Ivor Callely
Question:100 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the legislative and administrative priorities of her Department in 1996; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5276/96]
Written Answers. - Departmental Priorities.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, as Minister for Justice, I am responsible for a wide brief which includes all aspects of the criminal justice system and I outline my administrative and legislative priorities in this regard.
On the administrative side my Department continues to be involved in efforts to consolidate and move the peace process forward in 1996, in line with the Communiqué issued by the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister on 28 February 1996.
My other priorities are to ensure that the Garda Síochána have the personnel and resources necessary to meet the demands placed on the force and to ensure that the necessary strategies and administrative structures are in place to enable the gardaí to tackle crime in the most effective manner. Specific priorities in this regard are: to proceed as soon as possible with the detailed design, build and pilot implementation of systems stage of the Garda I.T. strategy, to ensure that the Garda Síochána have available to them the most advanced and efficient technologies in their fight against crime; to maximise the replacement and refurbishment levels of Garda station buildings under the Garda building programme within the parameters of available finance and to expedite the provision of a central headquarters for the Garda national drugs unit.
The provision of an efficient streamlined and modern courts service is also an administrative priority to my Department. The Programme for Government —A Government of Renewal— gave a commitment to carry out a fundamental reform of the courts system.
In 1995 the initial steps in providing a courts service which can meet the needs of a modern society were taken by the enactment of the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995 in December of that year and by setting up a working group to report to me on the establishment of a courts commission on the management of the courts as an independent and permanent body with financial and management autonomy. This working group is chaired by Mrs. Justice Susan Denham.
In January of this year I received Government approval to appoint 15 additional judges—three Supreme Court judges; two High Court judges; seven Circuit Court judges and three District Court judges. I have requested the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, established under the provisions of the Courts and Court Officers Act, 1995 to submit to me a list of suitable candidates for the filling of these vacancies. I will be bringing the matter to Government as a matter of priority as soon as I receive the recommendations of the board.
I understand that the working group on a courts commission are pressing ahead vigorously with their major reappraisal of the courts and any recommendations thay make to me will be given immediate consideration.
As the Deputy will be aware a major priority has to be to ensure that we have a successful EU Presidency in the Third Pillar, in Justice and Home Affairs area. In this regard I have put in place the necessary arrangements to ensure a strong focus on our priorities, in particular the question of combating the scourge of drug trafficking in all member states.
In relation to the prison building programme, the provision of 278 additional prison places over a period of 18 months, including 223 additional places to be provided in the current year, is one of my priorities. In parallel with the provision of extra accommodation, I am continuing with the on-going programme of essential refurbishment, upgrading, expansion and maintenance works in the existing prisons.
The Deputy will also be aware that the Government's policy agreement,A Government of Renewal, promised to bring forward a charter of victims of crime and to review the criminal injuries compensation scheme. I am happy to be able to say that work on the victims charter is progressing well.
The review of the criminal injuries compensation scheme is under way in my Department at the moment and I expect to receive a report shortly.
In relation to legislation the Deputy will appreciate that I have an extensive programme of law reform under way in my Department. While priorities can change from time to time for any one of a number of reasons the Deputy can take it that the list of legislation, relating to my Department, contained in the Government's programme, published by the Chief Whip on 17 January last, reflects my current legislative priorities.