Written Answers Nos. 148-153
148. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has reviewed the new evidence in relation to the Stardust tragedy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6983/14]
View answer157. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider reopening the Stardust inquiry in view of new evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7197/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 157 together.
As I have previously indicated, nothing I have seen in the extensive correspondence from the Stardust Victims Committee to date, including the considerable volume of correspondence circulated recently, would be grounds for my taking a different view to the conclusions set out in the Independent Examination by Mr. Paul Coffey. That is, in the absence of any identified evidence, the most another inquiry could achieve would be another set of hypothetical findings, which would not be in the public interest.
It had been indicated in reported statements that the Committee intended to present a submission concerning the cause of the fire on the occasion of the forthcoming anniversary. Whether at that time, or at any other point, I will of course arrange for the examination as appropriate of any such submission, and for a response to issue to the Committee in due course.
In saying this I should caution against raising unrealistic expectations about what can be achieved or appearing to suggest that the outcome of the Coffey examination can be set aside, simply on the basis that his conclusions are not accepted by some.
150. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a list of bodies under the aegis of his Department in respect of Government policy for which he is responsible for answering parliamentary questions pursuant to Standing Order 34. [7005/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Standing Order 34 requires that Questions addressed to a member of the Government must relate to public affairs connected with his or her Department, or to matters of administration for which he or she is officially responsible, including bodies under the aegis of his or her Department in respect of Government policy. The following is a list of independent statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department which are comprehended by Standing Order 34 in respect of Government policy:
An Garda Síochána
Courts Service
Equality Authority and Human Rights Commission
Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
Insolvency Service of Ireland
Irish Film Classification Office
Legal Aid Board
Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board
National Disability Authority
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
Office of the Inspector of Prisons
Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner
Private Security Authority
Property Registration Authority
Property Services Regulatory Authority
Refugee Appeals Tribunal.
In addition, I wish to advise the Deputy that there are a number of other bodies, of varying size and scale, which are not statutorily independent. Accordingly, I also have responsibility for answering Parliamentary Questions in respect of these bodies. These include:
Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal;
Forensic Science Laboratory;
INIS (the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service), including the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) ;
Irish Prison Service;
Parole Board;
Probation Service;
State Pathologist's Office; and
a number of Executive Offices, namely -
Anti-Human Trafficking Unit
COSC
Irish Youth Justice Service (in respect of those matters not falling within the policy competency of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs)
Office for Internet Safety; and
Victims of Crime Office.
151. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a list of bodies to which he has the authority to appoint board members. [7020/14]
View answerI am interpreting the Deputy’s question in a broad manner so as to provide the information which I believe he is seeking.
To be of assistance to the Deputy I have interpreted his question as embracing all bodies called Boards, irrespective of their functions, as well as other bodies with a governance remit whose title does not include the term “Board”. In addition, I have included all bodies where at least one Ministerial appointment can be made to the Board.
Details of all such bodies/boards are detailed below:
- Classification of Films Appeal Board
- Courts Service Board
- Judicial Appointments Advisory Board
- Legal Aid Board
- Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board
- National Disability Authority (NDA)
- Parole Board
- Private Security Authority (PSA)
- Property Registration Authority
- Property Services Regulatory Authority
- The Equality Authority.
While I do not regard the following entities as boards, even within the broad definition of board defined above, for the purpose of transparency I have listed below two other bodies to which Ministerial appointment can be made. They are as follows:
- Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland
- Committee to monitor the effectiveness of the Garda Diversion Programme under Section 44 of the Children Act 2001 (as amended).
152. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a list of all specific new powers or functions conferred on local authorities by legislation under his area since June 2009 and a reference to the specific section or regulation in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7035/14]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that, in the time frame referred to, there have been no new powers or functions conferred on local authorities by legislation under the remit of my Department.
