Results 121-140 of 11,873 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including Garda training. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the HGV training course is considered to be a specialised programme and is only provided...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (8 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government's revised National Development Plan, 2021-2030, includes a number of Courts Service projects to be completed during the period of the plan. These projects include:Provision of further new or refurbished courthouses in cities and county towns where facilities remain substandard. Locations where investment is needed, include Galway City, Wicklow Town, Portlaoise, Tralee,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (8 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. The file of the person cited by the Deputy is stored offsite and has been recalled by the Citizenship Division of my Department. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has made significant capital funding available to the Irish Prison Service in order to enhance the existing prison infrastructure and to provide additional capacity. In recent years, works have been completed to modernise the Mountjoy complex, a new prison was constructed in Cork and additional prisoner accommodation was provided in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (8 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the annual costs associated with the site referred to by the Deputy are set out in the following table. Expenditure is broken down into the following categories: utility costs (including electricity, water and Gas); security costs (including CCTV); and maintenance costs (including statutory system checks). 2022 2023 2024...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (8 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (8 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. I am informed by An Garda Síochána that the locations of the nine...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (8 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The current arrangements governing family reunification applications for non-EEA family members are set out in this document - www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-do cument-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf These arrangements reflect the long-standing requirement that work permit holders seeking to be joined by their families should be in secure and sustained...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (8 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The information requested is currently being compiled and I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is working to have a response ready shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Official Engagements (2 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195, 206, 207, 214 and 216 together. I propose to take PQs 195 , 206 , 207 , 214 and 216 together. Ireland and the United Kingdom share a long history and common interest in the effective operation of the Common Travel Area (CTA), and work together to prevent any abuses of the CTA. There is extensive engagement and cooperation at all levels between my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (2 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Garda authorities that under the Garda Station Rationalisation Programme of 2012 and 2013, 139 Garda Stations were closed nationwide, and the buildings handed back to the OPW. To date, no other Garda Station has been officially closed by the Garda Commissioner. Of the 139 stations closed, the following eight stations are being held by the Office of Public Works on behalf...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (2 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 208, 210 and 217 together. Section 9 of the Immigration Act 2004 provides that a register of non-nationals who have permission to be in the State (in general for a period of 3 months or longer) shall be established and maintained by registration officers. It also provides that a non-national is required to pay a fee to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (2 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Dublin on 05 September 2023. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant at this time. An appeal of this decision was received on 15 January 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: Citizenship Applications (2 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (2 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The patterns in international protection applications vary over time and the Government’s response adapts accordingly. It has long been the case that a significant number of people apply for international protection for the first time in the International Protection Office (IPO). This has increased in 2024. To COB on 29th April 2024, there have been 7,054 applications for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (2 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that my Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. Making sure that applications are processed quickly means those who need our protection are given the opportunity to re-build their life in Ireland in a timely manner. It also means...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (2 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together. I propose to take PQs 211 and 212 together. 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, which has allowed for a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (2 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The sudden loss of Shane O'Farrell at such a young age, with his whole life ahead of him, is a desperate tragedy for all those who knew and loved him and one which will always be an immense source of grief in their lives. The report of Judge Gerard Haughton arising from the Scoping Exercise into the circumstances surrounding the death of Shane O'Farrell, aged 23 in August 2011 was published...