Results 15,001-15,020 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I have requested a report on the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, however this was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of Garda business under the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This includes the deployment of members of An Garda Síochána throughout the State and, as Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I can inform the Deputy that my Department publishes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target the assets, wherever situated, of persons which derive or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Officers from the Social Welfare, Revenue and Revenue Customs also seize...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 516 and 517 together. As the Deputy will be aware, proactively tackling all forms of drug crime is a priority for An Garda Síochána. The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) is having significant success in disrupting the supply of illicit drugs by organised crime groups. Its work is supported by Divisional Drugs Units...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy may be aware, the Age Card is issued under the Intoxicating Liquor Act of 1988 and it is not an age identity card but is only issued as proof of age (i.e. being over 18). The fee to purchase an Age Card is €10. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested is commercially sensitive as the Age Card is due to go to tender this year and as such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow employees to bring alleged wrongdoing to the attention of the appropriate authorities. The Act also affords very important protections to persons making protected disclosures. I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate therefore that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on, nor confirm the existence...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to advise the Deputy my Department publishes an Annual Report, on an anonymised basis, in relation to the disclosures received and dealt with under its policy in accordance with the requirements of section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. The Annual Reports for Protected Disclosures received by my Department for the years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 are available on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I wish to advise the Deputy that matters relating to the EU Covid-19 Digital Green Certificate are under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health.  Due to the recent cyber attack, I understand that the Department of Health is not in a position to provide responses to parliamentary questions at present. Therefore, I am unable to transfer your question to the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Data Protection (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has identified 3 data breaches since 2018 - 1 in 2018 and 2 in 2020. No data breaches were identified in 2019, or to date in 2021. The nature of breaches which occurred was due to information disclosed in error. In the case of each incident immediate remedial action was undertaken, and the Data Protection Commission was notified in line with...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The delivery of public library services, including the provision of library premises, is a matter for each local authority in accordance with the Local Government Act, 2001. Accordingly, the delivery of library services in Mahon/Blackrock and the surrounding areas is primarily a matter for Cork City Council. My Department has had discussions with Cork City Council regarding a new...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am working to ensure that sustainable vibrant communities continue to live on the islands, and I have made this one of the key elements of Our Rural Future, the Government’s new Rural Development Policy.  Furthermore, my Department is currently developing a new National Islands Policy, a central objective of which is to ensure that sustainable vibrant communities continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department recognises that economic sustainability and ready access to services are key to  retaining the next generation of islanders and to overcoming the many issues for island communities which arise from their separation from the mainland.  As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently in the process of drafting a new  National Islands Policy. A...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Protected Disclosures (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has not received any protected disclosures since its establishment in 2017. A Protected Disclosures policy is in place and available to all staff in the Department and its agencies. 

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Digital Hubs (1 Jun 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The increased shift to remote working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has given us the opportunity for a greater regional distribution of jobs and to support a better quality of life for many people who previously spent many hours in long commutes. This is a key focus of the Government's new rural development policy Our Rural Future. Remote working, supported by appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (27 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 996,000...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Gender Equality (27 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of the recent publication of the Citizens Assembly recommendations in relation to Gender Equality and want to note the Programme for Government commitment that the Government would respond to the recommendations of the Assembly. This response will cover a wide range of policy areas and is being coordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach. The marriage bar describes a rule that...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (27 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: With reference to the details supplied, the person was not working part-time with the company before the Covid 19 pandemic. However, as this person was put on a shorter working week by the company due to the pandemic they are now classified as a part-time worker for the purposes of Jobseeker's Benefit. A person who works on a part-time basis and is employed for a set number of days each week...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (27 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The person concerned was awarded Jobseeker’s Benefit from 30 March 2020. She was advised by letter on 27 Jan 2021 that the duration of the claim was 234 days. It was not possible to give a definitive date when 234 days would be reached, due to the casual status of the employment in this case. A further letter on 19 May 2021 advised that benefit would end on 21 May 2021 and of the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (27 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: There is a wide range of benefits available to people who make Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. Entitlement to such benefits is dependent on the individual's social insurance contribution record, the class of social insurance paid as well as satisfying other qualification criteria relevant to the scheme being applied for. In general, self-employed people make PRSI...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Widow's Pension (27 May 2021)

Heather Humphreys: An application for widow(er)'s & surviving civil partner's contributory pension was received from the person concerned on 14/05/2021. She does not have sufficient Irish contributions to qualify for a standard widow(er)'s & surviving civil partner's contributory pension on either her own or her late spouses insurance record. The minimum yearly average of contributions required...