Results 14,241-14,260 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy has rightly outlined, this issue was addressed following a referendum of the Irish people. Every person who was suitable and of age to vote was entitled to vote in this referendum. The twenty-seventh amendment to the Constitution changed the position regarding entitlement to Irish citizenship and as a result, section 6 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I genuinely understand this issue and have met many of the people who are undocumented in this country. I met the MRCI recently and spoke to one such individual who has not seen his family in many years. I understand how difficult this is. I personally know people who are living outside Ireland and are in a similar situation. That is why we have committed in the programme for Government...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I confirm that will happen. Once we receive the report, it will be important that the Attorney General be consulted, as well as the family. After that is done, and the family are satisfied that they have received the report, it will then be published and made public.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together. On 14 October 2020, the Government approved the transfer of functions which has moved responsibility for international protection accommodation, integration and equality to my colleague, the Minister with responsibility for children, equality, disability, integration and youth, with effect from that date. The transfer...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I will start by expressing my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and community of Patrick Nugent on their tragic loss.  Although this happened more than 36 years ago, I know the pain of losing Patrick will not have diminished in this time and I greatly appreciate deeply the family's desire to understand the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Misconduct Allegations (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. All I can say is that I am sorry it has taken this long to get to where we are. I have read through the circumstances myself. This young man was working and, unfortunately, met his death in circumstances that are still unknown. It must be very difficult and challenging for the family. I am sorry it has taken this long to even get to where we are today. Having spoken...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Parole Boards (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this issue. 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. Government has supported this commitment with funding in our first budget to make sure this priority is delivered in 2021. As the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Parole Boards (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy and I reassure him that this is an absolute priority for me. This is why I have included it in my own list of priorities as Minister for Justice. While I cannot account for what may have happened last year or what stage it was at last year, a number of new things have happened in recent months with the establishment of the project board, which is driving forward the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Parole Boards (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I stress again that this is a priority. I have met with some of the victims' groups. I reassured them that this is a priority and that we want to enact this as quickly as possible. I hope that the additional funding we allocated this year, and the progress of the project board in progressing this, highlights and shows that it will be done as quickly as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I welcome the report by former Assistant Garda Commissioner Jack Nolan outlining a socio-economic and community plan for Darndale and its surrounding areas. Dublin City Council commissioned this report in response to the escalating levels of violence in the Darndale, Belcamp and Moatview areas of north Dublin in 2019 and 2020, and my officials have been in close contact with Dublin City...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Stardust fire was a horrific tragedy that has left a legacy of pain for many people in the Artane community.  As the Deputy will be aware, in September 2019, the then Attorney General wrote to my predecessor as Minister for Justice and Equality to inform him that he had “formed the opinion that fresh inquests into the Stardust deaths are advisable” and in December...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders Notification Requirements (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and I know it is one on which he is particularly focused. As the Deputy is aware, a person found guilty in court of a sexual offence automatically becomes subject to the registration / notification requirements of Part 2 of the Sex Offenders Act 2001. The sex offender is obliged to notify the Gardaí of their name and address for a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, I consider the provision of appropriate mental health supports to be a matter of the highest importance.  This was one of a number of key issues I discussed with the  Garda Commissioner and his senior team when I met with them on 29 September 2020. The issue was also raised when I recently met the Garda Associations. Notwithstanding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Information and Communications Technology (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have made driving the modernisation and digital agenda across the Justice Sector a key priority for me as Minister.  My objective is to drive efficiency and deliver more accessible public services to all who need them. So I am particularly pleased to have secured additional ICT spending in key areas to support this objective. This prioritisation of technology and modernisation will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (22 Oct 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 legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Building Programme (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am conscious that female offenders represent a particularly vulnerable group within the prison system and the Prison Service is acutely aware of the challenges that these vulnerable women face.  There is evidence that the impact of imprisonment is considerably greater on women and their wider families and as a result, modern prison facilities for women offenders are developed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021.  This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff.  As a result, Garda numbers are some 14,600 Garda members and over 3,100 Garda staff nationwide.  Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to 600 new Gardaí and an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Budgets (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The total capital allocation for the Justice Vote Group in Estimates 2021 is €258.3 million. This includes an increase of €50.8 million on the existing capital expenditure provision for the Group in 2021 of €207.5 million. The capital budget is allocated across four votes in the Justice Group as follows: Vote € 000 Main projects and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (22 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: Persons under the age of 16 years are exempt from the requirement to register under Section 9(6)(a) of the Immigration Act 2004. This does not mean that their residency in the State is not recognised.  In the vast majority of cases, persons under 16 years derive their right to be in the State from their parents or guardians.  This is recognised when applications...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (22 Oct 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...