Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Dec 1997

Vol. 483 No. 6

Written Answers. - Departmental Administration.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

101 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures, if any, he will take, or has taken, to establish a chain of responsibility on the efficient administration of justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21216/97]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

As the Deputy will be aware each aspect of the justice system operates within a statutory framework which outlines the key functions and responsibilities of the relevant agencies and, where appropriate, individuals. Apart from piecemeal legislative development, this framework has survived relatively unchanged since the foundation of the State. In the context of implementing the strategic management initiative my Department is currently undergoing a major programme of organisational change.

The overall objective of this change programme is to bring about a modern integrated system with each key agency in the justice system clear about its own role and its relationship and linkage with other agencies in the system. This involves reform of the institutional framework of the entire justice system, including the core Department's role, structure and management systems.

Key aspects of the change programme involve the establishment of independent agencies to manage the day to day operations of the courts and prisons. Both projects are now well advanced. The first stage of a fundamental review of the Garda Síochána was published on 26 November. As I announced on that occasion, the Government is fully committed to implementation of the Garda SMI review and I will shortly announce the detailed arrangements to underpin the implementation programme. The role of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will change as it devolves its line functions. Its future role will be more strongly policy oriented, with greater emphasis in areas such as policy research and evaluation of performance by each agency in the justice system.

A key objective of this organisation change programme is to clarify authority, responsibility and accountability in relation to each aspect of the justice system. In the cases of the courts service and prisons authority, the respective statutes will outline the accountability structure. The position in regard to Garda legislation will be reviewed in the light of accountability changes which emerge in the implementation phase of the SMI review. In all cases, a key principle will be the devolution of authority, responsibility and accountability to the lowest appropriate level possible. Accountability to the Oireachtas for the performance of the various agencies will continue to be through the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Within the context of this unprecedented organisational change a number of concrete developments have already taken place: in the case of the courts, the Courts Service Bill has been published and will be debated in Seanad Éireann in the next few weeks. I anticipate that this historic legislation will be enacted early in the new year, opening the way to the establishment of the new courts service. In the case of the prisons, acting on the report of the expert group published earlier in the year, I have recently obtained the approval of the Government to proceed with the appointment of an interim board to drive forward the intensive preparations required to effect an early transition to the prisons authority, once the necessary legislation has been enacted. I expect to bring proposals for legislation to establish the prisons authority to Government in January/February, 1998. In the case of the probation and welfare service I have recently announced the commencement of a major review of the service by an expert group, as to its future role, needs and appropriate management structure. The report of the steering group on the efficiency and effectiveness of the Garda Síochána was published last week. A major investment programme in computerised management systems in the Garda, prisons, courts, probation and welfare service and other agencies is now under way.

Given the scale and depth of the organisation change programme outlined above, it will clearly take a number of years to see it through to conclusion. I am satisfied that change of this order is necessary and I am absolutely committed to bringing the process forward as speedily as possible.