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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 May 2011

Vol. 732 No. 4

Other Questions

Proposed Legislation

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

38 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce a Sexual Offences Bill that will consolidate and modernise all criminal law in the area of sexual offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11862/11]

While there is undoubtedly a case for consolidating the law on sexual offences for greater accessibility, my immediate priority is to implement a commitment in the Government's legislative programme to bring forward legislation to enhance the protection of children and other vulnerable persons from sexual exploitation and abuse. My Department has been conducting a wide-ranging examination of the law on sexual offences. This takes account of the recommendations of two Oireachtas committees and the requirements of a number of international legal instruments. An evaluation of the Sex Offenders Act 2001, including public consultation on the management of convicted sex offenders, and a review of the law on incest formed an integral part of this work.

The review is close to completion and I expect to bring legislative proposals to Government in the coming months. When this priority work is more advanced, consideration can then be given to consolidating sexual offences legislation, an objective which I believe is very desirable to achieve.

We spoke previously in this House about our inability to compel judges to go on training courses. Will we provide training courses on sexual violence and abuse? Has the Minister given any consideration to establishing a corps of specially trained prosecutors to deal with sexual violence and abuse cases?

As the Deputy knows, the Judiciary is independent. Neither this House nor the Government can compel members of the Judiciary to undergo any specific or particular training. The Judiciary has established its own body to deal with specific issues and to inform itself and keep up to date on areas in which it is engaged. It is open to the Judiciary to do so in the context of this area.

Was there a second part to the Deputy's question?

It was about whether there is a plan to have specially trained prosecutors.

At present there are no plans to do so. A considerable number of persons are instructed by the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute offences. The DPP is rightly independent in the function he performs in selecting those to process prosecutions. I would expect that the DPP in doing so does pay regard to the expertise of those who are asked to process prosecutions on his behalf.

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

Question:

39 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider developing a comprehensive evidence-based all-Ireland crime prevention strategy under the auspices of the All-Ireland Ministerial Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11873/11]

If I can take the second part of the question first, the North-South Ministerial Council to which I assume the Deputy is referring, was as the Deputy will recall, established under the Good Friday Agreement to implement policy and take forward co-operation on an all-Ireland basis to the mutual benefit of all those who reside here. It is a body to which the Government attaches great importance and one we will continue to support and participate in to the fullest extent.

The North-South Ministerial Council does not at this time have a justice sector. We hope that this is something that will be introduced in the fullness of time. At present co-operation on policing and justice matters is taken forward under the auspices of bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding and on an informal basis. Since my appointment as Minister with responsibility for such matters I have been very impressed by the level of co-operation in these areas and by the good relationships which exist between the police forces and the other criminal justice agencies, North and South. I take this opportunity to congratulate David Ford, MLA, on his re-election as Northern Ireland Minister of Justice on Monday. At a very early stage following my appointment I met with David Ford, MLA, and I found that he is someone who is committed to ensuring that we have a co-ordinated approach to addressing issues of mutual concern to all of us on this island in the justice area. I look forward to building on the good work already taking place and to which he has already made such a contribution.

Turning to the question of a crime prevention strategy, since 2009 my Department has been engaged in a major consultative exercise leading to the production of a White Paper on crime. The White Paper will set out a policy framework for future strategies to combat and prevent crime. The development of the White Paper involves an end to end examination of the prevention, intervention and enforcement strategies to combat crime. The intention is that this process would lead ultimately to a national anti-crime strategy. As part of this process, officials in my Department have briefed their counterparts in Northern Ireland on numerous occasions. The regular meetings held under the aegis of the intergovernmental agreement on co-operation on criminal justice matters have facilitated these exchanges of views and I intend to meet again with Minister Ford in early June in this regard. The policy areas on which co-operation is taken forward under the agreement include probation and public protection, youth justice and the management of registered sex offenders. It is anticipated that our national anti-crime strategy will reflect the substantial degree of cross-Border co-operation which already exists between the criminal justice agencies North and South, much of which of course would be concerned with crime prevention.

I welcome the Minister's comments. I invite him to raise the matter of the development and funding of a comprehensive evidence-based all-Ireland crime prevention strategy with the Minister of Justice in Northern Ireland, Mr. Ford, MLA, when they meet in June. Is the Department open to such a development and will the Minister pursue the matter?

I have no difficulty with what the Deputy suggests.

