Pat the Cope Gallagher
Question:156 Mr. P. Gallagher (Donegal South West) asked the Minister for Justice the functions delegated to each Minister of State at her Department; and the date on which the functions were delegated in each case. [5821/95]
Written Answers. - Ministerial Functions.
There are two Ministers of State assigned to my Department, Deputy Currie and Deputy Joan Burton. On 20 January 1995 the Government approved the following delegation of Ministerial Functions Orders:— (a) Justice (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order, 1995. S.I. No. 13 of 1995; and (b) Justice (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order, 1995. S.I. No. 14 of 1995.
In addition to the statutory functions set out in the orders, I have delegated to the Ministers of State the following additional responsibilities:— Minister of State Deputy Currie has responsibility for proposing legislative changes in the area of juvenile justice currently being examined in the Department of Justice. He also has responsibility for the introduction of new Prison Rules to replace the 1947 Prison Rules.
Minister of State Deputy Burton has responsibility for taking the Refugee Bill through the Dáil and Seanad. In addition, she has responsibility for (a) proposing legislative changes to implement the recommendations in the Report of the Committee on Fund-raising Activities for Charitable and Other Purposes — Costello report — (b) dealing with a number of asylum applications that are in arrears, and (c) producing accessible and user-friendly information material on immigration matters generally.
All of these responsibilities, powers and duties stand delegated rather than transferred from the Minister for Justice and will remain subject to review, in consultation with both Ministers of State.