Wednesday, 15 Apr 2015

Written Answers Nos. 351-362

Family Reunification Applications

Questions (352)

Robert Troy

Question:

352. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will expedite a family reunification application in respect of a person (details supplied). [14245/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that correspondence issued to the person referred to by the Deputy on the 13th April 2015. The application will be processed upon receipt of the response from the applicant.

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.

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Questions (353)

Niall Collins

Question:

353. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a case (details supplied) as part of the independent review mechanism; when she expects a recommendation on this case from the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14246/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The case to which the Deputy refers is amongst those 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, all selected on the basis of their experience of the criminal justice system. The review of each complaint consists 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.

The volume and complexity of cases has led to the review taking longer than originally anticipated. It is important that nothing arises which might detract from the integrity of the review mechanism. It is therefore considered inappropriate to place a time constraint upon the working of the Panel, although they intend to conclude their work as soon as is reasonably practicable.

The independent review is at an advanced stage, with some recommendations now returned to my Department. I therefore intend to start the process shortly of notifying the persons concerned of the outcome of the review in their cases.

Garda Operations

Questions (354, 410)

Billy Timmins

Question:

354. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 737 of 25 March 2014, if she will provide a reply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14267/15]

Billy Timmins

Question:

410. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to previous parliamentary questions, if An Garda Síochána holds individual files on Members of the Oireachtas; if so, the current location of these files; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14937/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 410 together.

The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be the normal practice to comment on files maintained or held by An Garda Síochána in respect of any particular person or category of persons. However, I am assured by the Garda authorities that it is not the practice to create or maintain any records or files relating to Members of the Oireachtas that are conceived or designed to impinge upon or interfere with their legitimate functions as elected public representatives. It will be appreciated, of course, that it is to be expected that the Gardaí would maintain information or files relating to members of the public including Members of the Oireachtas in particular circumstances. In cases in which, for example, a Member of the Oireachtas was suspected of or charged with an offence, the Gardaí would, obviously, be obliged to create and maintain a file in that regard. For example also, where a Member of the Oireachtas brings a matter to the attention of the Gardaí or makes a report to the Gardaí which requires to be investigated, it would be entirely legitimate and, indeed, a legal requirement in some cases for the Gardaí to create and maintain a file in such circumstances.

Visa Data

Questions (355)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

355. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of short stay C visas that were granted; and applied for, in each visa office in the years 2011 to 2014. [14283/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

Details of the total number of short stay visas processed is set out in the table. Decisions regarding the grant/refusal of visas are made in a number of Irish Naturalisation and Immigration (INIS) Visa offices overseas, at the INIS Headquarters in Dublin and at embassies of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which process certain visa applications under delegated sanction from my Department. Over the four years in question, the overall grant rate for short stay visa applications was 92%, which is considered high by international standards. It would not be appropriate to consider grant rates per individual office as the profile of types of applications processed vary quite considerably and the more complex applications are dealt with in Dublin. Thus grant rates at individual offices do not present an accurate representation.

As with all visa services worldwide, the central concern in deciding on visa applications is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime, while at the same time not placing unnecessary or unreasonable obstacles in the way of intending visitors. Each visa application is decided on its own merits, in the light of all relevant factors including the risk of irregular migration, with the intention of achieving an appropriate balance.

Short Stay C Visa Applications

Location	2011	2012	2013	2014
Abu Dhabi	6039	7391	8171	9371
Abuja	3985	4760	4476	4922
Beijing	4575	5067	5563	5660
London	6545	7207	7392	7578
Moscow	14008	14737	16413	16670
New Delhi	8246	7717	7802	8860
Ankara	3127	3495	3989	4209
INIS Dublin	5714	5340	5381	5090
DFAT Delegated Sanction	18482	18565	19642	21002
Total Applications	70721	74279	78829	83362
Total Granted	64423	68067	73126	77034

Drugs Seizures

Questions (356)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

356. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 393 of 31 March 2015, the value of illegal drugs awaiting destruction currently in the possession of An Garda Síochána. [14349/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I wish to advise the Deputy that it has not been 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.