Garda Transport

Dessie Ellis

Question:

40 Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda cars withdrawn from use during each of the past three years on a divisional basis; the number of new Garda cars acquired during each of the past three years on a divisional basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11861/11]

I understand from the Garda authorities that, between 2009 and to date in 2011, 294 Garda cars were withdrawn from use and that in the same period 172 new cars were purchased. Of these, 165 were purchased in 2010 and seven so far this year.

Garda vehicle purchases are managed centrally and I understand that a divisional breakdown of these figures is not readily available. Clearly budgetary constraints will be a factor in the ongoing rate of car purchases but this should be seen against the background of a major renewal of the fleet in 2007 and 2008, when more than 1,300 vehicles were purchased, to the delight of Deputy Calleary.

That is the first time someone on the Government benches has praised someone on the Opposition benches.

I could not resist his smile.

As the Minister indicated, in the period 2009 to 2011, the number of Garda cars has reduced by 122. The Minister made a commitment previously that he would protect front line policing services. The use of Garda cars is an important factor in front-line policing. Will the Minister try to address the issue in terms of his budget for next year? I accept he does not know what the budget will be but could he give a commitment to try to restore the figures to at least what was available under the Fianna Fáil Government in 2008?

What the Deputy is missing is that new cars were purchased at a time when there would have been a substantial number of cars that were at the end of their life. One does not get rid of the ones that are no longer reliable to use until one has the new cars in place. The figures do not in fact result in the Garda being in a worse position today than it would have been previously.

The Deputy should be aware that many demands are made on Garda vehicles. There is nothing new in the withdrawal of Garda cars from service. It is an ongoing process which has always operated within the Garda fleet. We are concerned with the removal of vehicles that had reached the end of their user life. For the safety of Garda members and the public, it is essential that cars used by the Garda are fully fit for purpose. The Garda authorities have informed me that they have made arrangements to have special safety intervention servicing carried out to vehicles with more than 160,000 km on the clock. On that basis the manufacturers have confirmed that their vehicles are suitable for use from a safety point of view to up to 300,000 km. Apart from catering for safety requirements, the measure has significantly extended the operational life of a Garda car. At this stage the Garda is a good deal better off with regard to the number of cars available to it than would have been the case some years ago.

Have the Garda authorities made arrangements to dispose of the cars formerly used for the ministerial fleet? I presume the Minister is not holding his breath on making much money out of that. Have they been disposed of or what is envisaged in that regard, bar the Minister's car of course?

I anticipated that someone would not miss the opportunity to ask that question. As I said on previous occasions in reply to questions, that is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. In so far as there is any useful purpose to retain some of those cars I expect he will retain them. He previously said that those not required will be sold. It was only approximately two weeks ago that Ministers had to make their own arrangements to start using their own cars with civilian drivers. In the past ten or 14 days, the Garda Commissioner has had some other issues on his mind, such as the visit currently taking place and the visit of President Obama which we look forward to on Monday. I expect when those matters have been dealt with and the visits are completed, he will direct his mind as to how to best deal with the cars now being made redundant.

Residency Permits

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

41 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons that have applied for residency since the Zambrano judgment was handed down; the number of persons whose applications are outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11868/11]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

66 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff within his Department allocated to process fresh residency applications under the terms of the Zambrano judgment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11869/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 66 together.

Currently my Department's records show that 929 persons who have no current right of residency have applied to have their case to remain in the State examined in accordance with the principles set out in the Zambrano judgment. All these cases require careful consideration in advance of any decision on whether they are comprehended by this judgment. To date, decisions have been made in 102 cases, with permission to remain in the State having been granted in all such cases. The majority of the remaining applications are cases where all the required documentation and information has not yet been submitted and where this is the case, the persons involved have been advised in writing as to what further documentation or information they must submit.

A number of other third country nationals who already hold a right of residency, for example on the basis of stamp 2, student, or stamp 3, dependant, conditions, have also sought to fall within the terms of the Zambrano judgment on the basis of being a parent of an Irish citizen child. Persons in this category are being advised to attend at their local Garda registration office, with certain items of documentation such as birth certificates, proof of residency and so on, at which point, all other things being equal, their immigration status will be upgraded to stamp 4 which will allow their continued residence in the State. These cases will not require substantive processing in my Department and, as such, they are not being recorded in a manner that will enable me to state how many such cases are involved.

