Written Answers Nos. 91 - 110
91. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the most up-to-date figures for the strength of the Permanent Defence Forces with regard to all three services and all ranks; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20918/15]
View answerThe following tables set out the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 March, 2015, the latest date for which figures are available, across all three services and ranks, broken down by gender. The figures provided are for whole time equivalent posts.
Army
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Lieutenant General |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Major General |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Brigadier General |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
Colonel |
33 |
0 |
33 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
100 |
3 |
103 |
|
Commandant |
225 |
24 |
249 |
|
Captain |
228 |
41 |
269 |
|
Lieutenant |
191 |
37 |
228 |
|
Sergeant Major |
29 |
0 |
29 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
32 |
0 |
32 |
|
Company Sergeant |
105 |
1 |
106 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
160 |
1 |
161 |
|
Sergeant |
845 |
56 |
901 |
|
Corporal |
1,252 |
116 |
1,368 |
|
Private |
3,685 |
178 |
3,863 |
|
Cadets |
16 |
4 |
20 |
|
Total |
6,910 |
461 |
7,371 |
Air Corps
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Brigadier General |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Colonel |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
11 |
0 |
11 |
|
Commandant |
31 |
0 |
31 |
|
Captain |
54 |
6 |
60 |
|
Lieutenant |
20 |
1 |
21 |
|
Sergeant Major |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Company Sergeant |
53 |
0 |
53 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
14 |
0 |
14 |
|
Sergeant |
121 |
7 |
128 |
|
Corporal |
140 |
11 |
151 |
|
Private |
240 |
9 |
249 |
|
Cadets |
23 |
0 |
23 |
|
Total |
721 |
35 |
756 |
Naval Service
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Brigadier General |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Colonel |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
13 |
0 |
13 |
|
Commandant |
38 |
5 |
43 |
|
Captain |
44 |
18 |
62 |
|
Lieutenant |
27 |
4 |
31 |
|
Sergeant Major |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
Company Sergeant |
74 |
0 |
74 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
9 |
0 |
9 |
|
Sergeant |
200 |
6 |
206 |
|
Corporal |
135 |
8 |
143 |
|
Private |
420 |
20 |
440 |
|
Cadets |
9 |
1 |
10 |
|
Total |
985 |
62 |
1,047 |
The total serving strength across all three services as of 31 March 2015 was 9,174. The overall establishment figure set for the Defence Forces is 9,500 and it is the Government’s intention that ongoing recruitment campaigns will strive to maintain the serving strength at or close to this figure.
92. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the most up-to-date figures for the strength of the Reserve Defence Force; the gender breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20919/15]
View answerThe following tables set out the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Force as of 31 March, 2015, the latest date for which figures are available, in both the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve broken down by rank and gender.
Army Reserve
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Lieutenant Colonel |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Commandant |
40 |
0 |
40 |
|
Captain |
82 |
3 |
85 |
|
Lieutenant |
162 |
30 |
192 |
|
Sergeant Major |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
Company Sergeant |
55 |
0 |
55 |
|
Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
65 |
3 |
68 |
|
Sergeant |
289 |
19 |
308 |
|
Corporal |
335 |
79 |
414 |
|
Private |
653 |
155 |
808 |
|
Total |
1,700 |
289 |
1,989 |
|
Rank |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Commandant |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Captain |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
Lieutenant |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Company Sergeant |
9 |
0 |
9 |
|
Sergeant |
12 |
1 |
13 |
|
Corporal |
22 |
4 |
26 |
|
Private |
42 |
18 |
60 |
|
Total |
102 |
24 |
126 |
93. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence when the next meeting of European Union Defence Ministers will take place; the agenda for same if decided; his priorities for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20920/15]
View answerThe next informal meeting of Defence Ministers will be hosted by Luxembourg as part of their Presidency of the EU Council and will take place on the 2nd and 3rd September, 2015. The agenda has not yet issued but it is expected that Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Missions and Operations and progress following the European Council meeting on Defence, in June 2015, will be discussed.
94. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of overseas missions in which the Defence Forces are currently involved; the number of personnel involved in each mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20921/15]
View answerAs of 25 May 2015, Ireland is contributing approximately 500 Defence Forces personnel to 12 missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas including the lead organisation for each mission are listed in the following tabular statement. In addition to the personnel listed in the tabular statement there is one Officer and one NCO deployed to the Embassy of Ireland in Freetown, Sierra Leone under the Emergency Civilian Assistance Team initiative.
The most recent deployment overseas came following the EU leaders meeting in Brussels on 23 April 2015 to discuss the humanitarian crisis in North Africa. At that meeting, the Taoiseach stated that Ireland was prepared to send a Naval vessel on a humanitarian mission to assist in the emergency. L.É. EITHNE, with a crew of sixty-eight (68) personnel of the Permanent Defence Force, augmented by two (2) medical officers of the Permanent Defence Force, departed the Naval Base in Haulbowline on 16 May and arrived at its destination on Saturday last, 23 May to assist the Italian authorities in humanitarian search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
The current contribution of some 500 personnel to overseas missions reflects the Government’s continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security.
MEMBERS OF THE PERMANENT DEFENCE FORCE SERVING OVERSEAS AS OF 25 MAY 2015
|
1. |
UN MISSIONS |
|
|
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) HQ |
9 |
|
|
UNIFIL 49 th Infantry Group |
185 |
|
|
UNIFIL Sector West HQ |
4 |
|
|
UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation) Israel and Syria |
13 |
|
|
MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) |
3 |
|
|
MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) |
4 |
|
|
UNOCI (United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast) |
2 |
|
|
UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) HQ, Golan Heights Syria |
8 |
|
|
UNDOF 48 th Infantry Group |
130 |
|
|
TOTAL |
358 |
|
|
UN MANDATED MISSIONS |
||
|
EUFOR (EU led Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
7 |
|
|
EUTM Mali (EU led Training Mission) |
9 |
|
|
KFOR (International Security Presence in Kosovo) HQ |
12 |
|
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING WITH UN MISSIONS |
386 |
|
|
2. |
OTHER DEPLOYMENTS |
|
|
RSM (Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan) |
7 |
|
|
UK EBOLA TREATMENT CENTRE (Sierra Leone) |
4 |
|
|
Navel Service Humanitarian Mission in Mediterranean (L.E. Eithne) |
70 |
|
|
TOTAL NUMBERS OF PERSONNEL OTHER DEPLOYMENTS |
81 |
|
|
3. |
ORGANISATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) |
|
|
OSCE Mission to Bosnia & Herzegovina |
2 |
|
|
Staff Officer, High Level Planning Group Vienna |
1 |
|
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL SERVING OSCE |
3 |
|
|
4. |
EU MILITARY STAFF |
|
|
Brussels |
5 |
|
|
5. |
NORDIC BATTLE GROUP 2015 |
|
|
FHQ Sweden |
14 |
|
|
6. |
MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES/ADVISERS/STAFF |
|
|
Military Adviser, Permanent Mission to UN, New York |
1 |
|
|
Military Adviser Irish delegation to OSCE, Vienna |
1 |
|
|
Military Representative to EU (Brussels) |
4 |
|
|
Liaison Office of Ireland, NATO/PfP (Brussels) |
2 |
|
|
EU OHQ Operation Althea, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
|
Irish Liaison Officer to SHAPE & Military Co-Op Division, Mons, Belgium |
1 |
|
|
TOTAL NUMBER OF DEFENCE FORCES PERSONNEL SERVING OVERSEAS |
499 |
95. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of additional recruits the Defence Forces have taken on so far in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20922/15]
View answerThe Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service. Targeted recruitment has taken place so as to maintain the level of 9,500 personnel and to ensure the operational capacity of the Defence Forces.
