Written Answers Nos. 140-149
140. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views that the morale of An Garda Síochána ought to be of concern to her and her Department; if she has received any report, formal or informal, on the state of morale within An Garda Síochána; if not, the steps she will take to ascertain the current morale of the force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9647/15]
View answerI have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that An Garda Síochána does not commission surveys on the state of morale within the organisation, however management at all levels continuously address issues affecting members under their command.
Garda management has a responsibility for creating a climate in which people are highly motivated. Accordingly, the issue of morale is continuously managed and addressed accordingly by Senior Management. There is a comprehensive peer support and employee assistance service in place, to ensure support for all staff members.
Currently, An Garda Síochána is undertaking an extensive transformation programme following consultation with all staff in the organisation. In addition, the recent recruitment programme will help to invigorate An Garda Síochána and will allow for the allocation and movement of members which will impact positively on An Garda Síochána.
Recent promotions, and the current promotion competition for promotion to Sergeants and Inspector rank, motivate personnel, creates movement and increases morale.
141. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the processing time for applications to change immigration status; if she will report on any backlog in processing applications; and if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of applications for a change in immigration status that were approved and declined in 2012 to 2014, inclusive, and to date in 2015. [9661/15]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the statistics requested by the Deputy are not readily available and could only be compiled by the allocation of an inordinate amount of staff time and resources.
As the Deputy will appreciate there are many applications across a range of categories which result in a decision being made which materially changes the immigration status of an individual.
I would draw the Deputy's attention to the report I issued on 26 January 2015 which gives details of Immigration activities in 2014 and which is available on the Department's website. I can inform the Deputy that, in 2014 alone, approximately 172,000 new applications were received by INIS for various immigration permissions. The report also gives details of developments underway across the broad immigration area.
If the Deputy has a specific query relating to any particular scheme I will endeavour to answer it in more detail.
142. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints made to the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation in 2012 to 2014, inclusive, and to date in 2015; and the number of prosecutions which took place relating to these complaints in 2012 to 2014, inclusive, and to date in 2015. [9663/15]
View answerThe Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.
I have asked the CSO to provide available statistics on the number of recorded fraud offences and prosecutions in the years referred to directly to the Deputy.
143. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the gender discrimination shown in the National University of Ireland Galway health assessment form for job applications; and her plans to investigate such practice in recruitment policies. [9664/15]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on the specific circular, which I understand from media reports has been withdrawn. However, I can inform the House that the Employment Equality Acts 1998 - 2011 prohibit both direct and indirect discrimination in employment (including access to employment and promotion) on nine grounds including gender. Cases brought under the legislation are determined by the Equality Tribunal, who, on upholding a complaint, can make awards, and/or such other orders as deemed appropriate in the particular circumstances.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which is independent in the discharge of its functions, has a range of powers that may be relevant, including powers of investigation into recruitment practices, and can provide advice and assistance to persons who consider that they have been discriminated against. It is open to any person to make contact with the Commission to inquire as to what advice and assistance may be available in their particular circumstances.
In addition to the foregoing, section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 places an obligation on public bodies in performing their functions to have regard for the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and protect human rights. In this regard, the Commission may assist public bodies in developing policies, good practices and operational standards for the discharge of this obligation.
144. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 74 of 28 January 2015, when a reply will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9679/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that a reply to Parliamentary Question No. 74 (initial order No. 572) issued from my office on 26 February 2015.
145. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 107 of 23 October 2014, the number of complaints of petrol stretching received to date by each Garda district in counties Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, Galway, Sligo and Leitrim, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9684/15]
View answerI 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.
146. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 24 February 2015, and in view of there being no registration fees to the Garda National Immigration Bureau for European Union, European Economic Area and Swiss nationals living here, her views that the application fee, and fee for the certificate of naturalisation, is a barrier to access to citizenship for these nationals living here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9717/15]
View answerThe position as set out in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 24 February 2015 applies in respect of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals also. I do not accept that citizens of these countries are less able to pay naturalisation fees than nationals of other countries. The Deputy may wish to note that there has been an substantial increase in the number of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals applying for and being granted Irish citizenship over the past 3 years.
147. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of schemes that allow foreign investors achieve residency here; the criteria determining whether a foreign investor can gain residency; if she is reviewing this scheme; if there are any changes to be implemented in the future; and if she is seeking to change investment limits and value addition criteria in the future. [9718/15]
View answerMy Department operates a scheme of this nature called the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) under which foreign nationals who make an investment meeting certain criteria can qualify for Irish residence. Details of the IIP are set out on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service at http://www.inis.gov.ie. In brief the IIP is open to those making one of the following minimum investments:
- €1m in an Immigrant investor bond;
- €500k enterprise investment in Ireland involving job creation or retention;
- €500k in an investment fund regulated by the Central Bank and meeting the investment criteria of the IIP;
- €2m invested in a Real Estate Investment Trust;
- A mixed investment consisting of a €500k immigrant investor bond and a residential property purchase of €450 or more;
- An endowment of €500k.
The investors have also to satisfy the personal requirements of the IIP (e.g. character source of wealth etc.) Applications are considered by an Evaluation Committee consisting of representatives of my Department, the Department of Finance, the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. The committee then makes a recommendation to me.
A scheme of this nature develops over time and I anticipate further changes. The Evaluation Committee will be making recommendations in that respect in the coming months.
148. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the statistics that are available on the number of paddy wagon prisoner vans that are available in An Garda Síochána, at present, throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9749/15]
View answerDecisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda vehicles are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of her identified operational demands and the availability of resources.
In that context, I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 3rd March, 2015 there were 77 public order vans allocated to the Garda fleet. I am further informed that in late 2014, An Garda Síochána took delivery of 25 new vans. These new vehicles will be deployed in line with operational requirements following fit-out.
The Deputy will be aware that I recently secured a further €10 million for investment in the Garda fleet of which €7 million was made available towards the end of last year, bringing total investment in the Garda fleet to €11 million in 2014. The remaining €3 million is being made available for the purchase and fit out of additional Garda vehicles during 2015.
149. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the knowledge she has of new allegations surrounding the bugging of a criminal suspect and witnesses by gardaí in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9754/15]
View answerI understand that the Garda Commissioner has referred these allegations to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, which is the statutory independent body established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to investigate the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána. The Deputy will appreciate that it would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment further on the matter at the present time.
