Ruairí Quinn
Question:236 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice if he will set out the legislative and administrative priorities of his Department following his appointment as Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Ministerial Policy.
My immediate legislative priority is the legislation which is already before the House, including the Criminal Evidence Bill, Second Stage of which is being taken this afternoon. Other legislative priorities of my Department are set out in the current Programme for Government which was published in October last and others will be decided from time to time by the Government and announced in the usual manner.
My most immediate non-legislative priority is the next meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference which is to be held within a matter of days. My overall administrative priorities will include the maintenance and improvement of facilities and services in the areas of policing, prisons and alternatives to custody, courts, land registration, aliens controls, legal aid and criminal injuries compensation and participation in EC work in the Justice area.
The degree of priority to be given to particular matters within these areas varies from time-to-time in the light of changing circumstances and I would be reluctant to attempt to set out anything in the nature of a definitive catalogue of more specific priorities because to do so might suggest that other aspects of the work of my Department are in some way less important and less deserving of attention, which would not be the case. Examples of specific matters which are currently receiving particular attention include the work of the inter-departmental group dealing with urban crime, the arrangements for the investigation of serious fraud, the development of community policing both urban and rural, the development of a new prison facility at the Curragh, converting the Land Registry and the Registry of Deeds to a semi-State body, implementation of the video recordings legislation, implementation of measures agreed at EC level to give effect to article 8A of the Single European Act, etc. I would stress that this list is by no means intended to be exhaustive.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:237 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline the precise actions he intends to take now to promote equality within his Department in general and in particular to promote qualified women to higher posts within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The ongoing development and implementation of an equality policy in my Department is based on the framework contained in the document "Equal Opportunity Policy and Guidelines for the Civil Service", copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.
Equal opportunity has been receiving particular attention in my Department in the context of staff training and development. Last year, a number of line managers participated in workshops on the theme "Managing Human Resources — the Equality Dimension" which examined how the application of equal opportunities could be more fully integrated into their day-to-day management responsibilities. I intend that further measures on these lines will be taken this year and that the promotion of equal opportunity will be incorporated into training programmes, where appropriate, with a view to increasing awareness and consciousness in the area of equality.
As regards promotion, I will continue to ensure that there is equality of opportunity at all stages of the promotion process and that suitably qualified women and men have equal access to higher posts in my Department.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:238 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice if he will define the new and existing responsibilities of the Minister of State within his Department following the recent changes in the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Minister of State at my Department, Deputy William O'Dea, will provide general support and assistance to me on the wide range of responsibilities which fall on me as Minister for Justice, including undertaking Oireachtas business, receiving and considering representations on Departmental business, making public appearances, and participation in international work.
In particular, he will have responsibility in relation to the implementation of such aspects of the Government's legislative programme in the Justice area as I assign to him from time to time. He will also have specific responsibility in relation to the conversion of the Land Registry to the status of a semi-State body, the civil legal aid scheme, the scheme of compensation for personal injuries criminally inflicted and family mediation. In addition he will have delegated to him under the terms of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1977 Ministerial powers and duties in relation to the Land Registry and the Registry of Deeds, the administration of the courts, criminal legal aid, censorship, gaming and lotteries and certain miscellaneous matters. All of these responsibilities, powers and duties will be exercised subject to my general superintendence and control.