Finian McGrath
Question:178. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the crime and break-ins on Dollymount Beach, Dublin 3 [9853/14]
View answerCrime Prevention
Questions (178)
Written answers
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the area referred to is within the Raheny and Clontarf Sub-Districts and that local Garda management closely monitors the incidence of criminality in the area and put in place appropriate responses.
In particular, An Garda Síochána has implemented a number of proactive initiatives to prevent thefts from vehicles in the area. New signage has been provided and Community Policing Units also perform information checkpoints in the area and have distributed crime prevention leaflets.
Current policing plans are designed to address these and other instances of crime and public order offences, as identified through analysis of the incidence of crime in the area. In this regard, local Garda management liaise with Dublin City Council on an ongoing basis and liaison has also been established with the Dublin Bus, Dart management, and Fingal County Council, all of whom have provided assistance to An Garda Síochána in managing these issues. Extra resources have been deployed to the policing of these public amenities in addition to regular policing duties and patrols.
Local Garda Management closely monitors such patrols, and other operational strategies in place, in conjunction with crime trends and policing needs of the community in the area, and all those who make use of these public amenities, to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.
Money Laundering
Questions (179)
Michael McGrath
Question:179. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of convictions for money laundering and the total sums involved in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9878/14]
View answerWritten answers
The following figures indicate the number of money laundering incidents recorded, detected with proceedings commenced and convictions for years 2010 to 2013. It is not possible to provide the Deputy with the total sums involved for each year as this information would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to compile.
|
Year |
Recorded |
Detected |
Proceedings Commenced |
Convictions |
|
2013 |
9 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
|
2012 |
7 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
|
2011 |
21 |
19 |
5 |
2 |
|
2010 |
17 |
14 |
2 |
1 |
Road Traffic Offences
Questions (180, 183, 184)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:180. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1244 of 18 September 2012, if he will provide an update on specific enforcement operations targeting learner drivers in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority and other relevant stakeholders; and the number of cautions issued or proceedings commenced as part of any such operations from July 2012 to date. [9884/14]
View answerThomas P. Broughan
Question:183. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of learner drivers who received a caution for failure to display L plates and the number of learner drivers who received a caution for driving unaccompanied by a qualified driver for 2012 and 2013. [9887/14]
View answerThomas P. Broughan
Question:184. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality for the years 2012 and 2013, the number of learner drivers who have been summoned to court for failing to display L plates and-or for driving unaccompanied by a qualified driver; the number of persons convicted on foot of these summonses; the average fine imposed on the learner drivers appearing in court for these offences after having been convicted; and if any learner driver has received the maximum fine of €1,000 for these offences. [9888/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 183 and 184 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that 'Operation Learner Driver ' is a specific Garda operation which is conducted regularly with a particular focus on ensuring compliance with all the conditions of holding such a permit, as well as improved road safety generally. I am informed that the Garda authorities will conduct one such operation per quarter during 2014, in addition of course to other ongoing road traffic enforcement operations generally.
Table 1 sets out the information provided by the Courts Service as sought by the Deputy in relation to drivers holding a provisional learner driver permit who were summonsed to court in 2012 and 2013 in respect of the offence of failing to display 'L' plates on a vehicle. The information provided includes persons summonsed to court arising from 'Operation Learner Driver' and other ongoing Garda road traffic enforcement activity.
Table 1: Provisional Learner Driver failing to display 'L' plates on a vehicle
|
Year |
No. of drivers summonsed to court |
No. of drivers convicted |
Average fine imposed |
No. of drivers where maximum fine imposed |
|
2012 |
2,628 |
585 |
€137.29 |
1 |
|
2013 |
2,611 |
584 |
€123.18 |
None |
I am further informed that Table 2 sets out the information sought in relation to drivers holding a provisional learner driver permit who were summonsed to court in 2012 and 2013 in respect of the offence of driving while unaccompanied by a qualified driver. As above, the information provided includes persons summonsed to court arsing from 'Operation Learner Driver' and other ongoing Garda road traffic enforcement activity.