As the Permanent Defence Force is currently below the agreed stabilised strength of 9,500, it is intended that targeted recruitment will continue in 2015, from the recruitment panels formed from the current General Service recruitment competition, launched in March 2014. It is planned that these panels will remain in place until they are exhausted. No recruits have been taken into the Defence Forces so far in 2015. It is too early to say when this recruitment will commence, as this is dependent on the operational requirements of the Defence Forces and the budget allocation for Defence. A Naval Service recruitment campaign is underway for 2015.
With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, I intend to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.
96. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide, in tabular form by county, a breakdown for 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015, of the number of suspect devices that the army disposal unit has dealt with. [20923/15]
View answerPrimary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with An Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP), assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.
The Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams respond when a request for assistance is made by An Garda Síochána in dealing with a suspect device. Following post operation analysis these callouts are then catergorised and this would include viable devices, hoaxes, false alarms, post-blast analysis and the removal of unstable chemicals in laboratories.
The numbers of EOD call outs and the numbers of viable devices dealt with in 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015, by county, are set out in the following tabular statement.
|
- |
2013 |
2013 |
2014 |
2014 |
2015 to (25th May) |
2015 to (25th May) |
|
County |
Total Callouts |
Viable Devices |
Total Callouts |
Viable Devices |
Total Callouts |
Viable Devices |
|
Carlow |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Clare |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cork |
26 |
4 |
14 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
|
Donegal |
13 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Dublin |
108 |
33 |
59 |
26 |
22 |
3 |
|
Galway |
4 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
4 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kildare |
4 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Laois |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Limerick |
9 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
|
Longford |
5 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Louth |
8 |
13 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
3 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Meath |
4 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
4 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Tipperary |
7 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Waterford |
2 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
7 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
6 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
12 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
250 |
81 |
141 |
52 |
67 |
16 |
97. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the removal of asbestos from Naval Service vessels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20924/15]
View answerIn 2014, Asbestos Containing Materials were discovered to varying degrees on five Naval Service ships: L É Ciara, L É Orla, LÉ Aoife, L É Eithne and LÉ Aisling. The discovery of the Asbestos Containing Materials, commonly referred to as ACMs, on the Naval Service ships was treated by the Department of Defence and the Naval Service with the upmost seriousness with the safety and well-being of all individuals involved, both military and civilian, in the Naval Base of primary concern.
In each instance the Naval Service informed the Health and Safety Authority. The Health and Safety Authority issued an improvement notice under Regulation 17(1) Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations, 2006 and the Authority monitored the situation closely. As part of a Fleet Asbestos Management Plan the Naval Service contracted an independent specialist company to survey all Naval Service Vessels for the presence of Asbestos Containing Materials.
All of the aforementioned five Naval Service ships have had all identified Asbestos Containing Materials removed, have been rendered safe in accordance with HSA guidelines and have returned to operational service. No Asbestos Containing Materials were discovered on the other three ships in the Naval Service fleet, LÉ Roisin, LÉ Niamh and the LÉ Samuel Beckett.
98. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the discussions his Department has had with Kildare County Council regarding the future use of lands at Magee Barracks, Kildare town; if the sale of these lands by his Department is imminent; his plans to honour the explicit written guarantee provided by him and his Department to the community in County Kildare, at the time of the closure, that on disposal of the lands, ten acres of it would be donated to the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20953/15]
View answerOfficials from my Department recently met with the CEO and an official from Kildare County Council. The discussions centered on a number of issues including the Department’s future plans for Magee Barracks.
Regarding the allocation of part of the Barracks for community use, the position is that following the closure of the Barracks in 1998, it was agreed that the entire site would be transferred to Kildare County Council free of charge for inclusion in the Sustaining Progress Affordable Housing Initiative. A final Contract for transfer was issued to Kildare County Council in January 2009, however, the Council declined to sign the contract advising the Department that it no longer wished to take possession of the property.
99. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Defence the number of missions to date the emergency aeromedical service has carried out since its launch; the number of these missions that were in County Westmeath and County Longford; when the service will be made permanent; if night-time flying is being considered for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21043/15]
View answerIn June 2012 a Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between my Department and the Department of Health in relation to Air Corps’ participation in a pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service operating out of Custume Barracks, Athlone.
From the commencement of the pilot EAS service until 24 May 2015 the Air Corps has completed a total of 998 missions of which 68 were from Co. Westmeath and 50 were from Co. Longford.
A Working Group, set up by the Minister for Health to consider how best to provide a permanent EAS service, has completed its work and a report has been submitted to the Minister for Health. The Air Corps will continue to operate the pilot service while the report is being considered and a decision taken on a permanent service. Expanding the Air Corps’ current operation of this service to include night-time flying is not being considered.
100. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the process a person (details supplied) in County Longford should follow in relation to the Irish short-stay visa waiver programme. [20898/15]
View answerThe Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme was announced by the Government in 2011 as part of its Jobs Initiative with a view to promoting tourism from emerging markets. It was designed to allow tourism and business visitors to the UK to add on a visit to Ireland without the need for a separate Irish visa. Under the Programme certain visas issued by the authorities of the United Kingdom are recognised for the purposes of travel to Ireland. It permits nationals of eighteen countries (including Thailand) who are holders of Short Stay 'C' UK visas i.e. for the purpose of stays of up to six months only, to travel to Ireland, within the time remaining on their current leave to remain in the UK, without the requirement to obtain an Irish visa.
It should be borne in mind, however, that, as the Programme only applies to holders of Short Stay 'C' UK visas and it would appear, from the details supplied by the Deputy, that the person referred to is the holder of a Long Stay UK visa, she would therefore not come within the remit of the Programme. In such circumstances, the person in question would be required to be in possession of an Irish visa for the purpose of travel to the State. The visa application will be processed by the Visa Office at the Embassy of Ireland in London. Guidelines regarding the visa application procedures, and an information note on the Visa Waiver Programme, are available on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service at www.inis.gov.ie.
101. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details of the consultation exercise which the National Disability Authority undertook to ascertain the way its implementation plan can most effectively address the needs of persons with autism; the autism professionals who were consulted as part of the exercise; the progress that has been made to date with regard to autism proofing the national disability strategy as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20937/15]
View answerThe consultation event to which the Deputy refers was undertaken by the National Disability Authority (NDA) in January 2014. Information about the event and the final consultation report are available on the NDA's website. Based on the outcomes of this event and further consultation with Government Departments and disability stakeholders in the interim, a draft Programme of Actions, for inclusion in the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan, was developed. These actions take due regard of the specific needs of those with Autism. The Programme of Actions has been discussed at the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and will be published shortly.
102. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in relation to au pairs, if host families are at liberty to enter into a cultural exchange programme with non-European Union students. [20949/15]
View answerAn au pair is an individual who wishes to improve his/her knowledge of the English language by undertaking an au pair arrangement through residing with a family whilst attending English language classes.
An au pair arrangement is a private, voluntary, shared understanding between the parties concerned, namely a private household or sponsor family and a private individual. An au pair is regarded not as an employee but is received by a family and treated as a family member in exchange for certain services, such as a limited amount of light housework or baby-sitting. This activity is regarded as primarily cultural rather than economic and its main focus is the learning of English by the au pair.
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation does not issue employment permits to au pairs, child minders or domestic workers and accordingly, there is no immigration permission specifically assigned to these categories of activity. A non-EEA national who applied to do au pair work or for a visa on this basis would be refused. This does not prevent EU nationals the right to exercise free movement and engaging in this activity.
However, a person who is granted permission to enter and remain in the State on the basis of being an English language student could undertake an au pair arrangement on the understanding that such an arrangement would not impinge upon, or in any way detract from, the primary purpose of the person’s presence in the State, namely as a student. Classes must be attended and evidence of attendance be available for inspection if requested.
