Written Answers Nos. 428-437
428. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a breakdown on the number of civil servants employed by the Courts Service in County Tipperary for 2011, 2012 and 2013, and currently by full time or part time basis, grade and location. [1169/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had inquiries made and the information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table below:
|
Grade |
Location |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
Current Staffing |
|
Assistant Principal |
Clonmel |
2 full time |
1 full time |
1 full time |
1 full time |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
Clonmel |
1 full time |
1 full time |
1 full time |
1 full time |
|
Executive Officer |
Clonmel |
1 full time 1 part time |
3 full time |
3 full time |
3 full time |
|
Clerical Officer |
Clonmel |
6 full time 3 part time |
5 full time 3 part time |
5 full time 2 part time |
5 full time 2 part time |
|
Court Messenger |
Clonmel |
1 full time |
1 full time |
1 full time |
1 full time |
|
Assistant Principal |
Nenagh |
1 full time |
1 full time |
0 |
0 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
Nenagh |
1 full time |
1 full time |
1 full time |
1 full time |
|
Executive Officer |
Nenagh |
1 full time |
1 full time |
1 full time |
1 full time |
|
Clerical Officer |
Nenagh |
1 full time 1 part time |
1 full time 1 part time |
1 full time 1 part time |
1 full time 1 part-time |
|
Total |
20 |
19 |
17 |
17 |
Note: Clonmel changed from being a District Court Office and a Circuit Court Office to being a combined office on 19/11/2012.
429. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to propose a referendum to deal with legacy upward only rental agreements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1180/15]
View answerThere are currently no plans to hold a Constitutional referendum on the subject matter referred to by the Deputy.
430. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form the number of gardaí of all ranks assigned to each station in the DMR-East division in the past five years; the numbers lost to the division through promotion, transfer, retirement and other reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1183/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, one of the primary functions of the Garda Commissioner under the Garda Síochána Acts, is to direct and control An Garda Síochána. In this regard, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of all resources, including fully sworn members and Reserve Gardaí, among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of security assessments, crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.
The Deputy will also appreciate that, as with any large organisation, on any given day the number of Gardaí assigned to any Division may fluctuate due, for example, to promotion, transfer, retirements and resignations. In these circumstances the Deputy will appreciate that the specific information he has sought is not readily available in the detail requested and I understand that the compilation of such information would involve a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources.
I have however been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel of each Garda Station broken down by rank in the Dublin Metropolitan Region East Division on 31 December 2010 to 2013 and on 30 November 2014, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the tables below:
2010
|
Station |
C/Supt |
Supt |
Insp |
Sgt |
Gda |
Total |
Reserve |
|
Blackrock |
0 |
0 |
4 |
12 |
80 |
96 |
5 |
|
Dundrum |
0 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
68 |
78 |
2 |
|
Stepaside |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
28 |
31 |
0 |
|
Cabinteely |
0 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
32 |
39 |
0 |
|
Dalkey |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
29 |
31 |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
1 |
2 |
3 |
19 |
87 |
112 |
10 |
|
Kill O Grange |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
26 |
28 |
0 |
|
Shankill |
0 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
47 |
58 |
3 |
|
Total |
473 |
20 |
2011
|
Station |
C/Supt |
Supt |
Insp |
Sgt |
Gda |
Total |
Reserve |
|
Blackrock |
0 |
1 |
4 |
10 |
76 |
91 |
3 |
|
Dundrum |
0 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
63 |
73 |
3 |
|
Stepaside |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
26 |
29 |
0 |
|
Cabinteely |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
32 |
38 |
0 |
|
Dalkey |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
29 |
31 |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
1 |
2 |
2 |
18 |
81 |
104 |
8 |
|
Kill O Grange |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
27 |
29 |
0 |
|
Shankill |
0 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
47 |
57 |
2 |
|
Total |
452 |
16 |
2012
|
Station |
C/Supt |
Supt |
Insp |
Sgt |
Gda |
Total |
Reserve |
|
Blackrock |
0 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
68 |
82 |
4 |
|
Dundrum |
0 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
65 |
74 |
3 |
|
Stepaside |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
32 |
35 |
0 |
|
Cabinteely |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
34 |
39 |
0 |
|
Dalkey* |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
1 |
2 |
2 |
15 |
80 |
100 |
8 |
|
Kill O Grange |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
23 |
25 |
0 |
|
