‘I am up for the challenge and will make sure I will deliver’: new Justice Minister

The new Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee will be ensuring Meath has a well resourced police force and she is looking forward to working with the local chief superintendent and gardai on the ground in Meath.

She has also pledged that along with Deputy Damien English she will be working toward the provision of the Navan rail line.

The pledges came in the wake of her appointment on Saturday to one of the most senior cabinet positions in government.

Saturday was a proud day for the young Castletown deputy, her husband, mother and family, and one that would have meant a lot to her late father, former Minister of State, Shane McEntee.

Minister McEntee's promotion to senior cabinet minister comes after serving as Minister for European Affairs for the past three years during which she played a prominent role in Brexit negotiations and attended a meeting of EU leaders.

She says she had no inkling of Saturday's appointment.

“We were in the convention centre on Saturday and when Micheál Martin went to the Aras, we went to get some food.

“I was having a bite to eat when I got a phone call from Leo, asking me to come and meet Micheál Martin.

“I had no idea or inkling before that. It came as a bit of a shock,” she said.

“It took a bit of time to get used to it.”

Minister McEntee also served as Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People from May 2016 to June 2017.

She was elected to Dáil Éireann in a by-election in March 2013, following the death of her father. She was elected as vice-president of the European People’s Party (EPP), Fine Gael's grouping in the European Parliament last November.

Her new role is a wide ranging one and will involve working with the gardai and the courts

“It will involve issues such as domestic abuse, family law, insurance, mental health and prisons.

“I'm looking forward to it as it is such a broad role.”

The newly appointed minister attended her first cabinet meeting on Saturday and another yesterday (Monday).

“There won't be any time wasted in implementing the programme for government.

“We want to achieve as much as possible in the first 100 days.

“There are backlogs because of Covid-19, but I am up for the challenge and will make sure I will deliver,” she promised.

One of the biggest issues she will be dealing with is the Commissioner’s Report on the Future of Policing.

“There is a commitment to implement task forces similar to those in inner city Dublin, Limerick and now Drogheda which involve bringing together education, welfare and health services with community policing.

“This will be a big element of reform,” she said.

The new minister was meeting today (Tuesday) with the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris.

She paid tribute to outgoing Justice Minister, Charlie Flanagan.

“He did a huge amount of work.

“There may have been some delays because of Covid-19 and that is something we will have to deal with.”

The opposition parties locally have been critical of the failure of the Programme for Government to mention the railway line to Navan.

“There has been concern about this, but a clear commitment was made and Minister English and myself will ensure it happens.”

Minister McEntee's appointment was met with delight in her home town of Nobber and her current home in Slane.

“My family, my mum and husband, Paul have been a great support in everything I do.

“There has been a massive outreach of congratulations from so many people and from around the county. People are very good. It has been great and of course, I wouldn't be here at all without the people of my constituency.

“It is a very exciting time for me and for my colleagues,” she said.

In a statement released over the weekend, Meath West Deputy English said: “Once proven, it will then be up to this Government to deliver funding that will get the rail on track for Meath.”