Regulation of working conditions is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. I am informed that in situations where a complaint is received involving a person described as an au pair, the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), which comes within his remit, will investigate with a view to establishing the person’s statutory entitlements under employment law – including whether the term “au pair” is being used to avoid statutory obligations or indeed to get around the fact that the person might actually be a domestic employee and, if a non-EEA national, possibly unlawfully employed. In such cases NERA will act in accordance with its mandate and powers under employment legislation.
I understand that officials from my Department (from an immigration perspective), the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and NERA are currently considering the situation with regard to au pairs in Ireland.
103. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will prioritise the refurbishment of the courthouse in Wicklow town as a capital project, in line with the stated policy of the Courts Service; if she will provide a definitive time frame in terms of when this refurbishment work will be undertaken; if she will further provide an outline of the extent of the refurbishment plans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20958/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, 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 enquiries made and the Courts Service informed me that a portion of land adjacent to Wicklow Courthouse was acquired by the Courts Service that would allow for the future development of the courthouse. The courthouse building itself was vested by the Courts Service in October 2009 and the building and surrounding lands are in the ownership of the Courts Service. While the Courts Service has not been in a position in recent years to proceed with its plans for Wicklow Courthouse, it is committed to the development of the courthouse and I am assured that the matter will be kept under review, having regard to available resources.
104. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Questions Nos. 273 and 275 of 30 September 2014, 350 of 10 February 2015 and 108 of 20 February 2015, outlining the statistics on non-surrender of driver licences by disqualified drivers, which showed that 1,286 drivers were prosecuted in 2013 for driving while disqualified, 1,373 prosecutions were initiated in 2014, 20,315 drivers were prosecuted in 2013 for driving without a licence, and 19,968 drivers were prosecuted in 2014, what were the penalties these prosecuted drivers received in court for these offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20870/15]
View answerI understand that statistics are not compiled in such a manner as to provide the information sought by the Deputy. However I have made enquiries as to what relevant information may be available and will contact the Deputy directly once this is to hand.
105. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Question No. 98 of 4 March 2015, which was in reference to original Question No. 312 of 11 November 2014, the reply of which was received on 30 January 2015, regarding the number of fatal collisions in 2014 and the number of drivers involved and who were tested for alcohol, if she has received the information requested from An Garda Síochána on the breakdown of the reasons 64 of those drivers, out of 161 fatal crashes in 2014, were not tested for alcohol, either at the scene in a Garda station or at a hospital, after being involved in a fatal crash; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20871/15]
View answerI am informed by the Garda authorities that full year data is now available for 2014 and the total number of fatal collisions, some involving more than one vehicle and driver, was 181. Of the drivers involved 82 could not be breath tested due to fatal injury and the following table outlines the position with respect to the other drivers not tested.
Reason for not testing drivers involved in Fatal Injury Collisions in 2014
|
Driver gone to Hospital |
20 |
|
Medical Grounds |
13 |
|
Driver Gone from Hospital |
1 |
|
Medical Grounds - Doctor refusal |
2 |
|
Hit and Run |
4 |
|
Medical Grounds – Insufficient time |
2 |
|
Driver Not Known |
1 |
|
Report at station – Insufficient time |
1 |
|
Not investigated at scene – Insufficient time 3hrs |
1 |
|
Other |
6 |
|
Total |
51 |
Note the figures provided are provisional, operational and liable to change.
106. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to correspondence from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport with the Promoting Awareness, Responsibility and Care on our Roads, PARC, group, dated 23 February 2015, where that Minister informed PARC that An Garda Síochána is currently liaising with the Courts Service on bringing persons before the courts following their failure to produce a driving licence or permit, that An Garda Síochána has advised that it is currently liaising with the Courts Service on the provision of a representative sample of court orders in relation to such cases, and that An Garda Síochána will take proceedings, if she will report on the status of this statement; if she will report on whether the Courts Service has since provided An Garda Síochána with these samples; if An Garda Síochána has begun to commence prosecutions of drivers who fail to produce their licence in court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20873/15]
View answer107. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Question No. 493 of 24 March 2015, where she stated that she was making inquiries with the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána with regard to recording licence numbers, if the information is now to hand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20874/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together.
