Tuesday, 16 Jun 2015

Written Answers Nos. 462 - 476

Parliamentary Questions

Questions (462, 463)

Seán Fleming

Question:

462. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the protocols in place since March 2011 to set standards in parliamentary replies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23504/15]

Seán Fleming

Question:

463. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied that parliamentary questions are adequately replied to within her Department; the steps she has taken since March 2011 to ensure parliamentary questions are fully responded to within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23520/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together.

I answer all Parliamentary Questions tabled to me as Minister in accordance with the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business. As the Deputy will be aware, Standing Order 40A places a duty on me to address each and every request contained in a Parliamentary Question. In addition, I regularly provide information relating to agencies operating under the remit of my Department.

In terms of internal controls in my Department, each member of staff responsible for preparing responses to Parliamentary Questions has been issued with a manual which sets out the standards expected when drafting replies.

I am satisfied that every effort is made to ensure that replies to parliamentary questions are accurate, clear and answer as fully as possible the question tabled by Deputies. Where this is not possible within the time constraints a full reply issues as quickly as possible direct to the Deputy.

Consultancy Contracts

Questions (464)

Barry Cowen

Question:

464. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department has renegotiated external information technology consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23573/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

My Department has not re-negotiated any external IT consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011.

State Bodies

Questions (465)

Barry Cowen

Question:

465. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in respect of State boards under her Department's remit, the number of appointments to State boards; the number of vacancies in State boards; the number of vacancies in State boards publically advertised; and the number of appointments to State boards drawn directly from the public advertisement process, in period March 2011 to 2015 to date. [23589/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The information sought by the Deputy is set out below. It was not possible to present the information in tabular format as per the Deputy's request.

In relation to the public advertising of vacancies, the Deputy will be aware that there are many constraining factors which impact on the filling of vacancies to State Boards. Board vacancies are not always advertised on the Public Appointments Service (PAS) website. Many are advertised on the Department's website or the websites of the organisations concerned. The Deputy will also be aware that there are many cases where legislation requires that a vacancy must be filled by candidates holding certain qualifications or must be nominated by certain prescribed bodies and in such instances public advertisement of the vacancy is usually not necessary. Other than that I am not in a position to provide further information as in order to do so it would be necessary to disaggregate every single appointment made since 2011 and the resources are simply not available to undertake this task.

However, to the extent possible I have provided below a narrative account of the vacancies filled since 2011 and the manner in which they were filled.

The Deputy may wish to note that the term 'State Boards' is somewhat imprecise as it includes bodies with a wide and diverse range of functions many of which would not fall into the more commonly understood definition of Board which is a body with a governance oversight of an organisation. To be of assistance to the Deputy I have interpreted his question as embracing all bodies called Boards, irrespective of their functions, as well as other bodies with a governance remit whose title does not include the term “Board”.

Censorship of Publications Board 1

Five appointments were made to the Censorship of Publications Board in March 2014. These positions were filled from applications received in response to a public advertisement process.

Censorship of Publications Appeal Board 1

The membership of the Censorship of Publications Appeal Board is currently vacant (five members). These positions will be advertised on www.stateboards.ie in due course. All of these positions will be filled from applications received in response to the public advertisement process.

Charities Regulatory Authority

In 2014, sixteen appointments were made to the Charities Regulatory Authority. All of these positions were filled from applications received in response to a public advertisement process. The Charities Regulatory Authority was established on a statutory basis on 16 October 2014.

Children Detention Schools Board of Management

One appointment was made to the Children Detention Schools Board of Management. The position was not advertised as the appointment was made under Section 167(4)(a) of the Children Act 2001 as amended, which requires at least one officer of the Minister. The person appointed was a civil servant.

The Deputy should note that responsibility for the Children Detention Schools Board of Management moved to the Department for Children and Youth Affairs on 1 January 2012.

Classification of Films Appeal Board

All positions (nine members) on the Classification of Films Appeal Board are currently vacant. These positions were advertised on www.stateboards.ie on 29 May 2015. All of these positions will be filled from applications received in response to the public advertisement process.

Courts Service Board

The Courts Service Board has eighteen members, it is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes nine other judges, the CEO of the Courts Service, persons nominated by the Law Society, Bar Council and ICTU, an elected staff representative and three persons nominated by the Minister for Justice. Thirty one vacancies occurred. There have been thirty one appointments, six of which were individuals nominated by myself or my predecessor Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D., including two civil servants from my Department. None of the vacancies were publically advertised.

Garda Síochána Arbitration Board

The Garda Síochána Arbitration Board is appointed by the Government and consists of a Chairperson, a member nominated by the representatives associations and a member nominated by the Government. The Chairperson is appointed on the nomination of the Ministers for Justice & Equality and Public Expenditure & Reform in agreement with the representative associations. Four vacancies occurred and four appointments were made to the board.