Table 2: Provisional Learner Driver driving while unaccompanied by a qualified driver
|
Year |
No. of drivers summonsed to court |
No. of drivers convicted |
Average fine imposed |
No. of drivers where maximum fine imposed |
|
2012 |
2,954 |
675 |
€151.76 |
1 |
|
2013 |
2,900 |
661 |
€123.18 |
None |
I am also advised by the Garda authorities that it would require a disproportionate amount of Garda resources to provide the information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of cautions issued to learner drivers in respect of the offences referred to as this information is not recorded on a centralised database.
Road Traffic Accidents Data
Questions (181)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:181. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of single vehicle fatal and serious collisions for the years 2012 and 2013; the number of such collisions that involved learner drivers; and, of the learner drivers involved, the number of learner drivers driving unaccompanied by a qualified driver and or without L plates. [9885/14]
View answerWritten answers
I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as the report is to hand.
Road Traffic Accidents Data
Questions (182)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:182. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of learner drivers who were involved in fatal and serious collisions in 2012 and 2013; and the number of these learner drivers who were unaccompanied by a qualified driver at the time of the collisions. [9886/14]
View answerWritten answers
I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matter referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as the report is to hand.
Questions Nos. 183 and 184 answered with Question No. 180.
Charities Regulation
Questions (185)
Anne Ferris
Question:185. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on concerns that an interim charity regulator lacks sufficient authority to bring about change in the sector; if he plans on tasking the new charity regulator with a broad remit to instil a rights based culture and set standards for management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9907/14]
View answerWritten answers
The remit of the Charities Regulatory Authority that is to be established under the Charities Act of 2009 is set out in detail in the Act. This remit encompasses a number of functions of relevance to the Deputy's question. The functions of the Authority as set out in the Act shall be to:
(a) increase public trust and confidence in the management and administration of charitable trusts and charitable organisations;
(b) promote compliance by charity trustees with their duties in the control and management of charitable trusts and charitable organisations;
(c) promote the effective use of the property of charitable trusts or charitable organisations;
(d) ensure the accountability of charitable organisations to donors and beneficiaries of charitable gifts, and the public;
(e) promote understanding of the requirement that charitable purposes confer a public benefit;
(f) establish and maintain a register of charitable organisations;
(g) ensure and monitor compliance by charitable organisations with this Act;
(h) carry out investigations in accordance with this Act;
(i) encourage and facilitate the better administration and management of charitable organisations by the provision of information or advice, including in particular by way of issuing (or, as it considers appropriate, approving) guidelines, codes of conduct, and model constitutional documents;
(j) carry on such activities or publish such information (including statistical information) concerning charitable organisations and trusts as it considers appropriate; and
(k) provide information (including statistical information) or advice, or make proposals, to the Minister on matters relating to the functions of the Authority.
With respect to the Board of the Authority, I have indicated my intention to appoint the Members by Easter. In preparation for this, an open call for expressions of interest from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for appointment has been made. With respect to the staffing of the Authority, arrangements are being made by my Department to assign an initial staff to the Authority, from within existing resources, in line with sanctions received from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This will include a Chief Executive Designate who, as provided for in the Act, will become the first Chief Executive of the Authority.
An early priority for the new Authority will be the preparation and publication of a statutory register of charities. All registered charities will be required to provide reports to the Authority each year on their activities and these reports will be made available to the public. This will provide a much needed increase in transparency and accountability in the charitable sector, and will support the good practice in charity governance and management that is critical to a vibrant charity sector that commands the trust and confidence of donors and beneficiaries alike.
Criminal Prosecutions
Questions (186)
Anne Ferris
Question:186. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the head of Child and Family Agency’s suggestion that criminal records be wiped at 18 except for the most serious offences; if officials in his Department have considered proposals along these lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9908/14]
View answerWritten answers
Section 258 of the Children Act 2001, as amended, provides a 'non-disclosure' regime for child offenders after a 3-year conviction-free period. This non-disclosure regime does not apply to serious offences which are required to be tried by the Central Criminal Court.