Results 1-20 of 5,620 for at speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (16 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise that the Certificate of naturalisation for the person referred to by the Deputy has printed and they can expect to receive it shortly. In a little over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications. This 66% increase in processing has been achieved through digitising and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 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 managing the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (16 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 (16 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy has been approved and the Citizenship Division are now awaiting payment of fees from the applicant. In a little over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications. This 66% increase in processing has been achieved...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (16 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to has made a request to have their deportation order revoked, pursuant to the provisions of section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). This request was received on the 26 March 2024 and will be considered as soon as it is possible to do so. The decision to ensue from the consideration of this request will be that the existing deportation orders will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (16 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: An appeal by the person concerned under the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants scheme has been received and continues to be processed. It is not possible to provide a guideline as to when processing of all appeals will be completed. It should be noted that processing times may vary depending on the complexity of the application and the number of appeals received. ...

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

Helen McEntee: A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so is committing a criminal offence, and can be arrested without warrant if they come into contact with An Garda Síochána. Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 provides that a deportation order may be revoked. The Department receives submissions from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (15 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss nationals wishing to pursue a course of education in the State. Such students, subject to certain conditions, are granted a Stamp 2 immigration permission typically for 1 year but can vary depending on course. Such permission may be renewed provided the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (15 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise that officials from my Department have emailed the person referred to regarding this matter on Friday 10 May 2024. They are awaiting a response before this matter can be considered any further. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (15 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise you that all Certificates of naturalisation for the February Ceremony have been printed and issued via registered post. The delay in issuing certificates is regretted and was the result of unforeseen issues with printing. This issue has been resolved and certs will be issued within a matter of weeks in future. In a little over two years the Citizenship Division of my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (15 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 to 81, inclusive, together. My officials in the Irish Prison Service have advised that the information requested by the Deputy is not recorded centrally and a manual examination of each individuals record would be required. Such an examination would be voluminous in nature, require a significant amount of staff time and resources and could not be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (15 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The State has a duty to protect its borders and following examination, ensure that all arriving passengers are entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise of State sovereignty, which is necessary to protect the security of the State and to prevent illegal immigration. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (15 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (14 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: ...424, 456 and 462 together. I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department is working closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance. My Department is in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (14 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Temporary Protection Directive , which provides immediate protection in EU countries for people displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, was extended to March 2025 at a meeting of the European Council last September. As of Sunday 05 May 2024, a total of 106,617 people have been granted temporary protection in Ireland. I can advise the Deputy that it is open to all beneficiaries...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (14 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (14 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: Citizenship ceremonies were first introduced in 2011 and have been universally well received, marking the grant of Irish citizenship in a solemn, dignified and appropriate manner. Attendance at a Citizenship Ceremony remains the primary avenue for the granting of Irish citizenship. The Oath of Fidelity to the nation and the declaration are taken before a Presiding Officer appointed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (14 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 (Dublin III Regulations), came into force on 19 July 2013, and lays down the criteria and mechanisms for determining which EU country is responsible for examining an asylum application. The Dublin Regulation is based on the principle that the first Member State to facilitate entry to the EU should be responsible for examining the protection application. In...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (14 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 432 together. A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so is committing a criminal offence, and can be arrested without warrant if they come into contact with An Garda Síochána. Such an order remains on the person’s record permanently – it means...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (14 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 435 together. I can advise the Deputy that review of the case was directed by me on 1 May, with the terms of reference settled last week, and which I have today forwarded to the Deputy. At this point the review has identified that details of the individual’s criminal record was transmitted from the International Protection Office of the...