Written Answers Nos. 175 - 183
175. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if training or guidance is provided for judges in dealing with victims in the course of the criminal justice process, particularly with respect to the victims of sexual offences. [11880/13]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the Committee for Judicial Studies has responsibility for the ongoing training of the Judiciary. My function as Minister under the Courts and Courts Officers Act 1995 is, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to provide funds for the training and education of judges.
I am informed that the Committee for Judicial Studies organises conferences, seminars and lectures on legal subjects for members of the judiciary. The object is to enhance knowledge and understanding of law and legal principles among judges with particular regard to new developments in the law, including legislation. Seminars on discrete topics may also be organised for each jurisdiction. On occasion, groups of judges meet to discuss current legal issues. The Committee also nominates judges to attend international conferences on legal topics where relevant. I understand that over recent years judges have participated in seminars on a range of subjects related to sexual crime including the needs of victims.
176. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has given consideration to putting the Court of Criminal Appeal on a more permanent footing to allow for greater clarity in sentencing policy. [11881/13]
View answerThe allocation of the business of the courts, scheduling of court cases and the management of court lists are matters for the judiciary and the Presidents of the courts. The Deputy will be aware that judges are, subject to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. The Deputy may be aware that I recently announced the Government's intention to establish a permanent Court of Appeal with both criminal and civil jurisdiction. This will incorporate the existing Court of Criminal Appeal. The Government is committed to the holding of a Constitutional referendum on Article 34 which is necessary to achieve this and work has commenced in my Department in this regard. It is intended that the referendum will take place, together with at least one other referendum, in the autumn.
178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which sufficient Garda resources remain available in both urban and rural areas to combat the activities of criminal gangs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11896/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public. The Garda budget for 2013 is €1.412 billion which is a significant amount of money despite the financial constraints under which we operate.
In relation to Garda numbers, these have been reducing due to the moratorium on recruitment introduced by the previous Government and the current strength is just under 13,400. My objective, despite the enormous financial issues facing the Government, is to ensure that Garda numbers will not fall below 13,000 and I will be bringing relevant proposals to Cabinet in the coming weeks.
Operation Fiacla was set up by the Garda Commissioner and is particularly focused on identifying and targeting mobile gangs involved in burglaries around the country. In the period to the end of February 2013 it resulted in 4,226 persons being arrested and 2,327 persons being charged. In addition, the latest quarterly figures for burglary suggest that Operation Fiacla is having an impact, when compared with the quarterly figures prior to its introduction. Indeed the most recent crime figures show that the number of aggravated burglaries is down when compared with the previous 12 months. The Commissioner has made it clear that where resources are needed to combat serious and organised crime, those resources will be made available.
180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the various forms of crime continue to be monitored and appropriate action taken to address any trends emerging in all areas throughout the country, urban and rural; if he has in mind any particular or specific strategies to deal with the issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11898/13]
View answerAll crime trends are monitored on an ongoing basis by the Garda authorities and relevant policing strategies are designed and implemented as required. The Garda National Policing Plan for 2013, which I laid before the House last December, sets out the policing priorities and objectives for the current year. The Plan is designed to meet the policing needs of all communities, in urban and rural areas, including active community engagement in the development of policing strategies and concerted efforts to support and protect vulnerable sections of the community.
Under the Plan, An Garda Síochána also continues to vigorously tackle organised crime through a range of targeted activities designed to disrupt and dismantle the operations of criminal organisations, including through the use of focused intelligence led operations by specialist Garda units. Notwithstanding the challenges faced in tackling organised crime, week in week out the Garda are successfully bringing people involved in this type of criminality before the courts and a substantial number are presently serving sentences in prison.
Other examples of particular strategies adopted by the Gardai in recent times include Operation Fiacla which is particularly focused on identifying and targeting mobile gangs involved in burglaries. The latest quarterly figures from the Central Statistics Office for burglary suggest that Operation Fiacla is having an impact, when compared with the quarterly figures prior to its introduction, and I am hopeful that the success of the operation will be continue to be reflected in future crime statistics as they become available. I am informed that as of end February 2013, 4,226 persons have been arrested and 2,327 persons have been charged under Operation Fiacla, reflecting the extent of the operation and the impact it is having.