Garda Síochána Complaints Board

The Board of the Garda Síochána Complaints Board (GSCB) consists of a Chairman and eight ordinary members one of whom is nominated by the Garda Commissioner. The term of office for the Board of the GSCB is 5 years. The Board’s current term of office commenced on 8 May 2012.

Members of the Board, other than two serving public servants, are entitled to be paid remuneration. However, in line with a request from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform the Board members have agreed to avail of the option to waive their Board fees. Accordingly, the members of the current Board have received no remuneration since their appointment to the Board.

In view of the impending dissolution of the Garda Síochána Complaints Board, the serving members of the executive Board were reappointed for a five year term or until the dissolution, whichever is the earlier. There is no requirement for Board members to appear before an Oireachtas Committee prior to appointment.

Please note that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is not a Board it is a three member Commission

Judicial Appointments Advisory Board

The Judicial Appointments Advisory Board consists of eleven members, it is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes four other judges, the Attorney General, persons nominated by the Law Society and Bar Council and three persons nominated by the Minister for Justice and Equality. Fourteen vacancies occurred. Thirteen appointments were made to the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board. Five of the appointments were individuals nominated by myself or my predecessor Deputy Shatter. There is currently one vacancy on the Board, which was publically advertised through the Public Appointments Service, I intend to fill this vacancy shortly.

Legal Aid Board

Sixteen vacancies occurred during the period referred to by the Deputy. Of the sixteen appointments to this Board, nine were civil or public servants. The positions were not publicly advertised.

Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board

Five vacancies occurred. Five appointments were made to the Mental Health (Criminal Law) Review Board. Individuals are appointed by the Minister on foot of their experience and expertise which is invaluable to the work of the Board.

National Disability Authority (NDA)

Fourteen vacancies arose on the Board of the National Disability Authority during the period referred to by the Deputy, and fourteen appointments were made to the Board. All were publicly advertised. A total of eleven appointments were drawn directly from the public advertisement process.

Parole Board

Twelve vacancies occurred when terms of appointments expired (i.e. after a term of 3 years) and twelve re/appointments were made to the Parole Board. Individuals are appointed by the Minister on foot of their experience and expertise which is invaluable to the work of the Board.

Private Security Appeal Board

The Government made 4 appointments to the Private Security Appeal Board on 3rd April, 2012. These posts were not advertised on this occasion. This was not felt necessary given the small number of appointees sought, the low level of activity and remuneration of the Board and the need to put the Board, with continuity of experience, in place as soon as possible.

Private Security Authority (PSA)

The Private Security Authority has eleven Board members, one Chairman and ten ordinary members. The current Board was appointed in July 2013 for a four year term. All 11 positions became vacant prior to this.

Four of the Board positions are nominations from An Garda Síochána, my Department, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Employment and the Private Security Authority as required under the Private Security Services Act 2004 (as amended). Therefore it is only possible to advertise a maximum of seven positions. My predecessor as Minister sought Expressions of Interest for all such seven positions.

Six appointees were taken from those who had submitted an Expression of Interest.

Property Registration Authority

Ten appointments were made to the Property Registration Authority in the period referred to by the Deputy. Of these appointments, the Chairperson whose term of office expired in November 2014 was re-appointed for a further term of office. Four of these appointments related to an officer of the Minister, an elected staff representative, a nominee of the Bar Council and a nominee of the Law Society - as provided for the legislation which established the Authority. The other appointments were made from among applicants who responded to public advertisement processes.

Property Services Appeal Board

Six appointments were made to the Property Services Appeal Board in July 2012. There was a public advertisement process and all of those persons appointed were public applicants. The position of the Chairperson of the Board is currently vacant and will be advertised on www.stateboards.ie shortly.

Property Services Regulatory Authority

Eleven appointments were made to the Property Services Regulatory Authority in 2012. Of these, one was an officer of the Minister as provided for in the legislation which established the Authority. There was a public advertisement process. Nine of those appointed were public applicants. The Chairperson, who was a member of the Property Services Regulatory Authority Implementation Team, was appointed in order to provide continuity to the Authority which had operated on a non-statutory basis for a number of years. Five of these appointments expired in April 2015. All of the outgoing members, one of whom was the officer of the Minister, were re-appointed for a further term of office.

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

On 8 September 2011, the Government decided to merge the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority to establish a new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) to promote human rights and equality issues in a more efficient, effective and coherent way.

The fourteen outgoing members of the Equality Authority accepted reappointment in September 2011 for a further term which concluded at the end of July 2012.

In the case of the Human Rights Commission 3 Commissioners were appointed by a Government Decision on the 20 December 2011 and their term expired on 31 May, 2012.

The Working Group established to advise on the practical issues in relation to the establishment of a new merged Commission recommended that an Independent Selection Panel be set up for the purpose of appointing new and future members of this Commission. This is in line with a fundamental requirement of the Paris Principles that the members of the IHREC be independent and that the selection process be independent of Government.

