Results 1,581-1,600 of 15,060 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Estimates for Public Services 2024 (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I move the following Supplementary Estimates: Vote 20 — Garda Síochána (Supplementary Estimate).That a supplementary sum not exceeding €37,880,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2024, for the salaries and expenses of the Garda Síochána, including pensions, etc. for the...

Supplementary Estimates for Public Services 2024 - Leave to Introduce (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2024: Vote 4 — Central Statistics Office (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 5 — Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary Estimate). Vote 6 — Office of the Chief State Solicitor (Supplementary...

Finance Bill 2024: Financial Resolutions (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I move: 1. THAT section 112B of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (No. 39 of 1997), which contains provisions for the taxation treatment in respect of the granting of vouchers by an employer to an employee, be amended in the manner and to the extent specified in the Act giving effect to this Resolution. ———————...

Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I answered the Deputy's question.

Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputies for their comments and views. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked what is the point and why are we here. We are here because I fundamentally believe that we need to have hate crime legislation on the Statute Book. As I stated at the outset, we do not have such legislation at present. It is not that I have been forced or pushed into taking a particular route. I believed...

Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I believe that we need to have it. We are here to make sure that we have hate crime legislation on the Statute Book for the first time, but I believe we need to do more to update, amend and improve the 1989 Act. That Act will still exist. It will still be there. We will still have incitement legislation. Many points of the points raised by people here and in the Seanad during the debate...

Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: From the Seanad (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I will speak to my amendments and Deputy Howlin's and we can respond to each other. I am pleased to bring the amended Bill back before the Dáil. The Bill completed all Stages in the Seanad last week and I wish to report back to the Dáil the amendments agreed in the Seanad. As Deputies are aware, the Bill originally had two objectives: to update and modernise our existing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: Everyone deserves to be safe and feel safe in their own communities, and of course having a visible Garda presence in the community is an important part of that. Garda funding has increased by over €500m, up 27% since 2020, bringing the total budget to €2.48 billion for 2025, building on the unprecedented allocations of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.35 billion...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the former Cork Prison facility closed in 2016 following the transfer of prisoners to a new facility built on a site adjacent to the former prison. The prison was deemed no longer appropriate for use as prison accommodation due to the condition of the facilities, the size of the cellular accommodation and the lack of in-cell sanitation. The facility was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: To be of assistance, I have contacted the Garda authorities who have informed me that currently there are 21 members, of Garda and Sergeant rank, trained in protest removal, attached to the DMR Public Order Unit. I am advised that Protest Removal Teams are sourced from the trained members, as required, to meet any operational requirements for deployment. I am advised that a more detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Misuse of Drugs (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The implementation of the strategy is led by the Minister for Health and the Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy. However, the Strategy includes actions for all stakeholders, including my Department and An Garda Síochána. The Strategy recognises the need for a balanced health-led approach to reducing demand, while...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is leading an ambitious programme of family justice reform set out in the first Family Justice Strategy, which I published in November 2022. The Strategy sets out a vision for a family justice system of the future - a system that will focus on the needs and rights of children and which will assist their parents in making decisions that affect all of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cross-Border Co-operation (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that the methods utilised to share intelligence between An Garda Síochána and their counterparts in Northern Ireland are operational matters appropriate to the Garda Commissioner and it is not the practice to comment in detail on intelligence and security matters. I am, however, pleased to say that there is close, ongoing cooperation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (23 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 to 142, inclusive, together. My Department has significantly increased investment into the international protection system. Measures have been implemented to improve efficiencies and throughput while also enhancing the application, interview, and decision-making process for applicants. One of the priority areas of focus has been to recruit both civil...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Dublin on 19 December 2023. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 16 February 2024. All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, and strengthening An Garda Síochána, including the Garda Reserve, 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 this is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (22 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (22 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. As Minister, I do not comment on individual IIP applications, however, my Department’s IIP Unit is committed to ensuring that all applications will be examined on their own merits and will endeavour to conclude all decisions in a timely...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (22 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the naturalisation application from the person referred to has been approved by my Department. A request for final documentation and a Certificate fee will issue directly to the person concerned. Last year, Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of ceremonies available to applicants with 15 held over the course of 2023. This was a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 511 of 18 September 2024 asking about the number of Gardaí, by rank, attached to the Garda National Protective Services Bureau as of 9 September 2024 and the corresponding figures as of 31 December 2022, in tabular form. As you will appreciate, the management of Garda resources is an operational matter for the Commissioner of An Garda...