Results 141-160 of 2,580 for speaker:Helen McEntee in 'Dáil debates'

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The numbers we have are certainly not where I would like them to be. Due to the fact that the college was closed to new recruits, it meant no new recruits were going through the college for a period of almost two years. This means we are approximately 1,000 short of where we should be and certainly where I would like to be. That is a challenge. It poses a challenge to the overall running...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. While I acknowledge that the number of resignations this year is slightly higher, our percentage of gardaí is higher than other police jurisdictions. In saying that, we need to ensure everything that can be done to identify why people are leaving is done. I met the Garda Commissioner, the head of HR and other members today. They are currently working on exit...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: To the Deputy's last point, it has been made clear to me that anybody who is coming from a separate jurisdiction, whether in the outer part of Dublin, a rural community or a county outside Dublin, is doing so in his or her own free time. I know there is a concern that an increased presence in the city centre is taking away from other areas. If gardaí are coming from counties Mayo,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Media (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. The events which took place in our capital city highlight the threats posed by violent political extremism. As he said, messages of hate spread online resulted in manifestations of physical violence on our city streets. It is clear that social media companies have an important responsibility to resource and operate robust systems of detection, including the timely...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Media (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: We probably all agree that social media platforms have played a positive role in our lives in general and in how we communicate with other and stay in touch with friends. However, they also pose significant challenges and threats. The negativity we are seeing on social media platforms has grown quickly. One of the biggest challenges is identifying what is harmful content and what is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: First of all, I reiterate the view shared by many that the rioting and violent disorder we saw in Dublin on 23 November was a disgrace. As the Deputy knows, those horrific scenes followed the tragic knife attack outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire that lunchtime. Again, I am sure Deputy Daly and others will join me in wishing the victims of that attack, especially the five-year-old girl...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: The project was part of a wider PPP project with Macroom and Hammond Lane family court complex in Dublin. Those projects have since been separated so Macroom and Clonmel are now progressing separate to the court. That progress will continue. Money has been allocated and construction will begin next year.

Immigration: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes: — that, as a nation who over centuries saw so many Irish people emigrate to find safety or work, the Irish people understand what it means to be a migrant, and know how much Irish emigrants contributed to the social and economic fabric of the United States, the United...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Helen McEntee: First, I thank all Deputies for their contributions to this evening's debate. I know the thoughts of everyone in the House very much remain with the victims of the appalling attack that took place 12 days ago outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire and my thoughts are, in particular, with the young child and her carer who are both still in a critical condition in hospital. Of course, we are...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I will ask the Minister, Deputy Foley, to respond immediately. It is really important that our children have school places and I acknowledge that. I will get a response as quickly as possible.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. I think more people are coming home than are leaving.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: More people are choosing to come back to this country to work, start families and set down roots. We can choose whichever facts we want but there are more people coming home. To answer the Deputy's point, we built more houses last year, are building more this year and will continue to build more next year to respond to the demands and needs that are there and to ensure young people have an...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. Of course we want to ensure our young athletes, be they involved in boxing or any other sport, are allowed to reach their full potential and are allowed to take part in any competition, wherever it might be. Apart from what the Deputy has said, I am not aware of this particular strategy. I will, of course, raise his concerns and those of John Donoghue directly with the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his question. We will continue to do what is right and will continue to call for a ceasefire. That is the most important response-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: -----that Palestinians, innocent civilians, children, men and women need from us at the moment. They need to ensure this fighting stops and the best way we can ensure that is by using our voice around the table and not isolating ourselves by partaking of other actions that would only isolate us.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: We need to stay around the table, use our voice and make it count.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: What I do not want to do is conflate antisocial behaviour and particular types of behaviour with what we saw on Thursday night, which was-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: -----absolute vandalism and criminality.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: We need to make sure that those who engage in particular types of behaviour are stopped and prevented at the earliest stage and supported and directed in a new path. That is, again, not to conflate this in any way with what happened on Thursday night because no situation encourages or forces somebody to go out and loot, riot and vandalise property and other public supports. We have invested...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Nov 2023)

Helen McEntee: My Department and An Garda Síochána have worked with the Department of the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to ensure we have strong laws to prosecute those who are misusing scramblers but also to confiscate where it is necessary. Much of that legislation has been enacted and commenced. It is being used by gardaí already. We saw only recently in Limerick a significant number of...