Seán Kenny
Question:678. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to provide funding for the purchase of replacement Garda prison trucks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34592/14]
View answerGarda Transport Provision
Questions (678)
Written answers
As the Deputy will be aware the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the replacement of Garda vehicles is reviewed on an ongoing basis in the context of operational priorities and available funding. There are currently no plans to purchase trucks for prisoner conveyance.
Garda Transport Provision
Questions (679)
Seán Kenny
Question:679. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to provide funding for the purchase of additional marked Garda vans; the number of new vans that came into service in 2013 and the number that were withdrawn from the fleet in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34593/14]
View answerWritten answers
The provision and allocation of Garda transport is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of identified operational circumstances and the availability of resources.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that during 2013 83 Garda vans were allocated to the Garda fleet and 29 Garda vans were withdrawn from the fleet. I am also advised that there are currently no plans to purchase marked Garda vans in 2014.
As the Deputy will be aware, 438 new Garda vehicles were purchased in 2013 at a cost of €10 million. In addition, €4 million has been made available for the purchase and fit out of Garda transport in 2014.
This represents a very considerable financial investment in Garda transport, particularly at a time when the level of funding available across the public sector is severely limited. It is a clear indication of my commitment to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, An Garda Síochána are provided with sufficient resources to enable them to deliver an effective and efficient policing service.
Questions Nos. 680 and 681 answered with Question No. 647.
Departmental Funding
Questions (682)
Terence Flanagan
Question:682. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding financial assistance to NGOs, attending a conference in July 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34614/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Justice and Equality provided no financial or other assistance to NGOs in relation to the event referred to.
Garda Station Closures
Questions (683)
Frank Feighan
Question:683. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding Elphin Garda station, County Roscommon; and if she will provide confirmation that it will remain into the future. [34626/14]
View answerWritten answers
The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is based on requirements which are established by An Garda Síochána. The programme is advanced in close co-operation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for capital expenditure in this area.
In that context, I am informed by the Garda authorities that plans for the provision of new Garda accommodation in Elphin are currently being advanced by the Office of Public Works.
Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations
Questions (684)
Eric J. Byrne
Question:684. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a complaint made to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34627/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Garda Síochána Act 2005 established the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to receive complaints from members of the public concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána. The Act stipulates that the Ombudsman Commission is independent in the exercise of its functions. I have no role in the processing of individual complaints which are referred to the Ombudsman Commission for investigation.
Question No. 685 answered with Question No. 663.
Deportation Orders Data
Questions (686)
Olivia Mitchell
Question:686. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of asylum cases determined in each of the last three years that have resulted in the issue of deportation orders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34636/14]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that arising from the refusal of an asylum application, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), a person is notified by letter that the Minister proposes to make a Deportation Order in respect of them. They are given the following options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a Deportation Order or of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why a Deportation Order should not be made against them. In addition, persons are also entitled to apply for Subsidiary Protection in accordance with the European Communities (Eligibility for Protection) Regulations 2006.
A Deportation Order requires a person to remove themselves from the State and it is only where they fail to do so that the State is forced to remove them and enforce the rule of law. The process leading to deportation is extensive with many avenues of appeal, including judicial review in the High Court, open to persons subject to Deportation Orders.
In determining whether to make a Deportation Order, I must have regard to the factors set out in Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act, 1999, as amended, and Section 5 (Prohibition of Refoulement) of the Refugee Act, 1996, as amended.
This essentially means that the safety of returning a person, or refoulement as it is commonly referred to, is fully considered in every case when deciding whether or not to make a Deportation Order i.e. that a person shall not be expelled from the State or returned in any manner whatsoever to a State where the life or freedom of that person would be threatened on account of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.
The percentage of asylum cases determined that have resulted to date in the issue of deportations orders in respect of 2011 was 24%, 10.7% in 2012 and 6.8% in 2013. It should be noted that the variations in these figures are primarily related to the process leading up to making of a deportation order. Following the stage when persons are refused asylum, they can then apply for Subsidiary Protection and thereafter Leave to Remain. It is only on completion of all of these steps that the deportation order is made. Thus when the process is completed the likelihood is that the number of deportation orders in respect of asylum applications determined in the years in question will be significantly increased.
Proposed Legislation
Questions (687, 703)
Ciaran Lynch
Question:687. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will introduce legislation in the near future (details supplied) regarding sex trafficking and exploitation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34643/14]
View answerTerence Flanagan
Question:703. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding prostitution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34854/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 687 and 703 together.
There is already legislation in place to address trafficking for the purpose of sex and those organising prostitution or living off the earnings of prostitutes.
The Deputies' questions appear to refer to the Justice Committee's "Report on hearings and submissions on the Review of Legislation on Prostitution".
I am examining the recommendations made by the Justice Committee, the advices of the Attorney General and the views of the Minister for Health regarding a new approach to prostitution legislation.
When I have had the opportunity to complete consideration of the issues, proposals will be brought to Government.
Appointments to State Boards
Questions (688)
Clare Daly
Question:688. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when she will appoint the board of the National Disability Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34653/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Chair designate of the Authority is meeting with the members of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality today and I expect to be in a position to make a formal announcement in relation to the appointment of the board shortly.