There is a further cohort of cases involving persons who have sought to have their cases considered in accordance with the principles set out in the Zambrano judgment but who, on the face of it, will not meet the Zambrano criteria because, for example, they have left the State of their own accord or because they are EU rather than third country nationals. The Zambrano judgment has no relevance to EU nationals, who are entitled to be here in any case. Nevertheless, each such case will have to be responded to in an appropriate manner and will require the deployment of resources to process them.

My Department's records also indicate that there is a further body of some 140 cases where a link to the Zambrano judgment has been identified, but these cases are the subject of judicial review proceedings in the High Court where a decision to make a deportation order has been challenged. As such legal proceedings are ongoing, it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment on such cases at this time. However, subject to issues such as the general terms of settlement including costs being addressed in a satisfactory manner, I do not anticipate any major delays in completing these cases.

In terms of the staffing resources deployed to processing Zambrano type cases, at present nine staff members are engaged on this work on a full-time basis while a similar number are involved in providing essential administrative support work to that team on a less than full-time basis.

The judgment in the Zambrano case was delivered on 8 March 2011 and I am satisfied that since that date, the relevant officials in my Department have applied themselves diligently to having all necessary follow up work carried out, including obtaining legal advice as to the implications of the judgment, to ensure that any person to whom the Zambrano judgment applies will have their case examined and a decision notified with the minimum delay. When I took office as Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence on 9 March, I took a significant leadership role in the whole matter. On 21 March, shortly after the judgment was delivered, I issued a detailed press statement, with the Government's agreement, setting out my views as to how the judgment should be applied in Ireland.

Garda Operations

Dara Calleary

Question:

42 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will give an assurance that the Garda Síochána have adequate resources to provide security for US President Barack Obama’s visit. [11723/11]

The Garda Síochána, along with the Defence Forces, is responsible for the security of the visit of President Obama and I have the utmost confidence in the Garda Commissioner and his officers, who I know are totally committed to ensuring that these events pass off without incident. I am fully satisfied that the commissioner has available to him all the necessary and appropriate resources to ensure the safety and security of President Obama during his forthcoming visit to this jurisdiction and that the Defence Forces are providing all the appropriate support in aid of the civil power.

A whole range of security considerations must be taken into account and those considerations are based on an ongoing assessment of the risks involved. I am sure people generally will be understanding of the security arrangements which have to be made and will co-operate fully with them. Such arrangements are a necessary feature of visits of this kind to any country and I am sure they will not detract from the great welcome Irish people will give to President Obama.

Some people would seek to disrupt these visits. The right to protest is an important one and one that my Government will always uphold, but we will not tolerate those who seek to break the law.

I endorse the Minister's remarks, compliment the Garda and the Defence Forces on the operation to date and wish them well for the continuation of the operation around the Queen's visit and for next week. I compliment in particular those gardaí who were subject to attack yesterday in the city centre.

When the Garda Commissioner addressed the GRA conference, he said it would be "unreasonable" to expect the force to pay from its existing budget for the scale of the operation we are witnessing. I take it, therefore, that it will be necessary to introduce a new Estimate for the Garda and the Defence Forces to pay for the scale of the operation. Does the Minister plan to introduce such an Estimate or will he take the funding from existing resources within the Department?

I thank the Deputy for his comments on the work undertaken by the Garda for this week's visit. Substantial work of a security nature has been undertaken, with the assistance and contribution of the Defence Forces. The conduct of a small minority of individuals, in making threats against the State and a distinguished visitor and her husband, is regrettable. It is also regrettable that a multiplicity of hoax bomb warnings have been issued and that the finding of some dangerous devices has required the nature of the security operation that has been undertaken. It is regrettable that this has curtailed the capacity of the many thousands of people in Dublin, who would have liked to have seen matters a good deal closer and to have been present at some of the events involving the Queen and Prince Philip, so that they have had to follow those events on their television screens, all because a small group of people created difficulties on our streets and posed a serious threat. It is unfortunate in a democracy that on occasions we should be subject to the tyranny of a minority.

In the context of funding, the Government gave every assurance to the Garda Commissioner and my Department that any funding necessary to ensure that all necessary security steps would be taken during the course of the visit would be provided. When both visits are complete, we will assess the costs incurred and these will be factored financially into how matters develop in the coming year. These visits will not impact on the capacity of the Garda to properly conduct its duties during the rest of this year.

