Written Answers Nos. 311-327
311. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a list is available to members of the public of persons is available who have been convicted (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45899/14]
View answerThere is no facility of the nature described by him available to members of the public. Provisions of such a facility would raise complex issues, including data protection matters.
313. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form the funding that has been advanced to the integration centre from 2005 to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45907/14]
View answerI understand that the Integration Centre was established in 2009 as a result of the amalgamation of Integrating Ireland and the Refugee Information Service.
The only funding the Integration Centre has received from my Department was a payment made in 2010 in respect of monies owed to Integrating Ireland. Details of payments to Integrating Ireland and the Refugee Information Service since 2005 and the schemes under which they were made are in the following table.
|
Year |
Grant under the National Action Plan against Racism |
Small Grants for immigrant integration |
European Refugee Fund |
European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals |
Immigrant Integration Fund |
|
2005 |
7,000 |
1,500 |
- |
- |
- |
|
2006 |
- |
- |
86,755 |
- |
- |
|
2007 |
- |
- |
90,791 |
- |
158,906 |
|
2008 |
- |
- |
1,317 |
30,000 |
56,466 |
|
2009 |
- |
- |
11,082 |
55,500 |
- |
|
2010 |
- |
- |
1,968 |
- |
- |
In 2011, the Integration Centre repaid €12,455 in respect of unspent funds.
314. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of handguns stolen from firearms licence holders in the years 2010 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45924/14]
View answer315. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of handguns stolen in each of the years 2010 and 2013, which were issued to members of An Garda Síochána and to members of the Defence Forces. [45925/14]
View answer316. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of shotguns stolen from firearms licence holders in the years 2010 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45926/14]
View answer317. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of rifles stolen from firearms licence holders in the years 2010 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45927/14]
View answer318. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of blank firing guns stolen from firearms licence holders in the years 2010 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45928/14]
View answer319. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of deactivated guns stolen from firearms licence holders in the years 2010 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45929/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 314 to 319, inclusive, together.
I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report on these matters and will write to the Deputy when it becomes available.
320. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 255 of 18 November 2014, if Salthill Garda station, County Galway, will be retained at its current capacity following the opening of the new divisional headquarters in Murrough, Renmore, County Galway, that is, retained with the current opening hours and the current staffing levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45980/14]
View answerDecisions in relation to the opening hours of Garda stations and the deployment of Garda personnel are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the context of her identified operational requirements.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in the context of the provision of a new Regional Garda Headquarters at Murrough, the policing requirements of the Galway Division will be subject to detailed analysis and review to ensure that an effective and efficient policing service continues to be delivered throughout the Division and that the best use is made of available resources.
However I have been further advised by the Garda Commissioner that there is no intention to close Salthill Garda Station.
322. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to investigate the Garda handling of a case (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46004/14]
View answerThe matter to which the Deputy refers is amongst complaints being considered under the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action may be required in each case.
A panel consisting of two Senior and five Junior Counsel was established for the purpose. The counsel appointed to the panel were all selected on the basis of their experience of the criminal justice system. The review of each complaint will consist of an examination of the papers in the complaint by a counsel from the panel. Following the review of each complaint a recommendation will be made as to whether any further action is desirable and could practicably be taken.
323. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to investigate the Garda handling of a case (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46005/14]
View answerThe matter to which the Deputy refers is amongst complaints being considered under the mechanism established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations, which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality, or the Taoiseach, with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action may be required in each case.
A panel consisting of two Senior and five Junior Counsel was established for the purpose. The counsel appointed to the panel were all selected on the basis of their experience of the criminal justice system. The review of each complaint will consist of an examination of the papers in the complaint by a counsel from the panel. Following the review of each complaint a recommendation will be made as to whether any further action is desirable and could practicably be taken.
324. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the options available to a person who is dissatisfied with the closing of a Garda investigation following the return of an open verdict from the coroner in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46012/14]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that I have no functions in relation to the conduct of criminal investigations. A person who is affected by a decision of the kind referred to by the Deputy could seek to discuss the matter with the Garda authorities. More generally, a person who alleges misconduct by a member of the Garda Síochána may make a complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
325. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the national age card is not accepted as valid ID for many purposes, for example, to sit the driver theory test or as ID for financial institutions despite being authenticated by An Garda Síochána, requiring a birth certificate, passport or GNIB card and a fee of €10, while less secure ID, for example, student ID, is acceptable; and the steps she will take to encourage more Departments, Government agencies and private sector companies to accept the national age card as acceptable and secure photographic ID. [46026/14]
View answer326. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to An Garda Síochána of administering the national age card scheme; the number of cards issued each year since it was launched; and the total income received from applications. [46027/14]
View answer327. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the purpose of the national age card; and if it is intended to review it as being fit for purpose. [46028/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 325 to 327, inclusive, together.
The Garda Age Card is a voluntary proof of age card which may be issued by An Garda Síochána to persons aged 18 years and over under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988 (Age Card) Regulations 2010. The purpose of the card is to verify a person's age in relation to the sale of alcohol and it may also be used in relation to the sale of tobacco as provided in section 45 of the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002. I have received no indication from the Garda authorities that the present arrangements in relation to Age Cards do not fulfil their intended purpose. The card is not designed to function as an identity card for other purposes.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below shows the number of Age Card issued each year for the past five years. The current fee for an Age Card is €10.
My Department is awaiting further information from the Garda authorities in relation to the costs and income associated with the Age Card scheme and I will forward this directly to the Deputy when it is to hand.
Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988 (Age Card) Regulations
|
Year |
Number of Garda Age Cards Issued |
|
2009 |
36,351 |
|
2010 |
39,952 |
|
2011 |
41,054 |
|
2012 |
47,625 |
|
2013 |
61,468 |
