Results 1,461-1,480 of 15,047 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department values the very important service provided by Coroners to the bereaved. The Coroners Act 1962, as amended makes a number of provisions to ensure the continuance of this essential public service. In circumstances where a Coroner is absent or where a vacancy arises (due to the death, retirement or resignation) in the office of Coroner, a Deputy Coroner will act as Coroner to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: Under Section 13 of the Coroners Act 1962, as amended, the appointment of a Deputy Coroner is a function of the Coroner. In all coronial districts outside of Dublin, the person to be appointed Deputy by the Coroner is subject to the approval of the relevant local authority and the Minister for Justice. I am aware of a small number of districts outside of the Dublin district that do not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Coroners (Amendment) Act 2024, which the President signed into law on 16 February 2024, is intended to ensure continuity of coroner services in the Dublin district. Section 2 of the Act provides that the Minister for Justice, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, stipulates the terms and conditions under which appointments of coroners for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, I am introducing important reforms to support and protect vulnerable victims and ensure that our criminal justice system is more victim-centred. I want to assure the Deputy that all legislation in my Department is kept under review and I will consider any changes necessary to ensure it remains effective, proportionate and fully compliant with due process and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 718, 726 and 735 together. It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. All applicants are required to satisfy the good character criterion under Section 15 of the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, this Government is determined to stamp out hate-motivated crimes and protect vulnerable communities. This legislation is much needed. An Garda Síochána already record certain crimes as hate crimes, and we can see that recorded hate crimes increased by 7.5pc last year compared to 2022, and by 29pc the year before that. It is not acceptable that some...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe, including to invest in recruitment, in equipment and technology and in buildings. This is reflected in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm to the Deputy that correspondence has been received by my Department. As the Deputy will appreciate, due to data protection, I am not in a position to comment on the contents of correspondence from members of the public. I can say that a response from my Department has issued previously to the individual concerned, outlining the reasons as to why I am unable to intervene in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: Section 13 of the Surveillance Act 2009 makes provision for the confidentiality of information in connection with the operation of the Act. In accordance with section 12 of that Act, a designated judge is appointed to review the operation of a number of the sections of the Act including those related to approvals for the deployment of tracking devices. The designated judge reports to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Family Reunification application for the person referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department and continues to be processed at this time. All applications are processed in chronological order. The speed in which a decision can be made largely depends on the quality of the application received. My Department will continue to engage with the applicant for any further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is a priority for my Department to ensure that the courts are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively. The Government endeavours to fill judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity. There is currently one vacancy in the Supreme Court and it has become practice over the past years to maintain that vacancy. In December 2020, the then Chief Justice confirmed that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Division. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that personnel...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that 173,363 visa applications were received in 2024 to 29 October 2024. In the same period in 2023, my Department received 142,789 applications. This reflects an increase of 21%, compared to the same period in 2023, with 30,574 additional applications received. The vast majority of visa applications are determined in a matter of weeks. However, some applications, in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 729 to 731, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes all operational and investigative policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to them. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: The State Claims Agency (SCA) manages personal injury and third-party property damage claims against the State and State authorities, including An Garda Síochána. The SCA also manages claims for legal costs against the State and State authorities. Each claim is assessed on its own merits by the State Claims Agency. As the Deputy will appreciate, I have no remit over the agency...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: For the information of the Deputy, the four remaining articles of the Budapest Convention to be addressed are Articles 20, 21, 33 and 34. These concern the real-time collection of traffic data, interception of content data and the mutual legal assistance provisions around both. It is my intention to address these four articles via forthcoming legislation which will overhaul the legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (5 Nov 2024)

Helen McEntee: For the information of the Deputy, the four remaining articles of the Budapest Convention to be addressed are Articles 20, 21, 33 and 34. These concern the real-time collection of traffic data, interception of content data and the mutual legal assistance provisions around both. It is my intention to address these four articles via forthcoming legislation which will overhaul the legislative...