Results 14,341-14,360 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (15 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, continues to be processed. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (15 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Immigration Service of my Department has not yet received a new application for Long Term Residency permission (Stamp 4) from the person referred to by the Deputy. The previous application made in 2009 was closed in 2010 after requests for further documentation were not responded to. This person, however, currently holds a Stamp 1 permission to remain in the State valid to 2 June 2021....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Regional Aid (15 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not granted any regional funding of this nature.

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: Budget 2021 seeks to shield our economy and society through one of the worst crises in living memory. The Government's priorities in guiding the State through the pandemic are protecting the lives of our people and ensuring our economy can weather this storm. The protection of our people is the core of the Department of Justice and Equality's work and the record €3 billion allocation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (14 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff (14 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the training of its members and Garda staff. The Commissioner is also responsible for the effective and efficient use of the resources available to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Alert Programme (14 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: Since 2017, my Department has administered a grant aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area. To date, 29 applications have been approved under the scheme, involving approved grants awarded totalling more than €752,000. Eligible groups, including community groups and local authorities nationwide, can apply for grant aid of up to 60%...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (14 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The application for a certificate of naturalisation from one of the persons referred to by the Deputy has been approved. The certificate fee and final documents have been requested by the Citizenship Division of the Immigration Service of my Department in correspondence dated 5 October 2020. The processing of the second application remains ongoing at this time. The granting of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Communications (14 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The issue of assisted dying is a very complex issue which gives rise to medical, ethical and moral issues, as well as criminal justice and constitutional issues. It was for this reason that I, along with my colleague the Minister for Health, Mr. Stephen Donnelly T.D., tabled a timed amendment to the Dying with Dignity Bill seeking to refer it to a special committee to allow for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (14 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: On 18 September 2020, I announced a further temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions. This applies to immigration, including Short Stay Visitor Visas, and international protection permissions to reside in the State that are due to expire between 20 September 2020 and 20 January 2021, and supplements all previous extension notices. While the Extension...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of Way (14 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Property Registration Authority (PRA) is responsible for registering ownership of land in the State, including appurtenant rights attaching to land such as rights of access and rights of way. This statutory function is conferred on the PRA under the Registration of Deeds and Title Acts 1964 and 2006. These Acts make provision for the making of more detailed statutory rules setting out the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: Ireland strongly supports the principle of solidarity and recognises that assistance is required for Member States who face a disproportionate number of applicants and where incidences such as that which occurred in the Moria camp in Lesbos can cause additional hardship.  Last week, I announced an additional commitment under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Maternity Leave (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the law now stands, a mother is entitled to paid maternity leave of up to 26 weeks, and up to a further 16 weeks of unpaid leave. Any amendment to the legislation governing the provision of maternity leave would require primary legislation. There have been significant improvements in the provision of family leave over the past years. Two weeks of paternity leave were introduced in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As of 11 October 2020, a total of 7,014 people are recorded by my Department as being resident in accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), of whom 1,887 are children. This includes people who are resident in Direct Provision centres, in emergency accommodation in hotels and guesthouses and in Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres used to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person concerned originally applied for a Short Stay, category “C”, visa on 25 October 2019. This visa was refused on 18 November 2019, and was subsequently granted on appeal on 15 April 2020. As part of the combined efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure customer safety, the Immigration Service of my Department took the decision to temporarily cease...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Bill 2019 provides for two weeks of parent’s leave and benefit for all new parents in employment or self-employment in respect of children born or placed for adoption on or after 1 November 2019. This is to facilitate parents to spend more time with their children in their critical first year of life. The Minister for Public Expenditure announced...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The objective of Changing Places Ireland to introduce fully accessible toilets in public places such as shopping centres, libraries and sporting arenas across the country is important and requires careful consideration. While Part M of the Building Regulations do not, at present, require the installation of changing place facilities, some local authorities have installed them. An example of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 to 378, inclusive, together. The number of citizenship applications granted in 2019 and to date in 2020 is set out in the table. Certificates issued in 2019 and 2020 relate to applications received in 2019, 2020 or earlier years. Year Certificates Issued 2019 5,792 2020 5,473 The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 to 382, inclusive, together. I can inform the Deputy that An Garda Síochána are currently operating an Assaults in Public Reduction Strategy 2019-2021, which is targeted at tackling all types of assaults in public. This national strategy is informed by a pro-arrest, early-investigation and proactive high-visibility approach to assault reduction....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (13 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: At various times, nationalities will have difficulties renewing or obtaining passports due to conflict, etc. The Immigration Service of my Department takes this into account when considering the renewal of an immigration permission of a person who does not hold a valid passport, if the applicant can provide a satisfactory explanation of any circumstances that may prevent them from producing a...