As the Deputy will be aware the primary purpose of Section 63 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 is to ensure that the driving licence number of individual offenders is recorded to enable the application of appropriate penalty points to the licence on conviction by the Court.
Where an accused is brought before a Court in relation to a penalty point offence, the driving licence number is collected by two methods. The first is where the details are provided by An Garda Síochána prior to submission of an application for a summons in respect of the offence. Where the driving licence number is so collected, the driving licence number is sent electronically to the Courts Service with the summons application and the licence number is updated to the Courts Service computer system. Under the second method, the details are collected by the Court Registrar where a licence is produced to the Court at the hearing of the offence.
As outlined above, if the licence is produced to the Court, the Court Registrar records the licence number and the number is updated to the Courts Service computer system.
The Courts Service has indicated that it is not possible to differentiate between the two methods above to provide statistical data in relation to the number of driving licence numbers actually collected within a Court. However, the Courts Service has informed me that 7,790 defendants were listed for Court for drink driving prosecutions in 2014 with 983 driving licence numbers recorded. It should be noted that the information provided by the Courts Service relates to all drink driving prosecutions in 2014, whether or not the summons was served. In addition, some of the prosecutions may be ongoing.
I am informed that where an accused is summonsed to appear before a Court in respect of a penalty point offence and is convicted of the offence, if a driving licence is not produced to the Court, the Court Registrar records on the Court Minute Book or on the summons that no driving licence was produced. The non-production of the driving licence is recorded whether or not the accused appears before the Court. The Courts Service computer system does not currently support the updating of data in relation to the non-production of driving licences in Court. I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is in contact with the relevant agencies with a view to ensuring that the most efficient and effective processing and recording of data in respect of non-production of licences is in place. I am informed that An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service are actively engaged in a process that will facilitate prosecution of those who fail to produce a driving licence or permit and the copy of a licence or permit before the Courts. The Courts Service and the Garda personnel required, in accordance with agreed procedures, have been identified and it is expected that cases will come before the Courts for hearing in the coming months.
108. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on An Garda Síochána's Operation Learner Driver; the number stopped under this operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20876/15]
View answerI have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matters referred to by the Deputy. I will contact the Deputy directly as soon as the report is to hand.
109. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide clarification regarding data protection regulation to police any undesirable material on a social network (details supplied) to protect specific targeted victims from unscrupulous users; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20926/15]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position as Minister for Justice and Equality to interpret data protection law or to provide advice in a particular case. The general position is that the Office of Data Protection Commissioner has been established under section 9 of the Data Protection Act 1988 and its statutory functions include the monitoring of implementation of data protection law, the investigation of complaints and, where appropriate, the taking of legal proceedings in the event of breaches of data protection rules. Any specific complaints should, therefore, be directed to the Office of the Commissioner.
The Commissioner publishes useful information and helpful guidance on the making of complaints and on the proper implementation of data protection standards on her Office's web site (www.dataprotection.ie). This web site also contains useful case studies which illustrate the application of data protection law in specific cases.
110. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the options available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork to regularise their residency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20969/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service that the person mentioned by the Deputy entered the State on foot of a Working Holiday Authorisation which expired on 23/04/2015.
The Working Holiday Authorisation which is issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs is available to young people from Australia who wish to stay in Ireland for an extended holiday and who are afforded the opportunity to work casually in order to fund their stay. It is granted for a duration of one year and is non renewable and the person is expected to leave the State on or before the expiration date.
Legal residency in this State is granted for a number of reasons including being the holder of a work permit, being a student in the State, or marriage to an Irish or EU national.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department 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.
