Results 1-20 of 2,542 for speaker:Helen McEntee in 'Dáil debates'

European Union Migration and Asylum Pact: Motion [Private Members] (1 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: Setting places on fire is not raising an issue.

European Union Migration and Asylum Pact: Motion [Private Members] (1 May 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. With regard to a point made by the previous speaker, my understanding is that this is the third, if not fourth, debate on migration, specifically immigration and the pact, I have attended in the House in as many months. We had a three-hour debate in the committee last week and it is open to any Deputy at any time to raise the matter as a Topical...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Budget 2024 provided a budget allocation of more than €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána. A 25% increase on 2020, this will allow for the sustained recruitment of Garda recruits. Recruitment is gathering real momentum. The number of recruits in the Garda training college continue to increase with a total of 747 trainees last year. That was the highest intake since...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Approximately 40% of the applicants in the most recent campaign were over the age of 35. It has had a significant impact on those applying. A steering group has been established to see what more we can do around the Garda numbers around the Garda College and whether there is more that we need to do by examining hybrid training moving outside of Templemore. That might not be the answer...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): International Protection (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: My Department has taken a significant number of measures to increase the capacity of the international protection system. Reforms to this process will continue this year and beyond. In November 2022, I introduced an accelerated procedure for international protection applicants from designated safe countries of origin. This now applies to ten countries, with Botswana and Algeria added...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): International Protection (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I will continue to be clear that this pact is not being forced on anyone. It was first presented in 2016, with a second iteration in 2020. During every stage of the debate, be it in the European Parliament, the European Council, the committee of justice or the European affairs ministers Council, which I was a member of a number of years ago, opportunities were available to Members of this...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): International Protection (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The people did vote for this. They voted for it in the form of the Lisbon treaty.

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): International Protection (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The treaty clearly sets out that migration is an EU competence. What we fought for was the option to opt in. The only obligation from a constitutional perspective is that both Houses agree this. That is exactly what we are doing. To be clear, nothing is being forced upon us. We are deciding to opt into a set of measures that we are already a member of. We have been part of a common...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is absolutely the case that certain local authorities in the past, prior to any issues arising around GDPR, were more proactive in applying for the funding and putting up the CCTV. It may be the case now that a similar pattern will emerge but it is important for local communities to know that it is there. It is important for local councillors and representatives in this House to know...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this. He has raised it previously. I do not want to outline what he knows already exists but for those who potentially do not, the commission was established under the Fresh Start agreement to report on measures aimed at ending paramilitarism. The commission has submitted six reports to the UK and Irish Governments to date, the most recent of which was last...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am sorry that I cannot provide any greater clarity or report progress from when we discussed this before. I assure the Deputy that it is not off the agenda. It is very much being discussed. There has been a lot of back and forth between my Department, the Irish Government and the UK Government. Also there had been previous conversations with the Assembly in Northern Ireland. I have met...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I hope that we can come back with positive progress. On the Deputy's initial point, I cannot speak highly enough of the members of the commission and the work they do. I commend their commitment to removing violence from the communities in Northern Ireland but also their commitment to developing, enhancing and supporting communities that have been impacted for many years and working with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: On a Dublin allowance, I do not think that could be applied to gardaí on their own. Deputy Ó Ríordáin reflected that it would have to apply across the board. It is something that we have looked at, which is not to say there are not challenges with it. How do we decide who gets it? If somebody is working in Dublin but living in the commuter area, do we put a parameter...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Community safety is a top priority for me and my Department. Everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe in their communities. Community CCTV can play a vital role in achieving this goal. I think we will have all heard not just from community groups but from local representatives and gardaí as well just how important CCTV is. As the Deputy is aware, since 2017 my Department has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: People are free to apply to the scheme now. This part of it is applicable to those who are applying. To outline how people can apply, the details are available on my Department's website at gov.ie. There are technical specifications, application forms and guidance notes. For any community group that has an interest in this, it is a matter of contacting local Garda management, their local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is my intention to progress the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill to enactment to protect those who are most vulnerable and who, sadly as we have seen, are attacked simply because of who they are, where they came from or because of some other part of their identity that is, quite frankly, nobody else's business. I am determined to enact strong,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy is right. It is not just a case of people feeling unsafe; they are unsafe simply because of who they are. We have had quite sinister attacks. While I do not want to get into particular cases, very serious incidents have taken place. We do not have to look too far to find somebody who has been the victim of some form of hate crime, motivated simply because of the colour of their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I had outlined that it was my intention to bring forward amendments after Easter but, obviously, we have had a lot of things going on. While there has been a slight delay, it is still my intention to bring forward amendments in the coming weeks. It is really important that we say what this legislation does, as well as what it does not do. This is about protecting those who are most...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am absolutely committed to working with all members of An Garda Síochána at all ranks and levels to address the issues of concern to them. That will continue, irrespective of any meetings this week or otherwise. I have made that very clear to the representative organisations. I am committed to working with the Garda Commissioner as well to make sure gardaí have the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is important to note that policing is a career that people are choosing. Across the recruitment campaigns this year and last year, we had 11,500 people apply to join An Garda Síochána. At a time of full employment, that is a significant number of people who still want to join. Obviously, that does not negate the fact that people are leaving on the other side. As well as...