Results 1,801-1,820 of 15,060 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (16 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. I have significantly increased investment into the international protection system. I have implemented measures to improve efficiencies and throughput while also enhancing the application, interview, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Functions (16 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommended that certain administrative immigration functions should transfer from An Garda Síochána to the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of my Department. These included the registration and renewal of immigration permissions as well as functions at Dublin Airport. Earlier this week I announced that all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commissions of Investigation (16 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, commissions of investigation are carried out pursuant to the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. That Act provides for a Commission to be established by Government Order. Before making the Order, a draft must be laid before each House and a resolution approving the draft passed by both Houses. The following table sets out the information requested by the...

Child Protection: Statements (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: Sexual exploitation of children is one of the most grotesque and serious crimes that exist. It is a crime which causes misery in the lives of children and families. We all must do everything in our power to stamp it out. This is a growing problem, with abusers continuing to abuse positions of power and making greater use of technology and online spaces to hide and commit their crimes. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Bankruptcy Register is held by the Examiner’s Office, an office of the High Court. The Examiner’s Office carries out the administrative functions necessary to enable Bankruptcy applications to be listed before the Court and to carry out certain functions and administrative tasks on foot of Orders made by the Court thereafter. Pursuant to Court Orders and Rules, a manual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Accidents (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: Road safety is a shared responsibility, which An Garda Síochána, my Department and the Government as a whole all take very seriously. After a shocking and tragic first quarter of the year, the Garda Commissioner has responded effectively and directed that all uniformed Gardaí are to undertake 30 minute of high visibility roads policing in each tour of duty. This increase in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: Road safety is a shared responsibility, and while the whole of Government response is led by the Department of Transport, it is one which is taken very seriously across Government. We have all been shocked by the loss of life on our roads, and concerned by the worrying increase in road fatalities after many years of progress in making our roads safer. I continue to engage with colleagues...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together. I can advise the Deputy that all Certificates of Naturalisation for the attendees of the recent citizenship ceremonies held last month are currently in the process of being printed and will be issued via registered post. I am aware that following some previous ceremonies there were delays in certificates being received and this is very...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department does not comment on operational procedures regarding the removal of persons from the State. However, I can inform the Deputy that my Department is not aware of any instance where officials working in the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) have been involved in warning residents of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Security (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate for sound reasons of national security it would not be appropriate for me to detail the operational measures that are taken to protect the security of ministerial offices. I can assure the Deputy that the Government affords the highest priority to matters of national security and that all necessary and appropriate measures are taken with the support of An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Security (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: As Minister for Justice it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any particular allegation of this nature. Ireland, like any other democratic state, is not immune from the risk posed by hostile state activity including efforts by such states to exert influence. Our security services are very alive to that risk and keep their response under continuous review in light of ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department is happy to engage with Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on the findings of the report but to date, we have not been contacted about this study.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: European Union (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, a Letter of Formal Notice was received by the Department of Justice on 4 October 2024, setting out the European Commission’s view that Ireland has not fully transposed Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA of 28 November 2008 on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia. My Department is presently considering the contents of the letter in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that the immigration permission of the person concerned expired on 13 September 2024. In order to work in Ireland a non-EEA national must have an employment permit granted by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) or an immigration permission issued by my Department which allows the holder to engage in employment, such as a Stamp 2, Stamp 1, Stamp...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Pay (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 449 together. In response to the Deputy, my Department acts simply as a conduit for these organisations which are funded by the Department of Health. My Department has no role in monitoring the projects, dealing with funding requests or looking at any of their day-to-day activities. Therefore, the question of an increase in funding to meet WRC...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Press Office has responsibility for communicating the work of the Ministers and the Department to the media as well as responding to media queries and requests. The number of staff that have worked in my Department's Press Office for each of the years 2019-2024 is set out in the table below. Grade 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Assistant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Advertising (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department carries out public information campaigns, where appropriate, in order to draw public attention to important issues in the Justice sector. In December 2023 I launched the ‘Always Here’ campaign to raise awareness on pathways to safety and supports available for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). The campaign seeks to highlight and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application of the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011). The application fee is €175. A certification fee of €950 is then required...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (15 Oct 2024)

Helen McEntee: The EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC) establishes the minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons from third countries who are unable to return to their country of origin. It was activated by an EU Council Decision in March 2022 in response to the war in Ukraine and earlier this year was extended until March 2026. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (15 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...