Written Answers Nos. 150-159
150. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Defence if he will consider flying the amber flag from his Department buildings on a chosen day in order to raise awareness of the amber flag programme, which works to raise awareness of mental health issues within second level schools, sports clubs and other youth organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6427/15]
View answerI welcome this worthwhile initiative which aims to encourage schools, colleges, clubs, societies and organisations to promote and actively bring about a culture of change in the promotion of positive mental health. While I welcome the Amber Flag Initiative, the flying of flags at Government Departments is governed by protocol.
151. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a self-employed person may obtain Garda vetting for the purpose of providing courses in a second-level school; if not, her plans to extend Garda vetting to the self-employed and to sole traders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6381/15]
View answerThe Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) provides employment vetting to organisations registered with the Gardaí for this purpose and which employ persons in a full-time, part-time, voluntary or training capacity to positions where they would have substantial, unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable adults.
Garda Vetting is presently conducted under policy as opposed to legislation. At present, in order that an organisation would be entitled to register with the GCVU, they must outline their level of substantial, unsupervised access to children and/or vulnerable adults.
Given the large number and wide range of client groups, the registration process is managed through umbrella organisations which provide single points of contact. This ensures more effective coordination and improved quality control in the various sectors and a more efficient use of resources in the vetting process. It is not possible or feasible to extend the registration process to individuals as this would result in the vetting process being overwhelmed and consequent unacceptable delays in processing times.
Due to a need to review the disclosure provisions in the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012, the Act has yet to be commenced. However, once commenced the Act will provide that any organisation/individual who is able to establish that they are conducting relevant work, as defined in the Act, will be able to register with the Garda Central Vetting Unit for vetting services either in their own capacity or through an umbrella organisation as appropriate.
Taking into account the current position as outlined above, it is recommended that the category of persons referred to in the Deputy's question consults within their own profession with a view to identifying the appropriate umbrella organisation to handle their application.
152. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is specific legislation or specific regulations in the equality area which ensure equal access to appropriate public transport for citizens of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6422/15]
View answerSection 27 of the Disability Act 2005 creates an obligation on public bodies generally to ensure that the services they provide to the general public are accessible to people with disabilities, where practicable and appropriate. The head of each public body is responsible for meeting this obligation in so far as the services of his or her organisation is concerned. Section 34 of this Act makes specific provision in relation to passenger transport services, by providing for publication by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport of a sectoral plan containing information concerning:
(a) a programme of projected measures for the provision of access to persons with disabilities to passenger transport services for the general public provided by the Minister or by a public body in relation to which he or she performs functions or by a person or body licensed or regulated by the Minister,
(b) measures to be taken for the purpose of facilitating access by persons with disabilities to such services and the time within which such measures are to be taken,
(c) arrangements proposed to be put in place by the Minister and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to facilitate access to the vehicles providing the passenger transport services by such persons from a public road, and
(d) any other matter which the Minister considers appropriate.
The Department of Transport's first Sectoral Plan, Transport Access for All was published in 2006.
153. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider flying the Amber Flag from her Department buildings, on a chosen day, in order to raise awareness of the Amber Flag programme, which works to raise awareness of mental health issues within second level schools, sports clubs and youth organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6434/15]
View answerMy Department flies the National and EU Flags in accordance with the protocol set by the Department of the Taoiseach. My Department will consider this request in accordance with this Protocol.
154. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide funding for the installation of CCTV cameras in Fethard town, County Tipperary, which has the capacity for matching funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6472/15]
View answerA community-based CCTV Scheme was launched in 2005. This scheme provided financial assistance to qualifying local organisations towards meeting the capital costs associated with the establishment of a local community CCTV system. Two major rounds of funding were advertised under that scheme.
The current position is that all available funding provided under the previous two rounds has been fully allocated and there are currently no plans to further extend the Scheme. However, the matter will continue to be kept under ongoing review in the context of overall policy considerations and the availability of funding.
155. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will facilitate members of the Sikh community who want to join An Garda Síochána by allowing them to wear their traditional religious head wear. [6546/15]
View answerThe Garda Síochána uniform and the wearing of any additional items as part of that uniform is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.
The Garda Commissioner advises me that diversity in faith and culture is welcomed in the Garda Síochána but that there would be difficulties with permitting the wearing of religion specific items of uniform which could identify the member of An Garda Síochána with a particular religious ethos.
The Commissioner assures me that the Garda Síochána does not differentiate based on religious beliefs and applies all legislation in accordance with the law and human rights.
156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current position in regard to the law on blasphemy; the extent to which it is expected or intended to review and/or repeal it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6562/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Government agreed last September to hold a referendum on removing the offence of blasphemy contained in Article 40.6.1.1 of the Constitution, in response to the 6th Report of the Convention on the Constitution. The Government's response was presented in the Dáil on 2nd October 2014.
The work necessary to prepare a Referendum Bill and a Bill to amend the current legislative provision in the Defamation Act 2009 for the offence of blasphemy is ongoing in my Department.
An appropriate date for the Referendum will be decided by Government when the legislation has been prepared. Last month, the Taoiseach confirmed in the Dáil that the blasphemy referendum will not be held in 2015, as two referenda are already scheduled for this year.
In the meantime, my officials and I are working on preparing the necessary legislation, which is included in the Government Legislative Programme for 2015.
157. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an upgrade of residency status will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6565/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person in question does not currently have an application pending. This person was granted temporary permission on 20 November 2014 - for four months - to afford them the opportunity to make an application for an Employment Permit to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. I understand that INIS will write to her in the next fortnight to assess her current status.
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.
158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a family re-unification application in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford will be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6568/15]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that there is no current application for family reunification from the person referred to by the Deputy.
Information on the family reunification applications process is available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department at www.inis.gov.ie.
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.
159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if family re-unification application will be submitted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow, who is an Irish citizen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6569/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that there is no current application for family reunification in respect of the person referred to by the Deputy.
It is open to the person concerned to make an application for a visa at any time. Guidelines regarding the visa application procedures are available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service at www.inis.gov.ie.
Queries in relation to general matters may be made directly to INIS by email 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 INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
