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Wednesday, 5 Mar 2014

Written Answers Nos. 148-153

Passport Services

Questions (148)

Ciara Conway

Question:

148. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of emergency travel documents his Department had to issue over the past five years for children under one year of age; the countries from which the children were travelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11115/14]

View answer

Written answers

The information sought by the Deputy is not available as it is not recorded in a manner that indicates the number of travel documents by the age of those in receipt of them.

The total number of travel documents issued in each of the years in question is set out in the following table:

Year

1951 UN Convention

Travel Document

2009

4872

896

2010

1967

250

2011

1218

694

2012

1392

968

2013

388

669

Legislative Measures

Questions (149)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

149. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the publication of the criminal justice (proceeds of crime) Bill; the anticipated areas the Bill will cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11119/14]

View answer

Written answers

An Expert Group, established under the auspices of my Department, is currently engaged in a comprehensive review of the Proceeds of Crime legislation with a view to identifying possible improvements which would serve to strengthen the operation of the Criminal Assets Bureau.

When the work of the Expert Group concludes proposals will in due course be brought forward for inclusion in the Criminal Justice (Proceeds of Crime) Bill.

Further to that work, a broader review of proceeds of crime legislation is now underway which will examine the recommendations contained in the Mahon Planning Tribunal Report concerning asset recovery and confiscation, and which will also take account of the recently negotiated EU Directive on the freezing and confiscation of proceeds of crime in the European Union which is expected to be finalised in the coming months.

Public Inquiries

Questions (150)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

150. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the report presented to him by the Omagh Support and Self Help Group which calls for a public inquiry into the bombing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11159/14]

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Written answers

The Omagh Support and Self-Help Group presented to the Irish and British Governments a report which it had compiled setting out certain matters relating to the atrocity at Omagh which it considered to be of concern and calling for a public inquiry into those matters.

I am currently in the process of finalising a detailed consideration of the matters raised by the Omagh Group in its document insofar as they relate to this State and to the Garda Síochána. I will conclude this process shortly and once I have done so I will communicate directly with the Omagh Group.

The Deputy will be aware that the British Government decided that it does not does not propose to hold a public inquiry into certain matters surrounding the Omagh bombing raised by the group. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has stated to the group that she does not believe there are sufficient grounds to justify a further review or inquiry above and beyond those that have already taken place or are ongoing.

Magdalen Laundries

Questions (151)

Mick Wallace

Question:

151. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in relation to the Magdalen laundries ex gratia scheme, the date on which women can expect pensions and health care; if women living abroad will receive health care coverage; if health care coverage will include private hospitals and services as currently enjoyed by Health (Amendment) Act cardholders; if and when an independent dedicated unit and helpline will be put in place to assist survivors; if the Government will set up a truth-finding investigation to establish the facts of the Magdalen laundries, as distinct from the McAleese committee which was set up to establish the facts of State involvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11164/14]

View answer

Written answers

I refer the Deputy to my replies to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 557 and 564 for written answer on 25 February, 2014.

The Government has no plans to establish a "truth-finding investigation to establish the facts of the Magdalene Laundries, as distinct from the McAleese Committee". The Government is satisfied that the McAleese report provides an independent, comprehensive and factual account of the Magdalen institutions.

QUESTION NO: 557

Chun an Aire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais

To the Minister for Justice and Equality

QUESTION: *To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Magdalene Redress Scheme. - Mary Lou McDonald

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 25th February, 2014.

ANSWER:

All 12 of Judge Quirke's recommendations are being addressed. Priority is being given to processing applications and making lump sum payments. As the deputy is aware, within my own Department a unit of 9 officials is working full time on engaging with the women and processing applications. They are available to answer any queries the women may have in relation to the Scheme.

Under the Scheme, 705 applications have been received to date. 320 letters of formal offer have issued. So far, 225 of the applicants have accepted the formal offer and 196 payments have issued at a cost of €7 million.

In addition to the lump sum payment each woman is entitled to a top up payment to bring her weekly income from the State to €230.30 if aged 66 or over and €100 if under that age. The Department of Social Protection is establishing a separate scheme in order to give effect to this recommendation and I have been informed that this will be in place by the middle of this year. However, the payments will be backdated to the 1st August 2013 so the women will not be at a loss.

Legislation relating to taxation issues has already been addressed. It has been agreed that my Department would coordinate legislation to implement Judge Quirke's other recommendations where legislation is required. The necessary legislation is included on the priority list of the Government Legislation Programme for the Spring/Summer 2014. One aspect to be dealt with by this Bill is Judge Quirke's recommendations that legislation should be introduced to give effect to his recommendation with regard to the provision of medical services to the women who were admitted to and worked in the relevant institutions. Details of exactly what services will be provided, how they will be provided and where they will be provided is being determined by the Department of Health. My officials are working with that Department in finalising the drafting of the necessary legislative provisions as quickly as possible.