I find it extraordinary that a Government that prides itself on fiscal rectitude and the need for it does not have an estimate for the security and associated costs for the visits of the Queen and President Obama. Should we take it from the Minister's response that the Government has essentially given a blank cheque to the Garda and any other organs of the State involved in facilitating this visit suggesting they can have as much as they want and we will count the cost afterwards? At the same time vulnerable and impoverished sections of our society are pleading for some respite from austerity and cuts but are told again and again there is no money.

I welcome the Minister's comments about allowing and facilitating peaceful protests. In that regard I am somewhat bemused by the decision of Dublin City Council to ban posters advertising a planned demonstration by the Irish Anti-War Movement scheduled for this Sunday. The Irish Anti-War Movement will be holding a completely peaceful protest — as was the one we held last night — against US foreign policy on Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia and Bahrain where the US is financing regimes that are busy crushing democratic movements. Can the Minister use his offices to intervene with Dublin City Council and ask it that we be allowed to put up our posters advertising our peaceful anti-war demonstration and that that demonstration be allowed to proceed unhindered?

Deputy Catherine Murphy reminded me that a citizen has inquired and is concerned that the Queen may return to England thinking that our national colour is yellow since all she has seen on the streets of Dublin are thousands of individuals with high-visibility jackets.

I suppose Deputy Higgins really cannot contain himself in trying to think of some smart comment to make.

I always find Deputy Boyd Barrett's contributions interesting, and his and his Irish Anti-War Movement's anti-American obsession is quite extraordinary. Perhaps the Irish Anti-War Movement might consider demonstrating against the Syrian Government killing its own people, now estimated at in excess of 1,000.

Last Saturday I was demonstrating against the Syrian Government.

They might demonstrate against Colonel Gadaffi bombing his own towns.

I have done that too.

They might also demonstrate, perhaps peacefully, on this island against those who caused the sort of mayhem and thuggery we witnessed on Dorset Street last night——

Absolutely; the Minister is dead right.

——when gardaí were targeted by violent thugs——

Can the Minister answer the question I asked him?

The Minister is in possession.

——in circumstances in which there was an alleged protest. I find this approach by the Deputy amazing in the context of what he said. Of course it would be preferable if the resources that have been utilised to provide the level of security necessary because of the conduct of the types of individuals we saw on Dorset Street last night was not necessary.

We all oppose that. Can the Minister answer the question?

It would be preferable if people accepted the democratic will of the people and allowed, as is the case in most civilised democracies, leaders of foreign countries to visit this State without them being under threat, without bomb hoaxes and without viable devices being placed.

We all agree with that.

It would be very productive if the Deputy protested against people who engage in that type of conduct, but, of course, that would not have crossed his mind.

I abhor that kind of conduct. The Minister has not answered the question.

There has been inferred criticism of the scale of the security operation. A bus left my town, Ballina, on Monday evening and somewhere between Ballina and Dublin a viable device was found on that bus containing completely innocent people who were going about their business. It is unfortunate that we need this scale of security operation. However, there are criminals — so-called republicans — purporting to act in the name of this country who do not care whom they maim. It is necessary to have that level of security and this party fully supports it.

Proposed Legislation

Joe Higgins

Question:

43 Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the proposed referendum in relation to judges' pay will be held. [10394/11]

Timmy Dooley

Question:

71 Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for a referendum on judges’ pay. [11725/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 71 together.

The Government is committed, in line with our undertaking during the recent general election campaign, to bringing forward a constitutional referendum to allow for reductions in pay for members of the Judiciary in circumstances where it has been necessary for the State to engage in financial emergency measures in the public interest.

While it is generally well known that the public service pension levy has not been imposed on members of the Judiciary it has been less generally recognised that there have also been two pay cuts across the public sector, neither of which has been applied to judicial salaries. This has led to considerable disparities between judicial pay and that of other senior officeholders in the State with whom they would have been linked for pay determination purposes in the past. In all fairness, it should be noted that a majority of the Judiciary has voluntarily contributed sums equivalent to the pension levy. It is vital, however, for the independence of the Judiciary that it is not perceived as a group of officeholders who are uniquely insulated from the economic crisis which is detrimentally affecting the lives of all our people.