Gardaí also continue to work closely with all communities to enhance community safety through a wide range of local fora including the Joint Policing Committees and through community based initiatives such as Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch. There are over 1,300 local Community Alert groups around the country. The signing, in January this year, of an updated Memorandum of Understanding between An Garda Síochána and Muíntir na Tíre who administer the Community Alert programme further underlines the Garda commitment in this area. Furthermore a new Garda Community Crime Prevention Programmes booklet has been published to support the establishment and operation of Community Alert, Neighbourhood Watch and similar local crime prevention initiatives.
Another area of concern has been the incidence of metal theft and, building on their existing crime prevention operations and advice, An Garda Síochána published a new Metal Theft Crime Prevention and Reduction Plan, on 6 February 2013. The Garda Plan was developed in close cooperation with stakeholders who participated in a metal theft forum and it is designed to provide for an effective and multi-agency response to the problem. The publication of the Garda Plan is an important first step in providing a strategic framework to tackle the rise of metal theft.
More generally, local Garda Management closely monitors patrols, and other operational strategies in place, in conjunction with crime trends and policing needs of the communities in areas to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public. The situation is kept under review and paramount consideration is given to the needs of residents in our communities. Garda Management is satisfied that a full and comprehensive policing service is being delivered to communities and that current structures in place meet the requirements of the delivery of an effective and efficient policing service.
181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of known criminal gangs currently operating throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11899/13]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that organised crime is constantly evolving and adapting to take advantage of the prevailing social and economic climate. With regard to organised crime structures in this jurisdiction, I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently two categories of organised crime groups operating in the jurisdiction. The first category consists of groups that are well established and tightly structured and who are involved in offences such as drug trafficking, armed robbery and firearms offences. The second category involves groups who are characterised by less cohesive group structures and whose criminal activities are mainly confined to Ireland.
In the circumstances, and taking into account the disparate and constantly evolving nature of the groups involved, it is not possible to give a reliable figure for the number of gangs operating at a specific time. The operation of these groups is monitored on an ongoing basis by An Garda Síochána and, where relevant, information is disseminated at a European level to Europol. I can assure the Deputy that addressing organised crime remains a key ongoing priority for both the Government and An Garda Síochána. This priority is clearly reflected in the Garda Policing Plan for 2013 which sets out the continued commitment of An Garda Síochána to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in organised criminal activities.
182. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the full extent of cost-cutting measures undertaken by his Department which arise directly from the commitment entered into by his predecessors in the context of the memorandum of understanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11900/13]
View answerThe Vote for my Department is one of 5 Votes in the Justice and Equality Sector Group for estimates and expenditure purposes. As the Deputy will be aware, the Justice and Equality Sector has had to sustain reductions in budgets and resources in order to contribute to the rectification of our national finances. The details of the expenditure reductions for the entire sector are contained in the estimates material published for Budget 2012 and Budget 2013 and in broad monetary terms, the current expenditure reductions come to €100 million in 2012 and a further €62.3 million in 2013. All areas of the Department and the entire sector are engaged in a comprehensive reform programme and a range of cost reduction measures have been put in place. The overriding principle is to seek to ensure that essential public services are delivered in as efficient and cost effective a manner as possible notwithstanding the reductions in resources.
183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether Garda strength can be retained in line with requirements, notwithstanding having to live within the curtailment of the memorandum of understanding entered into by his predecessors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11901/13]
View answerGarda numbers have been reducing due to the moratorium on recruitment. My objective, despite the enormous financial pressures facing the Government is to ensure that Garda numbers will not fall below 13,000. I have informed my Cabinet colleagues that I am reviewing the position regarding Garda strength in light of an estimated reduction to just over 13,000 by the end of 2013, and, in this context, I will be bringing all relevant proposals to Cabinet in the coming weeks.
