Written Answers Nos. 433-442
433. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the titles of the White Papers published by her Department from 2008 to date; if she will provide online links to these papers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52984/23]
View answerIt has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
434. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the total number of consultancy reports commissioned or funded by her Department that have been categorised or designated as not for external publication from 2011 to date; the total costs incurred on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53005/23]
View answerIt has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
435. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice the number of prosecutions initiated by gardaí in each of the past five years for illegal number plates, noisy exhausts, tinted windows and visors obstructing the windows; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53020/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that the below table outlines a yearly breakdown of the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued for the offences of using a modified plated vehicle with inaccurate plate inscriptions or using a vehicle without an authorisation plate.
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 (up to the 28 of November) |
|
39 |
19 |
44 |
53 |
28 |
18 |
I am informed that the above figures, taken from the FCPS system, are based on incidents which occurred from 01/01/2018 to 28/11/2023, are operational and liable to change.
Regarding prosecutions for tinted windows, I am advised these offences are recorded on PULSE under "General Road Offences" and have a blank summons number, therefore An Garda Síochána cannot provide these figures at this time.
Regarding prosecutions for “noisy exhausts”, the table below outlines a yearly breakdown of the number of summonses issued for offence code “No Silencer Fitted To M.P.V. only".
|
Year |
Summons Created |
|
2018 |
32 |
|
2019 |
29 |
|
2020 |
32 |
|
2021 |
51 |
|
2022 |
56 |
|
2023 |
70 |
|
Total |
270 |
I am informed that the above figures are based on incidents which occurred from 01/01/2018 to 16:28, 30 November 2023, are operational and liable to change.
436. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí currently on suspension per Garda district; if a breakdown of reasons for suspension is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53040/23]
View answerAs you will appreciate, disciplinary matters within An Garda Síochána are governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007, as amended by the Garda Síochána (Discipline) (Amendment) Regulations 2011, and are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy and have been advised that the table below sets out the current suspensions and core issues investigated by An Garda Síochána and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
I am also advised that a breakdown by Region/Division/District is not available due to data protection as it may lead to identification of individual members.
|
CURRENT SUSPENSIONS & CORE ISSUES INVESTIGATED BY AGS & GSOC |
|
|
Main Reason |
Total |
|
Accessing Garda Info System |
6 |
|
Assault |
9 |
|
Corrupt / Improper Practice |
6 |
|
Criminal Damage |
1 |
|
Discreditable Conduct |
12 |
|
Drugs |
5 |
|
DVA / Coercive Control |
7 |
|
Forgery / Fraud |
3 |
|
Harassment |
1 |
|
Misuse of Garda Resources |
3 |
|
Neglect of Duty |
2 |
|
Perverting Course of Justice |
17 |
|
Road Traffic Act / DUI |
14 |
|
Sexual |
10 |
|
Theft / Forgery |
9 |
|
Grand Total |
105 |
* The above figures correct as of 29 November, operational and subject to change.
437. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí currently on sick leave per Garda district; if a breakdown of how many Gardaí on sick leave due to work related causes is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53041/23]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
|
Division |
Garda Members currently on sick leave as of 28.11.2023 |
|
|
Ordinary Illness |
Injury on Duty |
|
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
13 |
* |
|
Clare/Tipperary |
53 |
22 |
|
Commissioners Office |
* |
* |
|
Community Relations |
* |
- |
|
Cork City |
27 |
* |
|
Cork North |
12 |
* |
|
Cork West |
15 |
* |
|
D.M.R. Eastern |
23 |
* |
|
D.M.R. North Central |
30 |
* |
|
D.M.R. Northern |
33 |
* |
|
D.M.R. South Central |
34 |
* |
|
D.M.R. Southern |
17 |
* |
|
D.M.R. Western |
40 |
12 |
|
DMR Traffic Division |
* |
* |
|
Donegal |
28 |
11 |
|
G.B.F.I |
* |
- |
|
G.N.C.C.B. |
- |
* |
|
G.N.D.O.C.B. |
* |
* |
|
G.N.E.C.B. |
* |
- |
|
G.N.I.B. |
* |
- |
|
G.N.P.S.B. |
- |
* |
|
Galway |
26 |
* |
|
Garda National Technical Bureau |
* |
- |
|
Kerry |
20 |
* |
|
Kildare |
22 |
* |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
18 |
* |
|
Laois/Offaly |
17 |
10 |
|
Legal Affairs |
- |
* |
|
Liaison & Protection |
* |
- |
|
Limerick |
27 |
14 |
|
Louth |
17 |
* |
|
Mayo/Roscommon/Longford |
34 |
19 |
|
Meath/Westmeath |
26 |
10 |
|
Operational Support Unit |
* |
* |
|
S.T.O.C. |
* |
* |
|
Security & Intelligence |
* |
- |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
16 |
* |
|
Special Detective Unit |
* |
* |
|
Training & Development |
12 |
* |
|
Waterford |
14 |
* |
|
Wexford |
13 |
10 |
|
Wicklow |
* |
* |
|
Grand Total |
626 |
202 |
438. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice the number of convictions for assault on gardaí each year since 2019; the average sentence for this offence; and a breakdown of the districts where these assaults occurred. [53042/23]
View answerOutcomes of Court proceedings are under the remit of the Courts Service. Management of the courts, 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 given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie. The Minister has no role in these matters. As the information requested by the Deputy is held by the Courts service, I have referred this question to the Courts service for direct answer.
439. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice the amount her Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53057/23]
View answer440. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice the amount her Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53077/23]
View answer441. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice the amount her Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53094/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 439, 440 and 441 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table below.
|
|
Facebook/Instagram |
X/Twitter |
|
|
2021 No Excuses and Still Here - DSGBV public information campaigns |
€17,603.16 |
€21,447.27 |
€5,226.86 |
|
2022 Zero Tolerance, Still Here and Intimate Image Abuse - public information campaigns |
€0.00 |
€20,951.83 |
€10,309.53 |
|
2023 Intimate Image Abuse, Victims of Crime and Consent Campaign* |
€0.00 |
€68,751.39 |
€0.00 |
|
IPO Recruitment Campaign |
€0.00 |
€8491.30 |
€0.00 |
*2023 Consent spend is estimated for Facebook/Instagram as campaign is still running.
442. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice to indicate the extent, if any, to which loss of employment in the case of a person (details supplied) affects his residency position or right to employment within this country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53156/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for international protection has been made in the State. If a person is in the international protection process, there is a legal requirement under the International Protection Act 2015 to maintain full confidentiality at all times.
However, if an application for international protection has been made in the State, the applicant or their designated legal advisor should contact the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly with any queries. This will enable a full and comprehensive reply to be provided.
The International Protection Office may be contacted: by email to info@ipo.gov.ie; by telephone to the IPO Customer Service Centre at 01 6028000 or in writing to Customer Service Centre, International Protection Office, 79-83 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2.
The International Protection Appeals Tribunal may be contacted either: by email to info@protectionappeals.ie; by telephone at 01-4748400 (or Lo-Call 1890 201 458), or in writing to Corporate Services Division, The International Protection Appeals Tribunal, 6-7 Hanover Street East, Dublin D02 W320.
As the Deputy may be aware, access to the labour market is provided under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 to 2021 and applications are made to the Labour Market Access Unit of this Department.
Labour market access permission gives eligible applicants the opportunity to work and helps them to integrate into Irish society while providing for themselves and their families outside of the State’s directly provided services and supports. It also helps people to plan and prepare for their future in Ireland if they receive a positive decision on their application for international protection.
Applicants are eligible to apply if:
• They are an international protection applicant; and
• They have waited at least 5 months from their “Application Received” date for their first instance recommendation; and
• They are cooperating with the international protection process – delays in receiving a recommendation must not be attributable to the applicant.
Following that, a person will be issued a permission for labour market access if, at 6 months, they have not yet received a first instance recommendation.
This permission is valid for 12 months and may be renewed until a final decision is made on the person's international protection application.
Any queries in relation to a person's eligibility or otherwise for a labour market permission can be directed to: Lmauqueries@justice.ie or by post to the ISD Labour Market Access Unit, PO Box 12931, Freepost FDN5264, Dublin 2
Further information in relation to Labour Market Access, including how to apply for labour market access permission can be found at:
www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/labour-market-access-permission/
My Department's website also provides a detailed overview of the International Protection process in Ireland which can be accessed at:
www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/304ba-international-protection/