The date for holding the referendum remains a matter for decision by the Government pending full consideration in consultation with the Attorney General of the details of the necessary legislation. As the Deputy will be aware this is an issue I previously addressed when in Opposition by publishing a Private Members' Bill. The detail of the legislation required is being considered further by the Office of the Attorney General and a referendum will be held as early as possible.

Does the Minister agree that it is repugnant that a very privileged elite in our society — which senior judges in particular are given that some of them might be on six or seven times the average industrial wage — should be allowed to continue with such very high salaries while working people, poor people and unemployed people are getting hammered by the Government continuing the policy of Fianna Fáil and making them pay for the EU-IMF bailout and the financial crimes of European bankers?

I ask the Minister to be more specific on the timing. He indicated he already has a Bill drafted. As I believe he will agree that it is a very straightforward question, there really should not be any problem in putting a time on it. Will it take place this year? Surely it is the Minister for Justice and Equality who will bring the recommendation to the Government.

Did the Minister receive a report on the meeting between the Chief Justice and the Taoiseach in regard to related matters of judges' pensions and so forth? What was asked and were any assurances or promises given by the Taoiseach with regard to the issues that were under discussion?

I believe the Taoiseach answered that question in this House. I do not believe any assurances were given in the context of that issue. As the Deputy will be aware an interview with an unnamed judge was reported in The Irish Times, expressing some concerns with regard to how changes in the Finance Act might affect retiring members of the Judiciary. I have a simple view in this area, which is that there should be no special treatment for any particular group of people and the law should apply equally to everyone. If it gives rise to anomalies that could impact unfairly on individuals or if there are unintended consequences of legislation enacted in this House, those are issues that should be addressed. At this time I cannot provide any further information on that issue beyond saying that there is no change in the law as it stands at the moment.

On the timing of the referendum, as the Deputy will be aware the Government has proposals for a series of referendums to be held and we are considering the practicalities of the extent, if any, to which a referendum may coincide with the presidential election. It is of very great importance in the context of the workings of this House that we have a referendum to address issues arising from the Abbeylara judgment to facilitate committees of these Houses being able to engage in full and proper inquiries. There are issues with regard to a referendum in the context of Members of these Houses being in receipt of information from constituents or other people on matters of public importance and not finding themselves before the courts having to reveal the identity of those who might have furnished them with information that is correct and real.

There is a range of areas, including the work being done preparing for a children's rights referendum. Decisions need to be made on dates when referendums will be held. A substantial amount of work is being done on these issues in the Office of the Attorney General. It is not just a question of publishing a Bill as I did as the Deputy correctly mentioned. There is the need to publish the ancillary legislation through the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, which is part and parcel of the process, and putting in place an appropriate referendum commission. These are all issues to the forefront of the Government's attention and when decisions are made on dates, they will be announced.

At the time of the Abbeylara tragedy and when the report thereon was issued, during the term of the 29th Dáil, I called for a referendum. Does the Minister agree that some of the proposals made, including that on judges' pay, are non-controversial and would — I am not being presumptuous about the people's vote — probably be supported by an extensive majority? Does he also agree that a number of the referenda could be held on the same day as the Presidential election? While he is at it, why does he not hold a referendum on the Presidency, either to make the office completely democratic such that it would be open to every citizen to stand which is not the case at present, or to abolish it on the grounds that it is a waste of money?

The importance of the position of President and the benefits to the State of the Presidency are clearly seen in the events of this week. Mrs. McAleese has been a most distinguished President. She and her husband have made an extraordinarily valuable contribution to the peace process. She has done enormous work to the benefit of the State in visits she has made to other countries. The Presidency has been established as an office of genuine value and importance. The key to that office is, of course, the person elected thereto. We have been very fortunate to have had the recent holders of that office. Therefore, I do not share the Deputy's view thereon.

With regard to bringing forward legislation, I agree with the Deputy on the merits of holding a considered referendum on judicial pay that would not interfere with the independence of the Judiciary, which is very important, but which would ensure changes in public pay across the public sector, or changes within what I would describe as grades with pay scales comparable to those of the Judiciary, were applied equally to the Judiciary. A referendum on this issue would receive substantial support from the majority of the people. I hope we will hold that referendum this year, but it is a matter for the Government to determine the date.

