Written Answers Nos. 117-121
117. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his view on the suggestion that a condition of the granting of drink licences to pubs and restaurants would be the mandatory stocking of non-alcoholic beer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53178/13]
View answerThe position is that statutory provisions governing the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol products in licensed premises, including public houses and restaurants, is set out in the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2011. While the sale and supply of alcohol products in such premises is subject to specific conditions set out in the Licensing Acts, these conditions do not currently specify that such sale or supply is also subject to the availability of non-alcoholic beverages. Many licensed premises already provide a broad range of non-alcoholic alternative beverages in response to consumer demand and I would strongly encourage all licensed premises to do so. I would, however, be reluctant to impose a statutory obligation concerning the availability of specified products on licensed premises since there may be little local demand for any such product and such a provision would place an additional enforcement burden on the Gardaí.
118. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current location of a file (details supplied) apparently recalled by the Department on 6 October 1995; the reason the file was recalled; and the provision, under section 8(4) of the National Archives Act 1986, which provided the basis for closing the Department's prisoner files from public inspection. [53181/13]
View answerI am having enquiries made and will revert to the Deputy in due course.
119. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if and when the Irish Prison Service will publish an implementation plan for the second year of its strategic plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53208/13]
View answerI have been informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the Implementation Plan for Year Two of the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012 to 2015 is being finalised as part of the business planning process for 2014 and will be published on the Service's website (www.irishprisons.ie) shortly.
120. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason all the data requested with regard to a loss of earnings application in respect of a person (details supplied) have not been supplied to the financial shared services centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53209/13]
View answerMy Department's Financial Shared Services (FSS) centre received certain information from the Garda authorities that has facilitated the calculation of notional earnings for the period since the retirement of the person (details supplied) in August 2004 and these figures were sent to the person's solicitor on 28th August 2013. The solicitor's request for the calculation of notional earnings for periods of absence from work prior to the person's retirement cannot be progressed by my Department until the FSS receives further information from the Garda authorities. I understand that the Garda authorities are currently examining the relevant records in order to progress this matter.
121. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the actions the Department will take to address the findings and recommendations contained in the recent interim report of the Inspector of Prisons on the Dóchas Centre; and in particular the actions that will be taken to address overcrowding in the prison. [53221/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that on receipt of the interim report from the Inspector of Prisons I met with the Director General of the Irish Prison Service, Michael Donnellan, and discussed the content of the Report with him. The Director General assured me that the concerns raised by the Inspector will be dealt with. In particular, concerns raised in terms of the general maintenance of the Dóchas Centre and housekeeping matters have been addressed. In addition, a major refurbishment programme has been undertaken by the Irish Prison Service to upgrade kitchens and the reception area.
In April 2012, I published the Irish Prison Service 3 year Strategic Plan. This strategy sets out the overall high level objectives and key strategic actions the Irish Prison Service intends to take during the period 2012 to 2015. One of the commitments given in the Strategy is that the Irish Prison Service will work in partnership with the Probation Service and other stakeholders in the statutory, community and voluntary sectors in order to develop a strategy for dealing with women offenders. It is intended to align the capacity of our prisons with the guidelines laid down by the Inspector of Prisons by 2014, in so far as this is compatible with public safety and the integrity of the criminal justice system.
In this regard, I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service and Probation Service published a joint Strategic Plan for 2013-2015. Both agencies are working together to develop a strategy which ensures a more targeted response to women offenders including:
- identifying and diverting women at risk of a custodial sentence through greater use of community sanctions, supports and inter-agency co-operation;
- strengthening early intervention measures in the community through adopting a co-ordinated multi-agency approach;
- improving outcomes for women currently in custody;
- exploring the potentials of women centric alternatives to custody;
- development of a suitable step down facility for women offenders, a pathway such as this from the Dóchas Centre to the community would have a positive effect on reducing the numbers in the Dóchas Centre;
- enhanced co-operation with the community and voluntary sector.
In addition in September 2012, I announced the establishment of a Working Group to conduct a Strategic Review of Penal Policy. In line with a recommendation of the Thornton Hall Review Group which reported in 2012, the Working Group has been asked to carry out an all encompassing strategic review of penal policy incorporating an examination and analysis of all aspects of penal policy including the issue of female prisoners. This Review is ongoing and the Working Group is expected to report early next year.
