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Wednesday, 13 Mar 2013

Written Answers Nos. 163-170

Garda Recruitment

Questions (163)

Billy Timmins

Question:

163. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the maximum age limit for entry to An Garda Síochána and recruitment into the force this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13335/13]

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Written answers

Admission as a trainee Garda is contingent on the prospective applicant being under 35 years of age. There are no plans to change this at the present time.

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Questions (164)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

164. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he expects to sign a commencement order for the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012; if all sections of the Act will be commenced simultaneously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13344/13]

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Written answers

I am currently in consultation with other Departments with a view to determining the appropriate date to commence the Act. I will make a further announcement about the commencement once the appropriate date has been determined.

Garda Vetting Applications

Questions (165)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

165. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the type of information disclosed on an application for Garda vetting and specifically if it is only convictions which are disclosed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13345/13]

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Written answers

Garda Vetting Disclosures are made to registered organisations following the signed authorisation of a vetting subject permitting the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) to disclose to the registered organisation a statement that there are no convictions recorded against them in the State or elsewhere, or a statement of all convictions and /or prosecutions successful or not, pending or completed, in the State or elsewhere as the case may be. It is, of course, a matter for the registered organisation to make decisions on the suitability of persons.

Court Procedures

Questions (166)

Gerry Adams

Question:

166. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if it is possible for victims to receive a copy of the book of evidence or of trial transcripts following the conclusion of the trial process. [13346/13]

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Written answers

In accordance with the Court Officers Act, 1926 all documents and papers lodged in court in relation to or in the course of a hearing are held by or at the order and disposal of the presiding judge. It is therefore a matter for the courts as to whether a book of evidence or a transcript (where such exists) may be provided to any person. The Deputy will appreciate that judges are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, subject only to the Constitution and the law and I have no function in the matter.

Witness Security Programme

Questions (167)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

167. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the budget allocated to the Garda witness protection programme for the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13379/13]

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Written answers

The budget allocated to the Witness Security Programme as reflected in the Appropriation Accounts for the years 2009 - 2012 is set out in the table.

Year

Estimate Provision

2009

€0.498 million

2010

€0.700 million

2011

€0.700 million

2012

€1.198 million

The provision for 2013 is expected to be the same as 2012.

The Garda Síochána operates a Witness Security Programme to respond to attempts by criminal and other groups to prevent the normal functioning of the criminal justice system, including threats of violence and systematic intimidation of witnesses. By virtue of the highly confidential nature of the Programme and the need to maintain the protection of persons in that Programme, it is not the policy nor would it be appropriate to detail the specifics of its operation. I can say, however, that it is being operated in a significant number of cases and it has proven its worth over the years in helping to secure the conviction of very serious organised crime leaders.

Garda Transport

Questions (168)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

168. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and type of Garda vehicles actively available to gardaí in the R and J districts at present; the number and type of Garda vehicles actively available to these districts in each year over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13380/13]

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Written answers

Decisions in relation to the provision and deployment of Garda transport are matters for the Garda Commissioner. Responsibility for the efficient deployment of official Garda vehicles in each Division is assigned to the Divisional Officer, who may allocate vehicles between stations, as required by operational circumstances.

The Deputy will appreciate that a degree of flexibility in allocating and re-allocating vehicles among stations, so as to best match the allocation of resources with policing priorities, is essential to the efficient management of the Garda fleet.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested by the Deputy is as detailed in the following table:

Area

Cars/Vans    

Year

Year

Other

Year

Year

-

11/03/13

2012

2011

11/03/13

2012

2011

R District

30

30

29

0

0

1

J District

17

18

19

1

1

2

Court Orders

Questions (169)

Clare Daly

Question:

169. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to allegations of a miscarriage of justice in respect of a person (details supplied); the position regarding an application for legal aid under section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13399/13]

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Written answers

An application to the Court may be made, in certain circumstances, under section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993 for an order quashing a conviction or reviewing a sentence. I have no function in relation to such matters. Similarly, the consideration of applications for legal aid is a matter for the courts.

Overseas Missions

Questions (170)

Seán Crowe

Question:

170. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Defence when Irish troops will be sent to Mali; and the role they will perform. [8852/13]

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Written answers

On 26 February 2013, the Government approved the deployment of approximately eight (8) members of the Permanent Defence Force to the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali), which has been authorised by the United Nations under UN Security Council Resolution 2071 (2012), to provide military training to the Malian Armed Forces.

The Irish personnel to be deployed to EUTM Mali have completed their pre-deployment training. The exact date of the Irish deployment to Mali is yet to be confirmed. However, we expect this date to be confirmed by the European Union on 15 March 2013. It is expected that Irish personnel will deploy into the mission area circa 23 March 2013.

The Irish contribution to the mission will comprise three (3) officers and five (5) Non commissioned officers. One (1) Staff Officer will deploy to the Mission Headquarters in Bamako and another to the training camp Headquarters in Koulikoro. The remaining six (6) personnel who constitute the Defence Forces training team will also deploy to the training camp in Koulikoro and will form part of a joint infantry training team with the United Kingdom armed forces.

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