Results 421-440 of 1,034,637 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Máiría Cahill OR speaker:Denise Mitchell OR speaker:Claire Kerrane OR speaker:Joan Collins OR speaker:Duncan Smith OR speaker:Joe Flaherty)
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)
James Browne: Again I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter of the number of gardaí. There is a significant increase in the number of Garda trainees going through Templemore to address the challenge around Garda numbers. On rural community safety, we have the rural safety forum, which has established the rural safety plan, published in 2022, which we are now working to update. It is an...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)
James O'Connor: While I am on my feet discussing this issue, it is important also to discuss morale within An Garda Síochána. I speak to many people around my own age - I am 27 years of age - who have come through the Garda training college and are going into the force. Another issue that is important in rural Ireland is garda transfers. Many members of An Garda Síochána come to me...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)
Catherine Connolly: Before the Minister of State comes back in, there are numerous other Deputies wishing to contribute. I ask them to be brief because there are Members here waiting for their questions to be taken.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)
Cathal Crowe: I commend Deputy O'Connor for his very important question. He mentioned that the situation could be at crisis point. I would say that in many corners of Ireland, it already is. I can tell the Minister of State, following contact I have had from the Garda representative organisation, that there is a functional policing area, I will not say where, that straddles two counties and covers a...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)
Darren O'Rourke: The senior Minister will be well familiar with the fact that my county has the lowest number of gardaí per head of population. It is not just the lowest number but the lowest by far. The difference between the lowest and the highest is double, so there are twice as many gardaí per head of population in Waterford at the top of the list as there is in Meath at the bottom of the...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)
David Stanton: Would the Minister of State agree with me that a lot of Garda time is spent on bureaucracy, behind computers, filling out forms, writing reports and so on when they should be on the beat? There is serious frustration there because of that. Have any studies been carried out in respect of this and can anything be done to alleviate the issue?
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)
James Browne: As the Deputies will be fully aware, the Garda Commissioner is independent in terms of deployment of members of An Garda Síochána right across the country, and deploys them where he feels they are best deployed. Garda transfers, again, are an internal matter for the Garda Commissioner and An Garda Síochána. On what Deputy Stanton has raised, I fully agree with him. That...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)
Questions Nos. 10 and 11 taken with Written Answers.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)
Drug Dealing
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)
Ruairi Ó Murchú: 12. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will outline Government plans to deal with the scourge of drugs and drug dealing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38177/24]
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)
Ruairi Ó Murchú: I am going to ask about the plans to deal with the scourge of drugs and drug dealing, and if the Minister could make a statement on the matter. On the television and on the beat, in any town or village across Ireland, everyone can see with their own eyes the issues that impact greatly. I am talking about everything from organised crime right down to the vulnerable people who are used, and...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)
Helen McEntee: I agree that the impact organised crime and those involved in organised crime can have on our communities is devastating. They intimidate and inflict violence and misery on all parts of our community. It is a top priority for me, my Government and this Department to take swift action supported by and supporting the Garda Commissioner and his team. This includes increasing the maximum...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (26 Sep 2024)
Darren O'Rourke: Go raibh maith agat. I am not going to disagree with anything the Minister has said, other than that the problem is so big and we need a hell of a lot more. I welcome the work that is done by the Garda, the huge operations they have put in play. At times they have put considerable players out of action, even on a town level. Unfortunately, sometimes that takes three or four years to work...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2024)
Visa Applications
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2024)
David Stanton: 9. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures being taken by her Department to ensure the quicker processing of visa preclearance applications and associated appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38096/24]
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2024)
David Stanton: I ask the Minister about the measures being taken by her Department to ensure the quicker processing of visa preclearance applications and associated appeals. The office is doing great work in most areas, but there are one or two areas where I think there is a bit of slippage. Has the Minister looked at this and can further improvements be made?
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2024)
Helen McEntee: As the Deputy rightly said, a great deal of work is being done but we can always improve the service overall and the timelines for people. We are responding and trying to make these changes while at the same time seeing an increase in the number of applications overall. In 2023, we had over 166,000 visa applications submitted and approximately 140,000 of those were granted. These figures...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2024)
David Stanton: I thank the Minister for her response. Can the Minister tell me now or perhaps later how many visa applications of various types are currently in the queue? The Minister may not have this information now but perhaps she might have it later. I am also aware that the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious in Ireland has some concerns about how its procedure is working and...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2024)
Helen McEntee: To the latter question, as the Deputy rightly said, last May I jointly announced with my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Peter Burke, that a project to adopt the single permit to work and live in Ireland would be developed. There is a two-stream process now. The outcome of this initiative will streamline this process for applicants coming to Ireland to...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (26 Sep 2024)
David Stanton: I thank the Minister for committing to meet the Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious in Ireland because it is concerned about some of the issues it is encountering. I am sure they can be resolved with the very efficient officials speedily and efficiently. Are there different processing times in the different embassies across the world regarding visa applications and has...