Child Maintenance Payments
Questions (689)
Robert Troy
Question:689. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will investigate the delays in acknowledgements and responses of other countries in relation to the maintenance recovery section with specific reference to a person (details supplied). [34697/14]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases that may be or have been the subject of an application under the UN Convention on the Recovery Abroad of Maintenance.
Such applications are facilitated by the Irish Central Authority for International Maintenance Recovery which is located in my Department. I understand that the individual involved in this matter is in contact with the Central Authority and that the Authority is awaiting a response from the requested Central Authority.
I can assure the Deputy that the Central Authority will continue to actively pursue this matter and will keep the applicant informed of the progress of her application.
International Agreements
Questions (690)
Seán Kyne
Question:690. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the progress of the national legislation required so that Ireland can ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34702/14]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is working on a number of pieces of legislation which I believe will assist in Ireland being fully compliant with the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention.
The legislation under development includes the Government commitment to introduce consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic violence, threatened violence and intimidation, in a way that provides protection to victims. This legislation will strengthen the protections already available and more fully enable requirements of the Convention to be addressed. Substantial progress has been made in my Department in formulating legislative proposals in this regard and I expect to bring proposals to Government later this year. I regard this work towards ratification of the Convention as a priority.
There are a number of elements of the Victims Directive that will support compliance with the Convention. Work on legislation to transpose the Victims Directive is ongoing with a view to having such legislation on the statute book by the transposition deadline of November, 2015.
In addition, a Sexual Offences Bill is receiving priority attention in my Department and this too will strengthen protection for victims of such offences.
Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, an office of my Department, is continuing to seek the detailed views of the responsible offices to fully identify required amendments to processes and law, which might be necessary for Ireland to ratify the convention.
Residency Permits
Questions (691)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:691. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was refused a stamp 4 visa on the grounds that he failed to submit the requested documentation in respect of private medical insurance; the reason proof of cover of private medical insurance was required as the person has a medical card; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34713/14]
View answerWritten answers
I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned is currently registered in the State under Stamp 3 conditions valid until 9 June 2015 which is renewable directly with their local immigration officer shortly before its expiry date.
The requirement to have private medical insurance is not new in the immigration system and is already applied to some other categories of migrant. An application for residency in the State under Stamp 4 conditions on the basis of family dependency of an Irish national was received on 12 September 2013. This application was refused on 20 May 2014 as the person in question failed to submit the requested documentation, despite reminders. It is, of course, open to the individual to reapply with all necessary supporting documentation.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Questions Nos. 692 and 693 answered with Question No. 663.
Direct Provision Data
Questions (694)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:694. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality of the current number of people in direct provision in the State, the number of individuals who have received an initial decision on their application to remain in the State from the officer of the Refugee Applications Commissioner but who have lodged an appeal with the Refugee Appeals Tribunal; the number of people currently living in direct provision who have lodged an appeal to the High Court challenging a decision of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal; and if she will provide a breakdown of the length of time these appeals have been pending. [34755/14]
View answerWritten answers
There are currently approximately 4,300 persons residing in direct provision accommodation. The number of appeals currently pending in the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT) against asylum or subsidiary protection decisions of the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner is 1,154. The median processing time for a substantive asylum appeal currently stands at 41 weeks. As the RAT has only recently begun to process subsidiary protection appeals it is not possible to provide a median processing time for such cases.
There are currently 582 active judicial reviews challenging decisions of the RAT. It can take a number of years for the court process to be completed in relation to such cases.
Details in relation to the number of persons residing in the direct provision system who have appeals pending in the RAT or active judicial reviews challenging decisions of the RAT are not readily available. However a recent analysis revealed that approximately 50% of persons in the direct provision system have either judicial review applications pending, are the subject of deportation orders, or are seeking leave to remain in the State for non-protection reasons.
The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department, which manages the direct provision system, is keen to provide as much detail as is practicable on the system which it is charged with operating. Extensive statistical information is on its website - www.ria.gov.ie - including Annual Reports covering the years from 2007 to 2013 inclusive, providing a variety of information. Much of this information is also provided on a centre by centre basis.
Drugs Crime
Questions (695)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:695. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details of the number of drug seizures in the Garda R and J districts in 2013 and to date in 2014, including the quantities, types and value of drugs seized. [34760/14]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to provide the data sought in the time available for reply. However, I have requested the Garda authorities to provide the requested information and I will arrange for all available information to be forwarded to the Deputy upon receipt.
Naturalisation Applications
Questions (696)
Bernard Durkan
Question:696. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and-or expected residency status and-or entitlement to seek application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34781/14]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that a letter has recently issued to the person whose details were supplied with regard to her position in the State, and also to her legal representative. Further details will be provided to the Deputy.
Naturalisation Applications
Questions (697)
Bernard Durkan
Question:697. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34785/14]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy.
The application is being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence. A letter was issued to the person concerned on 25 August 2014 requesting certain information. Upon receipt of the requested information the case will be processed further and submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Naturalisation Applications
Questions (698)
Bernard Durkan
Question:698. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34787/14]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that a valid application for a certificate of naturalisation has been received from the person referred to by the Deputy.
The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.