Shankill |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
56 |
65 |
2 |
|
Total |
420 |
17 |
*Closed in 2012
2013
|
Station |
C/Supt |
Supt |
Insp |
Sgt |
Gda |
Total |
Reserve |
|
Blackrock |
0 |
1 |
2 |
12 |
75 |
90 |
5 |
|
Dundrum |
0 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
90 |
100 |
5 |
|
Stepaside* |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cabinteely |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
41 |
46 |
0 |
|
Dalkey* |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
1 |
2 |
4 |
17 |
81 |
105 |
8 |
|
Kill O Grange** |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Shankill |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
59 |
66 |
2 |
|
Total |
407 |
20 |
*Closed in 2012, **Closed in 2013
2014
|
Station |
C/Supt |
Supt |
Insp |
Sgt |
Gda |
Total |
Reserve |
|
Blackrock |
0 |
1 |
2 |
11 |
73 |
87 |
5 |
|
Dundrum |
0 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
81 |
91 |
5 |
|
Stepaside* |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cabinteely |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
36 |
42 |
0 |
|
Dalkey* |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
1 |
2 |
3 |
18 |
81 |
105 |
6 |
|
Kill O Grange** |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Shankill |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
56 |
65 |
2 |
|
Total |
390 |
18 |
*Closed in 2012, **Closed in 2013
431. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on recent incidents of burglary in the Glasnevin north area; if there is a proposal for further community policing, Garda foot patrols or a text alert scheme in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1246/15]
View answerAn Garda Síochána pursue a range of strategies to tackle burglary crime, including in particular the coordinated national strategy under Operation Fiacla. This was introduced in early 2012 and has had considerable success. As of the end of December 2014, 11,688 persons have been arrested, and charges have been brought against 6,711 persons under Operation Fiacla.
In the Dublin area, Operation Fiacla is supported by Operation Acer. While there has been an increase in recorded incidents of burglary in Dublin last year, this has taken place following previous success on foot of Operation Acer, including a recorded 5% reduction in 2013. To respond to the recent increase and so as to ensure the continued effectiveness of the operation, new operational responses have been put in place. Particular criminal groups have been identified as playing a large part in the recent increase and these groups are being targeted by An Garda Síochána in a cohesive way in co-operation with other criminal justice agencies. A further and related operation, Operation Creeper, assists in the surveillance of Acer targets by monitoring their movements. As a result of the recent burglary increase in Dublin, this Operation has been tasked solely with targeting burglary suspects and several Acer targets have been arrested as a result.
I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the situation in the specific area referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as the report is to hand.
432. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of handguns or rifles stolen from licensed firearm holders excluding firearm dealers and blank deactivated firearms since 2009; when the current enhanced security arrangements were put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1271/15]
View answerI have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report on these matters and will write to the Deputy when it becomes available.
433. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if concerns regarding dissident activity was discussed at the North South Ministerial Council meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47706/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that justice and policing matters are not sectoral areas that are yet included in the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) framework and related issues, therefore, such as the security situation, do not feature formally on the agenda for Plenary meetings of the NSMC. North-South co-operation in these areas takes place bilaterally. However, the Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford and I attended the NSMC Plenary in December last and this provided us with an opportunity to discuss issues relating to North-South police and criminal justice co-operation, including the matter referred to by the Deputy, in the margins of the Plenary meeting.
I meet very regularly with Minister Ford to discuss the broad range of issues relating to North-South police and criminal justice co-operation, including the security threat. The security situation is also the focus of my meetings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, who is my British Government counterpart in respect of national security-related matters in Northern Ireland.
The threat posed by paramilitary groups on this island is real and persistent and there is a shared determination, North and South, to continue to take all necessary actions within the law to bear down on these groups. The Garda authorities continue to work very closely at an operational level with their counterparts in Northern Ireland to combat the paramilitary threat. I can assure the Deputy that countering the threat is also a priority for both Governments and we remain committed to supporting the police services in their ongoing work.
434. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an all-island inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse by the Provisional IRA was discussed at the North South Ministerial Council meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47709/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, justice and policing matters are not sectoral areas that are yet included in the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) framework and such issues, therefore, do not feature formally on the agenda for Plenary meetings of the NSMC. North-South co-operation in these areas takes place bilaterally. However, the health and child welfare aspects of child protection are included in the NSMC framework and the Plenary meeting in Armagh on 5 December last held a very useful discussion on child protection with a particular focus on e-Safety and noted that good collaborative work is already taking place, both within the NSMC structures and elsewhere.
The Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford and I attended the NSMC Plenary and this provided us with an opportunity to discuss issues relating to North-South police and criminal justice co-operation in the margins of the Plenary meeting, including the allegations of sexual abuse by republican paramilitaries.
I would emphasise that An Garda Síochána is investigating information in this regard which it has received towards the end of last year and these investigations are ongoing. There are also specific, independent review and inquiry processes underway in Northern Ireland by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Office of the Police Ombudsman. It is essential to allow the relevant authorities – the child protection and the police services and others – North and South to carry out their ongoing work in this regard unimpeded. It is important also to continue to encourage people with any relevant information to come forward to the authorities.
Minister Ford and I will continue to discuss the need and potential for an additional inquiry or inquiries as well as the issues which emerge from the current and ongoing reviews and inquiries, and we will maintain close contact to review progress with these. I can inform the Deputy that my officials are working with the Northern Ireland Department of Justice to examine, in tandem with the various investigations under way, the legal and practical issues that might arise relevant to the issue of the establishment of forms of inquiry, and they will report on this to myself and Minister Ford.
Finally, I would like to add that there is a range of support services for victims of sexual abuse available in both jurisdictions. Minister Ford and I will keep this under review and we will continue to work closely together in the context of the forthcoming implementation of the EU Victims’ Directive.
435. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if security personnel has been increased for the Taoiseach because of the threat of violence at the ongoing protests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45775/14]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that for good reason it is not the policy, nor would it be in the public interest, to comment on matters relating to the personal security of specific individuals. However, as a matter of course, An Garda Siochána continually keep such matters under review.
436. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will amend the terms of reference of the commission of investigation being carried out by Mr. Justice Kevin O'Higgins to include the examination of a further case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1290/15]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to the Commission of Investigation being established on foot of the recommendations of Mr Seán Guerin, SC, in his report of 6 May 2014 on how allegations made by Sergeant Maurice McCabe concerning certain cases connected to the Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division were handled. I published the draft Order proposing the establishment of this Commission of Investigation on 19 December 2014. The draft Order includes the terms of reference for the Commission. All of the matters recommended by Mr Guerin SC for inclusion in a Commission of Investigation are included in the terms of reference.
The case referred to by the Deputy is amongst the 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, or to other public representatives 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, 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.
I would assure the Deputy that where further investigation is recommended by the review then that will occur. However I would also make the point that, in many cases, counsel may recommend that no further action can reasonably be taken. This might be, for example, because a case has already been through due process even though the complainant remains unhappy with the outcome. The crucial point, however, is that every case will have been reviewed by independent counsel, who will have made an objective recommendation.
Where counsel do recommend further investigations, I will be very strongly guided by that advice. Clearly, there are a number of possible options for further investigations, in particular by way of referral to GSOC, but any recommendation for referral of a case to a commission of investigation will be very carefully considered, including whether this could be achieved by way of amending the terms of reference of an existing commission or the establishment of a separate commission.
437. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will amend the terms of reference of the commission of investigation being carried out by Mr. Justice Kevin O'Higgins to include the examination of a further case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1291/15]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to the Commission of Investigation being established on foot of the recommendations of Mr Seán Guerin, SC, in his report of 6 May 2014 on how allegations made by Sergeant Maurice McCabe concerning certain cases connected to the Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division were handled. I published the draft Order proposing the establishment of this Commission of Investigation on 19 December 2014. The draft Order includes the terms of reference for the Commission. All of the matters recommended by Mr Guerin SC for inclusion in a Commission of Investigation are included in the terms of reference.
Separate to the above, I have requested a report on the circumstances of the case referred to by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner.
