Results 14,141-14,160 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (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. 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 Equipment (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. In addition, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles. As...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, vetting applications are an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. Neither I, as Minister, nor my Department have any role in the processing of vetting applications. I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter but it was unfortunately not possible to compile it in the time available. I will write to the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 630, 631 and 632 together. The Legal Services Ombudsman Act 2009, allowed for the establishment of an Office of a Legal Services Ombudsman. The Legal Services Ombudsman was to have been an appeal body for clients of solicitors and barristers who were dissatisfied with the decisions taken by the Law Society or Bar Council on clients’ complaints of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Oireachtas Joint Committee Recommendations (10 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: Prison Service Staff (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 636 and 637 together. I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that it is not possible for prison based employees to work from home as they are essential, frontline workers. I understand that a small number of Irish Prison Service staff have been deemed by the Civil Service Chief Medical Officer to be in the higher risk category in...

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

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service has put in place an extensive range of measures to prevent Covid-19 transmission within prisons, detect early any possible infection in a prisoner or staff member and prevent the spread of infection should there be a confirmed case. The measures which have been introduced, guided by the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification contains a timeframe target which states that visa applications to join non-EEA national family members should be dealt with within twelve months of receipt of application. However, it should be noted that this is a business target which reflects the detailed assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to such applications....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Prison Service (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that there is no suspension of investigations in the Irish Prison Service. I am further advised that the Irish Prison Service continues to engage with investigators and provide assistance with the investigation teams.

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

Helen McEntee: A response to the correspondence from the person referred to by the Deputy will issue from my Department in the near future. In the interim, I have set out some general information below regarding the naturalisation process, which may be of assistance. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not...

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

Helen McEntee: The information requested by the Deputy is not recorded by my Department. It was previously included on the Passenger Locator Form but was removed a number of months ago. Any historic data was deleted after 28 days. The Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department has responsibility for securing Ireland’s border at Dublin Airport, in accordance with the provisions of the...

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

Helen McEntee: In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. In addition, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles among the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update on this matter. ...

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

Helen McEntee: Unfortunately, it has not been possible to compile the requested information in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly with the information requested, when it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will wish to note that the legislative basis for temporary release is fully set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003. All applications for temporary release are assessed by the Irish Prison Service on a case-by-case basis. There is no practice to release people prematurely as stated by the Deputy. ...

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

Helen McEntee: The information requested by the Deputy, with regard to the number of full-time equivalent and part-time equivalent roles filled by my Department of posts at principal officer, assistant principal officer, higher executive officer, executive officer and clerical officer grades for the past five years and the cost to the Exchequer, is provided in the following tables. This information is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (5 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: Based on the information provided it is not clear which immigration permission the person currently holds to support their residency in the state for the last two years. Therefore, while I am unable to provide a detailed response, I have provided some general information that may be of assistance. As the person is an American citizen they do not require a Visa to travel to Ireland and visit...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation (5 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I wish to apologise for the delay in responding to the initial Parliamentary Question from the Deputy. The Irish Prison Service is committed to the provision of safe, secure and humane custody for people who are sent to prison in this State and the Deputy will be aware of their outstanding record of safeguarding those in their care during the current pandemic. The Chaplaincy Service is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the way the Immigration Service of my Department conducts its business. All operational decisions taken during this time are in line with Government and public health advice. There was a temporary suspension on the acceptance of some visa application, including join-family applications, introduced in March 2020. The Immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (5 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: There are approximately 21,300 citizenship applications on hand in my Department at various stages of processing within the system, ranging from those just received, to those where a decision has been made but where it has not been possible to hold a ceremony. 5,378 of these applications are over 24 months in process since the application was first submitted. Over 80% of these applications...