In the context of the other referenda mentioned by the Deputy, there is substantial work to be done in drafting legislation and teasing out the wording required in certain instances, for example, the referendum required arising from the Abbeylara judgment. We must ensure committees of this House have full and proper capacity to ask questions, obtain answers and publish reports, but we must not create a system in the House that would resemble the Star Chamber of many centuries ago. There is a balance to be prescribed in the legislation that must be given careful thought. It is legislation for which the Government has great enthusiasm. The Government has an enormous reforming agenda. Substantial legislation will be produced by my Department and others. An issue arises in ensuring adequate advice is obtained from the Office of the Attorney General and that office has time to consider the detail of what is emerging from each Department.

Magdalene Laundries

Michael Colreavy

Question:

44 Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which he will bring proposals to the Government outlining a reparations scheme for women who were imprisoned in Magdalene Laundries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11865/11]

I welcome the opportunity to speak to the House on this important issue. As many Members will know, I have long believed the issues raised by, or on behalf of, those women and girls who were resident in the Magdalene laundries must be fully investigated. I have great sympathy for the women concerned and want to help in bringing closure to this issue for the individuals concerned.

Senior officials from my Department previously met individuals who were resident in the laundries, with interest groups campaigning on their behalf. Their position is clearly understood and respected. My Department will continue to provide whatever assistance it can for individuals and groups seeking access to records which, it must be said, are, in many cases, poor and incomplete. It must also be said that there were many circumstances that led to women becoming resident in the laundries. Unfortunately, owing to the lapse of time and the lack of available records, there is a real difficulty in establishing the facts of what actually happened and the numbers involved. We know that there were ten Magdalene laundries in this jurisdiction which were privately run by four religious orders and predate the foundation of the State. It seems that the vast majority of females who entered or were placed in Magdalene laundries did so by private arrangements and without the direct involvement of the State. It was perhaps a sign of harsher times by today's standards, but it appears many of them entered owing to poverty, family or other circumstances.

As regards the criminal justice system, all of the available evidence at this stage suggests the number of women who entered such institutions through that system was small and that the periods of remand were for days rather than weeks or months. I am aware of only one such institution — St. Mary Magdalen's Asylum, Sean McDermott Street, Dublin — which was approved for use in October 1960 as a remand institution for female persons pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act 1960.

Like many Members, I read with interest the assessment published by the Human Rights Commission on 9 November 2010 of the request by the Justice for Magdalenes group to carry out an inquiry under section 9 of the Human Rights Commission Act 2000 into the treatment of women and girls who resided in Magdalene laundries. It recommended that a statutory mechanism be established to investigate the matters advanced by Justice for Magdalenes and, in appropriate cases, to grant redress where warranted. The Human Rights Commission did not carry out the inquiry it was requested to carry out by the group. The assessment of the commission was the subject of an Adjournment debate in this House on the same evening. As outlined to the House in that debate, the assessment raises issues for a range of Departments, as well as for the four religious congregations which operated the Magdalene institutions.

My Department, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, the role of which is to provide legal advice, has prepared a draft submission for the Government on the matter which I am considering and which I anticipate bringing before the Government shortly. As I said in recent replies to previous questions, a comprehensive examination of the facts is required. With that in mind, I intend to advance proposals.

I welcome the Minister's statement on the preparation of the draft submission he plans to bring before the Government. Has he any timeline in mind?

I expect to bring the matter before the Government by the end of the first week in June at the very latest, if not this month. I expect to be in a position to make certain announcements after my colleagues in government have had an opportunity to consider the matter. I hope matters will be advanced in a positive and helpful way as a consequence of the proposals that will be brought forward.

Global Intelligence Forum

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

45 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details of attendance of the Secretary General of his Department at the forthcoming Global Intelligence Forum in Dungarvan, County Waterford, in July; the nature of this conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11886/11]

Question No. 45 is in the name of Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett.

I call an tAire. Gabh mo leithscéal.

I would not want to deprive the Deputy of the opportunity to ask a supplementary question before he receives his first answer. If he would like to go ahead, I am quite happy to sit down and relax for a couple of moments. We seem to be going at a rate of knots at this stage.

The question is whether the Deputy will be wiser after hearing the Minister's response on the forum.

I know the Deputy is anticipating yet another conspiracy advanced by the US Government. I am anticipating the protest about capitalist imperialism and the possibility of demonstrations being held in Waterford. If the Deputy listens to the answer, perhaps he will be somewhat enlightened.

I am advised that my Department has accepted an invitation to be represented at the second annual Global Intelligence Forum. Intelligence, of course, is very important.

