Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies.
Jim Mitchell
Question:
342
Mr. J. Mitchell
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the different working groups, review groups, expert groups, commissions, interdepartmental working groups and various fora established by him since entering office in 1997.
[30443/01]
The information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows:
The Interdepartmental Working Group on Integration was established in November 1998.
The Independent Monitoring Committee for the Refugee Legal Service was established in October 1999.
A Working Group on Unaccompanied Minors was established in April 2000.
An Expert Working Group on Childcare was established in 1997 under Partnership 2000 and chaired by my Department.
An Interdepartmental Committee on Childcare was established in 1999.
An Interdepartmental "Synergies" Committee on Childcare was established in December 1999.
A National Co-ordinating Committee on Childcare was established in December 1999.
Subcommittees of the National Co-ordinating Childcare Committee:
Advisory Subgroup, to look at issues around the diversity of children's needs, was established in 2001.
Certifying Bodies Subgroup, to develop a national training framework for the childcare sector, was established in February 2000.
Working Group on School Age Childcare was established in June 2001.
A Programme Appraisal Committee was established in July 2000 as part of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-06.
A Review Group on investment-based naturalisation was established on 20 April 1998.
An Interdepartmental committee to draw up, co-ordinate and monitor the practice for Gardai and other persons involved in video recording the statements of alleged victims under 14 years of age of sexual offences and offences involving violence was established in October 1998.
The Drug Court Planning Committee was established on 9 February 1999.
The National Crime Council was established on an initial two year non-statutory basis and held its first meeting on 21 September 1999.
An Interdepartmental High Level Committee on the Collection of Fines, was established on 21 May 2001.
A Committee to review the Offences against the State Acts, 1939 to 1998 was established on 27 July 1998.
The National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women was established in December 1997. The National Steering Committee is supported in its work by a number of sub-committees which deal with issues such as awareness raising, research, perpetrator programmes, legal issues and communications. Regional committees on Violence Against Women were established in May 1998.
A Review Group on the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme was set up in April 1998.
A Committee to Monitor and Co-ordinate the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Task Force on the Travelling Community was established in June 1998.
The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism was established in July 1998.
A High Level Steering Group to implement the National Anti-Racism Awareness Programme was established on 6 February 2001.
The Working Group on Equality Proofing was established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness in October 2000.
Working Group on the Review and Improvement of the Maternity Protection Legislation was established and had its first meeting on 14 April 2000.
Working Group to review the Parental Leave Act, 1998 was established and had its first meeting on 22 March 2001.
The Gender Equality Monitoring Committee was established on 10 June 1997.
The Steering Committee to oversee the Consultation Process leading to the development of the National Plan for Women (2001 – 2005) was established and held its first meeting on 20 November 2001.
A Working Group on Gender Equality and Equality Proofing was established in November 1998.
A Technical Advisory Committee (Equality for Women Measures) was established in May 2000.
A Project Appraisal Committee (Equality for Women Measure) was established in April 2001.
An Equal Opportunities and Social Inclusion Co-ordinating Committee was established in January 2001.
Consultative Group on Male/Female Wage Differentials was established and held its first meeting on 23 May, 2001.
Firearms Legislation Review Group was established in July 1998.
Garda Síochána Physical Competence Test Review Group was established in July 2000
A Committee to prepare a Report on Garda Overtime was established and held its first meeting in October 1997.
Financial Committee to evaluate tenders received for the Second Helicopter being purchased for use by An Garda Síochána was established and held its first meeting in April 1999.
A Committee to advise on how applications for grant aid to facilitate the installation of Community Based CCTV schemes should be co-ordinated and administered was established and held its first meeting in October 2000.
An Interdepartmental committee to facilitate, oversee and assess the contracting out of the piloting and maintenance of the new Garda EC 135 Helicopter for a trial period was established in November 2001.
A Selection Committee to identify suitable candidates for appointment by the Government to the Human Rights Commission was established in August, 2000.
Interdepartmental working group to consider further the question of incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into Irish Law was established in August 2000.
Interdepartmental Committee on Immigration, Asylum and Related Matters was established in April 1997.
A Crossdepartmental Group on Immigration was established and held its first meeting on 2 April 2001.
The Expert Group to consider changes in the Criminal Law was established and held its first meeting in May 1998.
The Commission on Liquor Licensing was established in November 2000.
A high level interdepartmental working group was established in May 2001 to agree a co-ordinated response to certain recommendations set out in the Interim Report on Off-Licensing of the Commission on Liquor Licensing.
A review group, made up of representatives of relevant Divisions in the Department and the Gardaí, was established in September 2001 to review operation of the proof – of-age card scheme and to make recommendations.
Justice and Equality Sector Steering Group was established in September 2000.
Justice and Equality Sector Quality Assurance Group was established in May 2001.
Heads of Associated Offices Group was established in January 1997.
Policy Planning Research Unit was established in February 1998.
Communications Steering Group was established in September 2000.
Performance Management Implementation Group was established in May 2000.
The Juvenile Justice Review Group was established in July 1998.
Internet Advisory Board was established in March 2000.
Working Group on the Review of the Coroner Service was established in December 1998.
Interdepartmental Group on the Review of the Gaming and Lotteries Acts, 1956 to 1986, was established in May 1999.
Working Group on the Illegal and Harmful Use of the Internet was established in February 1997.
Coroners Rules Committee was established in November 2001.
Group to Review the Psychology Service of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform was established in December 1998.
Interim Parole Board was established in April 2001.
Advisory Committees on applications for release from the Central Mental Hospital by persons found guilty but insane. One Committee was established in 1998 and two were established in 1999.
Transport Review Group – Examination of prisoner transportation in the Prison Service was established in 1999.
A CCTV Policy Group – Establishment of common CCTV policy for the Prison Service was established in 2001.
Criminal Justice Technology Group – Prepare for the introduction of Video Conferencing in the Prison Service was established in 2000.
Waste Management Policy Group – Establishment of Environmental Waste Management Policy for the Prison Service was established in 1999.
Mountjoy Redevelopment Group – Formulation of plans for the redevelopment of the Mountjoy Complex was established in 2000.
An Expert Group to examine the Probation and Welfare Service was established on 27 November 1997.
A Steering Group on Prison Based Drug Treatment Services was established in late 1999.
A Group to Review the Structure and Organisation of Prison Health Care Services was established on 15 November 1999.
A Steering Group to introduce Additional Rehabilitation Multi-disciplinary Programmes for Offenders was established late 1999.
A Group to Review the Forensic Science Laboratory was established in 2000.
Interdepartmental Task Force to Monitor the implementation of the Report of the Commission on the
Status of People with Disabilities was established in July 1997.
Monitoring committee for the 3% target for Employment of People with Disabilities in the Public Service was established in March 1999.
Establishment Group for the National Disability Authority was established in November 1997.
Disability Forum (formerly Interdepartmental Co-ordinating Committee on Disability Issues) was established in July 2000.
The Steering Group for the Irish Council of People with Disabilities was established in January 1999.
