road Traffic Act 2016 were only commenced by the then Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on 12 April 2017. The Deputy has...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug and Alcohol Testing (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: Without stepping into an area for which I do not have responsibility, I am assured by the Commissioner and his team that they continue to look at all districts and the resources required therein and that they allocate accordingly. My role is to ensure that the additional funding is allocated and the resources needed are allocated. We have tried our best in this year's budget to ensure that...

Confidence in Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Motion (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I wish to start by expressing my absolute confidence in the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar. Sinn Féin is here tonight yet again preaching, once more claiming to apply standards to everyone else in this House and to hold others to account, yet when its members are asked to account for their own actions, they fall silent. My colleagues have outlined many instances of hypocrisy but I will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Policy (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government commitment, to conduct an audit of how responsibility for Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence (DSGBV) is segmented across different government agencies, will be undertaken by an external consultant with meaningful involvement from relevant NGOs and service providers, as well as input from Departments and agencies. The terms of reference for the audit have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person concerned submitted an application to the Immigration Service of my Department to change their permission to remain in the State from a Stamp 3 to a Stamp 4. In the interests of fairness to all applicants, all such requests are dealt with in chronological order. Due to the large volume of applications received, it is unfortunately not currently possible to give a specific timeframe...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am advised that the person referred to by the Deputy has a current permission to remain in the State, on stamp 4 conditions, up to 20 January 2021. Their permission was extended from its original expiry date of 18 April 2020, by the series of automatic extensions of permission provided for in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: On 28 August 2020, I announced that court fees and their associated excise and stamp duty relating to renewal of licences will be waived in 2020, as part of the wider support package that was announced by the Government. Further to this, the District Court (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2020 was signed on 13 October 2020. The order implements the Government Decision to waive court fees for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments (MUDs) and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners’ management companies (OMCs). It is important to understand that the involvement of my Department with this issue is limited, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: My Department looks at all international protection applications made in the State on a case by case basis in accordance with the legislation, the International Protection Act 2015. If an applicant fails in their International Protection claim, they may seek humanitarian leave to remain. Each consideration takes into account a number of factors as set out in section 49 of the Act. Since the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 586, 589, 591, 594, 596, 612, 627, 633 and 634 together. A Family Justice Oversight Group has recently been established in my department which, in addition to department officials, also includes representation from the judiciary, the Courts Service, the Legal Aid Board and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Group...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff (10 Nov 2020)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. The allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demand. This includes deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Data (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: Our objective is to have decisions on international protection applications and permission to remain considerations made as soon as is possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. For those found not to be in need of protection, we can offer them assistance to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials that the Data Protection Commission (DPC) recently issued a letter relating to the processing of biometric data by the Irish Prison Service. The understanding is this constitutes preliminary findings rather than a decision. I am informed that the findings are in respect of a complaint from an employee of the Service associated with the processing of biometric...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 593, 595, 613, 616, 626, 629 and 639 together. 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...