Garda Oversight

Questions (357)

Mick Wallace

Question:

357. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the payments made to a person (details supplied) as chairperson of the Garda authority; the functions this person has been undertaking and the nature of the contract awarded to this person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14371/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The chairperson designate has been advising me in relation to matters concerning the establishment of the Policing Authority and has been engaged in a series of familiarisation and introductory meetings with organisations, including visits to the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Scottish Police Authority, and individuals relevant to the functions proposed for the Authority in the scheme of Bill which I published last year. She is also working with my Department to develop staffing requirements and with the Office of Public Works to identify and prepare suitable premises.

The terms and conditions of a contract for the chairperson designate are currently under consideration and will be finalised shortly. While remuneration has not therefore been paid yet to the chairperson designate, she is of course entitled to travel and subsistence expenses at standard civil service rates and has incurred such expenses of approximately €1,000 to date.

Legislative Measures

Questions (358)

Mick Wallace

Question:

358. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to enact the Garda Síochána (No. 3) (Amendment) Bill 2014; and if it will be commenced in its entirety, or in a piecemeal fashion. [14372/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

Following its passage by both Houses of the Oireachtas and signature by the President, the Bill referred to by the Deputy has been enacted as the Garda Síochána (Amendment) Act 2015. This legislation is a key element of the Government's programme of justice reform and I intend to make an order to commence its provisions shortly.

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Questions (359)

Finian McGrath

Question:

359. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will support a case (details supplied); if she will meet the family involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14411/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware I met with family members of the victim to whom the Deputy refers in his question and their legal representative to hear their concerns about aspects of the Garda investigation into the murder of their loved one and their call for an inquiry. The case in question was among those inquired into by the late Mr. Justice Henry Barron.

I had a review of material which the family provided to me and other available material regarding this murder carried out and I wrote to the family recently setting out my conclusion that I could not recommend the establishment of a Commission of Investigation in this case and detailing my reasoning in this regard. It is a matter of regret to me that my conclusion was a disappointment to the family.

I have recently received further correspondence from the family, which I understand has been copied to the Deputy. I am considering the issues raised in that correspondence and, as I am sure the Deputy will understand, I will respond directly to the family on those issues.

Family Mediation Service

Questions (360, 361, 362, 367)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

360. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that a full-time and dedicated family mediator is immediately allocated to the Letterkenny family mediation office; if she is aware that there are 27 couples on the County Donegal waiting list for mediation, and that no new cases have been taken off the list since October 2014. [14422/15]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

361. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the serious concerns of family mediators working for the Family Mediation Service across the southern, midlands, west and north-western regions regarding the impact on client services of the proposed rolling six-month contracts for the new panel of contractor mediators; and if she will ensure that families who rely on this vital service have equal access and support, no matter where they live. [14432/15]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

362. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of couples or families on waiting lists for a mediator with the Family Mediation Service, on an office basis. [14433/15]

Thomas Pringle

Question:

367. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the issues facing the Letterkenny office of the Family Mediation Service, where no mediator is in place and no service is being provided, and with 27 couples on the waiting list; the inequity of service being provided across the country as a result of management decisions regarding mediator contracts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14566/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 360 to 362, inclusive, and 367 together.

I wish to advise the Deputies that the Family Mediation Service falls under the auspices of the Legal Aid Board which is independent in the exercise of its functions, in accordance with Section 3 (3) of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995. Furthermore, as Minister for Justice and Equality, I am not responsible or accountable to the Dáil for the matters referred to in the Deputies' questions. However, in order to be helpful to the Deputies I have had enquiries made of the Board and I have been informed that there is no permanently employed mediator in the Letterkenny office at present. A contract mediator completed her cases during the month of March and another contract mediator commenced taking cases in the office on 13 April 2015.

The Board is subject to the recruitment moratorium and the Employee Control Framework, however I am informed that they are looking at a longer term strategy for providing mediation services, including the manner in which contract mediators are engaged.

The number of couples on the waiting list in Letterkenny family mediation office is currently 17. The following figures show the numbers on the waiting list in Letterkenny at the beginning of January 2011 to 2015:

Year	Waiting list
2011	16
2012	8
2013	7
2014	17
2015	20

For comparison, the current waiting lists in the Letterkenny office and other part-time single mediator offices are as follows:

Mediator offices	Current waiting list
Letterkenny	17
Sligo	11
Castlebar	13
Portlaoise	16
Athlone	21
Waterford	29
Tralee	10

Finally, I have been advised by the Board that waiting list numbers fluctuate and the needs of each office is reviewed on an ongoing basis. The Legal Aid Board is committed to the provision of a timely and professional mediation service throughout the country.