Results 241-260 of 8,948 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pension Provisions (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that entitlement to a Garda Spouses’ pension is based on the deceased Garda’s membership of the An Garda Síochána Spouses’ and Children’s Superannuation Scheme. All members of An Garda Síochána who were attested after November 1984 are members of the Spouses and Children’s scheme. Membership prior to 1984 was not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, management of the courts, along with related operational matters and logistical functions, are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and through the separation of powers in the Constitution. It should be noted that the Department does not record data...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act, 1962, is the primary legislation covering the operation of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and gives effect to the Constitutional right that legal aid may be granted for the defence of people with insufficient means in criminal proceedings. Furthermore, the European Convention on Human Rights provides that every person charged with a criminal offence is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, I published both the majority and minority reports of the Independent Review Group appointed to examine all aspects of the Offences Against the State Acts following consideration by Government last year. The Offences Against the State Acts are Ireland's primary counter-terrorism legislation. They have served, and continue to serve, the State well in tackling both...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As you may 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. The table below gives details of the number of Gardaí who completed the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 to 513, inclusive, together. 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 the distribution of Garda members and Garda vehicles between different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (16 Apr 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 possible. It should be noted that this request is amongst many to be considered at present and, as such, it is not possible to provide a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 515, 529 and 530 together. I am committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. The EU Asylum and Migration Pact will significantly reform the current approach to migration and asylum both in Ireland and across the EU by providing a robust legislative framework to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As you will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I can, however, assure you that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the training of Garda members. As Minister I have no role in this matter. The Garda Inspectorate Report on Public Order Policing, published in April 2019, contains four recommendations that reference training. I have been advised by An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Budget 2024 provided an unprecedented budget of €2.35 billion for the Garda Vote, a total increase of 25% since 2020. The unprecedented level of investment into An Garda Síochána has enabled: The roll out of the highest number of mobility devices ever allowing all Gardaí to conduct certain policing tasks on the move. At the end March 2024 there were 3,513 vehicles...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As you will appreciate, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and works in relation to Garda accommodation are progressed by the Garda authorities in close cooperation with the OPW. As Minister I have no role in such matters. I have made enquiries with An Garda Síochána and I am informed by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Probation Service, which is an executive agency of the Department of Justice, has an important role to play in diverting people, in particular young people, away from criminal behaviour, supervising community sanctions imposed in lieu of a custodial sentence by the courts, as well as supervising people post release. The work that they do contributes significantly to reducing reoffending...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in the specific training provided to any Garda member to undertake any part of their duties. I am advised by the Garda authorities that no Garda members travelled to the UK for training in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, earlier this year the Government established Cuan, a new statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency has a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Community safety is a top priority for my Department and everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe in their communities. Community CCTV plays a vital role in achieving this goal. As the Deputy may be aware, since 2017 my Department has administered a grant-aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area. The CCTV grant scheme was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: In 2021, in accordance with the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 Act, I asked the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) to prepare and submit a report on the possible creation of a new profession of conveyancer. This was instigated under section 34 of the Legal Services Regulation Act, which makes specific provision to address this remaining area of legal services reform. The report,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The application from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department on 09 February 2024. A request for further documentation was made to the person concerned on 28 March 2024. Once these documents have been returned the application can be further examined. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (16 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act 1986 governs the recognition of foreign divorces granted on or after the coming into operation of the Act on 2 October 1986. Section 5 of the 1986 Act provides that a foreign divorce may only be recognised in Ireland if it was granted in the country where either spouse was domiciled on the date the divorce proceedings were instituted. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (11 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, in November 2022 I set out in the First Family Justice Strategy an ambitious vision for a family justice system that will focus on the needs and rights of children and which will assist their parents in making decisions that affect all of the family. This will be achieved through the implementation of over 50 actions across nine goals, with timelines for delivery up...