QUESTION NO: 564

Chun an Aire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais

To the Minister for Justice and Equality

QUESTION: *To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason has the dedicated unit and helpline for the survivors of the Magdalene laundries as recommended by Justice Quirke not been set up to assist the survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Joan Collins

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 25th February, 2014.

ANSWER:

The Government's first priority is to facilitate the processing of applications under the Scheme and to implement those measures necessary to provide the individual benefits recommended by Judge Quirke to those women who were admitted to and worked in the institutions in question. To this end, on the 5th November 2013, the Government agreed to the payments and services to be provided on an individual basis to the women who came within the scope of the scheme.

Within my own Department, a unit of 9 officials is working full time on engaging with the women and processing applications. They are available to answer any queries the women may have in relation to the Scheme.

Decisions on establishing a permanent and separate dedicated unit, its role and method of operation have not been finalised as yet. Further consideration will be given to this recommendation when more progress has been made on the processing of applications and on the provision of payments and benefits.

Garda Transport Data

Questions (152)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

152. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of additional vehicles in the fleet of An Garda Síochána fitted with automatic number plate recognition in the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [11165/14]

View answer

Written answers

Decisions regarding the deployment of automated number plate technology within the Garda fleet are a matter for the Garda Commissioner, based on operational requirements.

In that context I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 1st March 2014 there were 116 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) units fitted in official Garda vehicles.

I am also advised that, arising from operational circumstances, the number of fitted ANPR units varies on an on-going basis - e.g. due to the repair/maintenance of the equipment, the need to update the relevant software and the decommissioning of units at the appropriate stage.

Accordingly, the Garda authorities have indicated that they are not in a position to provide the specific information requested by the Deputy.

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Questions (153)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

153. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form, the total expenditure by his Department on external consultancy advice services, including legal services, in 2011, 2012 and 2013; if this spend is in line with the overall value for money objective of his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11189/14]

View answer

Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that the total expenditure by my Department on external consultancy advice services, including legal services during the period 2011 to 2013 are detailed below. The Deputy may wish to note that legal services provided externally are not in the nature of a consultancy. They are, in essence, more in the nature of a contract for services.

Name

Purpose

Duration

Cost (€)

RSM McClure Watters

An evaluation of the Equality for Women Measure 2008-2013, a positive action measure co-financed by the ESF; as measured against the programme’s original stated objectives.

August 2013 -

December 2013

34,820

The Communications Clinic

Employed on a once-off basis to facilitate at a consultation event with the Deaf Community.

November 2013

*1,374

Kane Touhy Solicitors

Solicitors fees for Ringrose v Minister for Justice

July 2012

103,032

Michael Whelan

Chairperson of the Working Group on the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

October 2011 - April 2012

9,376

McCann Fitzgerald, Solicitors

Legal advice on insolvency issues for development of the Insolvency Bill 2012

July 2012 - December 2012

495,232

RITS

Specific tasks relating to IT Security

- Applications risk analysis

- Penetration test and security review

- IT security audit of FMS system

2013 1 day

2012 5 days

2012 3 days

2,102

6,090

4,738

RITS Bianconi Research Ltd.

Required to conduct various perimeter ICT security reviews (Penetration Testing) & to review & report on the integrity of the Department's existing security infrastructure & other applications Department-wide.

1 September 2011 -

1 September 2014

20,624

SAM360/Openplain

Microsoft Software Licence Review/Audit

1 November 2011 -

28 February 2014

6,458

Hibernia Evros

Enterprise Design Architect to review options for datacentre re-build

Drawn down from a contract for Temporary ICT Personnel valid from 28 October 2011 to 27 October 2015

24,631

Professor Gisli Gudjonsson and

Dr John Pearse

To assist with the work of the Smyth Advisory Committee to advise the Minister on any changes in the law or practice in relation to interviewing suspects held in Garda custody.

Ongoing since December 2011 and it is expected that their work will continue in 2014

29,532

(£Stg)

Ms. Joanne Williams BL

Provision of legal researcher/assistant services to help with projects relating to the work of the Smyth Advisory Committee

March 2013, 1 year contract

2,393

Dermot Foley, Safecon Training & Consultancy

The preparation of a Safety Statement and Risk Assessment Investigation.

January - May 2012

984

The Institute of Public Administration

Mid-term review of National Strategy on Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence.

2012

24,539

SourceDogg

Proof of concept project on business intelligence from spend analytics for possible wider Government Sector applications

2013

18,757

The Deputy may also wish to note that a payment of €3,993, inclusive of VAT, was made to consultancy firm Byrne O'Cléirigh, in March 2011. This was a final payment following receipt of a final report in which advice was given on the risk assessment methodology used in a proposal for a new complex system of underground storage of explosives. This report was commissioned prior to March 2011.

* Payment made in January 2014.

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