It is in short supply.

It is, indeed.

A well known legal phrase is, Res ipsa loquitur.

The Global Intelligence Forum is due to take place in Dungarvan from 11 to 13 July. I understand the forum which is organised by Mercyhurst College, in partnership with the Waterford local authorities — the Waterford local authorities have not yet been taken over by the CIA — is one of a number of outreach initiatives on which the college has embarked to capture best practices in the intelligence community. The annual forum focuses on key intelligence issues from a global perspective and will include speakers and participants from a number of countries in the areas of business, national security, history, law enforcement and government. I am satisfied that in the circumstances it is entirely appropriate for my Department to participate in the forum.

I hope the Minister in his responses will not resort to utterly false claims of anti-Americanism. For the record, and in response to the claims the Minister has made today, I am very pro-American and its history, culture and people, but I reserve the right to be critical of the American Government's foreign policy and other matters.

Could the Deputy ask a question now?

I am just stating that for the record, given the earlier unjustified comment.

What is the reason senior figures both in the Garda and from the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Defence are attending this conference with former directors of the CIA, former directors of military intelligence in the United States army and former senior figures from the FBI? Bizarrely, the intelligence conference is also being attended by the director of Treasury Holdings, one of the developers that helped bankrupt this country, and Mr. Frank Daly, the chairman of the National Asset Management Agency. Is it appropriate for high level officials from various Departments to attend such a spooks' conference with spooks from the CIA, FBI and so forth, as well as developers who have played such a malign role in our economic fortunes? Is it in line with this country's tradition of military neutrality to be involved in such a conference?

I would not wish to unduly upset the Deputy but it might not be a surprise to him to hear that "Spooks" is my favourite television programme. It is a great pity it is not on television at present. It should also not surprise the Deputy that there is substantial co-operation between us and the United States in dealing with organised crime and international terrorism. There is also substantial co-operation between us and our European Union partners and the British Government in addressing these issues. It is of great value and importance to this country that in counteracting a broad range of activities by organised criminals, be it drug importation or human trafficking, there is capacity to exchange intelligence, interact with each other and to learn best practice from each other.

Intelligence is a key aspect in all aspects of policing and national security, from day-to-day operational policing to the sophistication and complexity of investigations into organised crime. Good intelligence gathering and co-operation between democratic countries in acquiring intelligence are crucial in the engagement of a police force. It is important that my Department is fully informed of the best practices to apply in dealing with matters in the justice area. My Department, which has a primary strategic role in supporting the Garda Síochána in tackling crime and promoting a peaceful society, has a very substantial interest in participating in this conference and in consideration of issues related to intelligence gathering and analysis in the broadest sense, both from a practical and academic perspective.

The Secretary General of the Department received and accepted an invitation to speak at the conference, which is focused on best practices in the intelligence community. I presume the Deputy would not wish this country to operate as a solitary island in a vacuum and never engage with other countries in dealing with international crime and terrorism and issues in which we have an interest as a democratic society to protect both the State and the citizens of the State from those engaged in criminality.

Of course some of the issues the Minister mentioned are legitimate matters on which we must co-operate with other countries. However, there is a little more than that to the CIA. Does it not concern the Minister that the CIA is involved in illegal kidnapping, so-called renditions and has been involved in all sorts of manipulations in places such as the Middle East? It might well be involved in the activities of the Saudi regime, with which the US Government is so closely associated, in trying to crush a democratic movement in Bahrain. Are these the intelligence services we should mix with given that history? Why is there a requirement on delegates attending this conference not to write about their attendance or what takes place at the conference? There are to be no blogs about it and journalists are not allowed to attend. None of the content of the conference is allowed to emerge from it. Can the Minister explain why that is the case?

The Deputy is yet again revealing his eccentric and odd views of this world. He is overwhelmed personally with conspiracy theories and, despite denying it, an anti-US bias. He apparently loves the American people but does not want us to engage with or talk to them, which is an odd way of viewing the world.

This is the second year that Mercyhurst College, which is based in Pennsylvania, has organised an academic outreach event in Dungarvan. It is a great benefit to Dungarvan that such events are organised. The event is organised in partnership with the Waterford local authorities. There is nothing covert or underhand about it. Indeed, if the Deputy wishes to find more information about it, he should look at the Mercyhurst College website at www.mercyhurst.edu.

Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.

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