Results 121-140 of 8,948 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Road safety is a shared responsibility, and while led by the Department of Transport, it is one which is taken very seriously across Government. We have all been shocked by the recent 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 across Government, in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 27 together. As the Deputy may be aware, the Judicial Council Act 2019 provided for the establishment of the Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee of the Judicial Council. Its functions include the preparation of draft sentencing guidelines and the monitoring of the operation of those guidelines, together with the collation of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I want to assure the Deputy that I am conscious of, and hugely committed to, tackling the devastating impact that illegal drugs have on communities across the country. My Department is steadfast in working in many ways to address the harms caused to families and communities by the activities of transnational organised crime groups and, as part of this, all the laws and powers available to An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inspector of Prisons (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) was established under the Prisons Act 2007 and is independent in how it carries out its functions. The Inspector's role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons. The Inspector's three day monitoring report of the Dóchas Centre was received in my office in August 2020, and it was deemed possible following...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to taking measures to combat and prevent cybercrime. There is close cooperation across the whole of Government on this issue, including between An Garda Síochána and the National Cyber Security Centre. I recently had the opportunity to visit the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau and thank the highly skilled Gardaí first hand for the very...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to tackle drug dealing and associated criminal behaviour, including by organised crime groups. The unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: In 2024, I have provided a budget allocation of over €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána which represents a 25% increase on 2020. At the end of March, there were 14,059 Gardaí which represents an increase of almost 10% since 2015 when there were 12,816 Gardaí throughout the country. The number of recruits in the Garda training college continue to increase; a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Tackling serious and organised crime is a key priority for me as Minister for Justice and I am committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion in Budget 2024. The record budgetary resources allocated to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by An Garda Síochána that they are committed to delivering on this portal. However, as the Deputy will appreciate, this will necessitate the development of a Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) to store, manage and process any footage received. This system is also required as part of the implementation of body worn camera (BWC) technology in An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government is fully committed to tackling anti-social behaviour, including the misuse of scramblers. That is why legislation was enacted by the Minister for Transport to increase Garda powers to seize scramblers. An Garda Síochána responds to all reports of anti-social behaviour and conducts operations on an ongoing basis to target the anti-social activities of people using...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Agreements (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Visa Information System (VIS) is a system which allows Schengen Area States to exchange visa data. It consists of a central IT system and of a communication infrastructure that links this central system to national systems. The Schengen Area states apply a common borders code which governs the entry of persons crossing the external EU border into the Schengen...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cross-Border Co-operation (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The restoration of the Assembly and the Executive is a positive opportunity for the people of Northern Ireland. I very much welcome that there is now a functioning Executive who can represent the interests of the people and deal with all the issues and challenges that Northern Ireland faces at present. As the Deputy is aware, this also facilitates the full operation of the Good Friday...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. An Garda Síochána has been allocated unprecedented funding of over €2.35 billion for 2024, a 25% increase since 2020 allowing for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. As the Deputy is aware, it is the responsibility of Garda management to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 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 following table outlines the number of Gardaí who have left the service in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Priorities (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware each year I set out my main policy and legislative priorities in the Justice Plan. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Justice Plan 2024 will be published by my Department in the coming weeks. This plan sets out in detail a significant work programme which is being undertaken within my Department this year and outlines a wide range of actions under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: This year I have provided a budget allocation of over €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána. This is a 25% increase on 2020 and will allow for the sustained recruitment of Garda recruits in 2024. Recruitment is now gathering real momentum and the number of recruits in the Garda training college continue to increase; a total of 746 trainees entered the training college in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda resources and the establishment of any Garda units. As Minister I have no role in these matters, and I cannot direct the Commissioner in any specific aspect of Garda operations. The safety and security of both public transport...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that Article 42A.4 of the Constitution requires that provision be made by law that in the resolution of all proceedings concerning the guardianship or custody of, or access to, any child, the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration. Section 3 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 provides that the best interests of the child shall be the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána, and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. Community policing is also fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model which is currently being rolled out across the country, and is fully commenced in thirteen Garda divisions, including Louth/Cavan/Monaghan Division. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (23 Apr 2024)

Helen McEntee: There are many complex and interlinked reasons for the use of knives in the commission of offences. When some younger people feel unsafe or under threat there can be a temptation to carry knives. Incidents involving knives can tend to increase this trend and there are certainly no quick-fix solutions to tackling this type of behaviour which is long-standing over many generations. Long...