Written Answers Nos. 104-109
104. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current status of the criminal justice (community sanctions) Bill, which the Government approved the drafting of in early February 2014; and the extent to which the provisions of the Bill will apply to drivers charged with road traffic offences, especially those which incur penalty points. [12199/15]
View answerIn February 2014, the Government approved the drafting of a Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill to replace the Probation of Offenders Act 1907 with modern provisions dealing with community sanctions and the role of the Probation Service in the criminal justice system.
The General Scheme of the Bill was the subject of pre-legislative consideration by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, which published its Report on the General Scheme on 10 July 2014. The Bill is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel.
Issues relating to the application of the proposed legislation to penalty point offences under the Road Traffic Acts are being examined by my officials in consultation with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. My intention is that the mandatory application of penalty points for such offences will not be affected by the new community sanctions legislation.
105. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the deployment of Garda reservists at Garda stations throughout County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12216/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Garda Reservists in County Kildare on the 31 January 2015, the latest date for which figures are readily available are as set out in the following table.
|
Kildare |
- |
|
Naas |
16 |
|
Leixlip |
5 |
|
Athy |
5 |
|
Celbridge |
1 |
|
Newbridge |
7 |
|
Kildare |
7 |
|
Total |
41 |
106. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress of the criminal law (sexual offences) (amendment) Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12217/15]
View answerOn 27 November, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. The General Scheme includes wide ranging provisions to enhance the protection of children and vulnerable persons from sexual abuse and exploitation. When enacted, the Bill will facilitate full compliance with the criminal law provisions of a number of EU, UN and Council of Europe legal instruments. The Bill will also implement the recommendations of a number of Oireachtas committees, reform the law on incest and update the Sex Offenders Act 2001. In addition, the Bill will provide for new offences of purchasing, in the context of prostitution, sexual services.
As the Deputy will appreciate, this is a complex piece of legislation which addresses a number of sensitive issues. The Bill is priority legislation and is currently being drafted, with a view to publication in this parliamentary session.
107. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding visa requirements in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12229/15]
View answerI 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.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process. I am informed that this application is now at an advanced stage of processing and the applicant will be informed of my decision in due course.
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.
108. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff employed by the special assignee of the Insolvency Service of Ireland at the end of 2013 and 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12230/15]
View answerI am advised by the Insolvency Service of Ireland that a total of 31 staff were employed in the Bankruptcy Division in both 2013 and 2014. The Bankruptcy Division is headed by the Official Assignee. The Office of the Official Assignee, an Office of the High Court was transferred to the ISI in accordance with the provisions of Part 7 of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013. Prior to the transfer, the Office had a total of 11 staff working with the Official Assignee. The significant increase in staff in the Bankruptcy Division was sanctioned in preparation for the significant expected increase in bankruptcies.
I should note that there has been a significant increase in the number of seriously indebted persons seeking bankruptcy by self-adjudication since the reduction of the automatic discharge period from 12 years to three. There were four hundred and forty eight (448) bankruptcies during 2014 compared with fifty-eight (58) in 2013. It is expected that this increasing trend will continue.
109. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of completed bankruptcies in 2013 and 2014 which involved the surrender of the family home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12231/15]
View answerThe Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) has indicated that between 2011 and 2014 there were 567 bankruptcies of which 485 cases involved a family home.
I have arranged for further details to be collated and issued to the Deputy.