In November 2012, advertisements inviting expressions of interest for the position of Chief Commissioner and of "ordinary" members appeared in the media. The Independent Selection Panel forwarded its recommendation of fourteen names in March 2013. While the persons recommended could not be appointed to the IHREC in advance of the required legislation being enacted and commenced, the Government appointed fourteen individuals as members of the Human Rights Commission and subsequently they were appointed as members of the IHREC when the legislation was enacted, on a three-year and five-year basis to ensure that the terms of office of all members of the new Commission will not come to an end at the same time so as to preserve institutional continuity.

On 31 May, 2013, my predecessor Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D. appointed twelve of their number to the Board of the Equality Authority, under the Employment Equality Act 1998, as amended, on an interim basis of three years, but which expired when the Bill to establish the IHREC was enacted and commenced and the two Bodies were dissolved.

Ms Emily Logan was nominated by PAS as Chief Commissioner of the IHREC and at a Government meeting on 18 July 2014 Ms Logan was appointed on an interim basis as President of the Human Rights Commission pursuant to section 5 of the Human Rights Commission Act 2000. She was also appointed as Chair of the Equality Authority pursuant to section 41 and 42 of the Employment Equality Act 1998.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 which passed both Houses of the Oireachtas was signed by the President on 27 July 2014. Her formal appointment and the formal appointment of the other fourteen members to the new IHREC were made by the President on the 31 October 2014 following the passing of motions in both Houses of the Oireachtas on 23 October 2014.

Future selection of persons to serve as members of the IHREC will be vested in the Public Appointments Service (PAS) as provided for in the IHREC Act 2014.

1 Responsibility for the Censorship of Publications Board and the Censorship of Publications Appeal Board was transferred from the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht to the Minister for Justice and Equality with effect from 10 March 2015 (S.I. 89/2015 refers.)

Questions Nos. 466 and 467 answered with Question No. 413.

Freedom of Information Requests

Questions (468)

Barry Cowen

Question:

468. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, for each year from 2009 to 2014 and for 2015 to date, the total number of freedom of information requests received by her Department; the total refused; granted; part-granted; successful appeals; part-successful appeals; and refusals of appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23612/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of Freedom of Information requests received by my Department from 2009 to date is set out in the following tables.

The total figure of requests and appeals received also includes requests withdrawn, handled outside FOI or transferred.

Year	Number received	Number Granted	Number Part Granted	Number refused	Number Appealed	Number Granted or Decision set aside	Number of Appeals Refused
2009	844	214	187	123	61	27	24
2010	598	170	174	149	78	32	40
2011	597	116	263	117	67	28	37
2012	594	184	226	142	60	22	38
2013	550	176	233	116	84	28	52
2014	920	191	455	147	67	26	32
2015* (12 June 2015)	623	81	314	112	38	8	14

Question No. 469 answered with Question No. 413.

Legislative Process

Questions (470)

Micheál Martin

Question:

470. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number, name and date of Bills initiated in her Department, that have been subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas. [23643/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

Since 2011 some 19 pieces of draft legislation in my Department were subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas. Of these, 8 were Bills initiated in the Dáil or Seanad and 11 were General Schemes or draft Heads of a Bill yet to be published.

As the Deputy will be aware, under Dáil Standing Order 123 A and prior to its presentation or introduction to the Dáil, the General Schemes or draft Heads of a Bill shall, (save in exceptional circumstances), be given by a member of Government or a Minister of State to the Committee empowered under Standing Order 82A for their consideration. A tabular list of all such draft legislation so referred as follows.

Bills initiated in Dáil/Seanad that were subject to pre-legislative scrutiny

Bill Number	Bill Name	Date Referred to Committee
No. 32 of 2012	Criminal Justice (Withholding Information on Crimes Against Children and Vulnerable Adults) Bill	29/07/11
No. 58 of 2012	Personal Insolvency Bill 2012	26/01/12
No. 71 of 2012	National Vetting Bureau Bill	28/07/11
No. 83 of 2013	Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill (Previously Mental Capacity Bill)	In 2012 the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality invited written submissions on the Scheme of the then-entitled Mental Capacity Bill and held public hearings on the proposed legislation in 22/29 February 2012. The Committee issued its report in May 2012. The Bill was published in July 2013 as the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill and, as it differed in certain respects from the original scheme, the Joint Committee, in April 2014, invited further written submissions from interested parties, which it forwarded to the Department.
No. 20 of 2014	Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014	04/06/12
No. 5 of 2015	Thirty Fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality Referendum) Bill 2015	19/12/14
No. 14 of 2015	Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015	30/01/14
No. 47 of 2015	Garda Síochána (Policing Authority And Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015	07/11/14

General Schemes that were subject to pre-legislative scrutiny but have not yet been published as a Bill

Bill Number	Bill Name	Date Referred to Committee
N/A	Criminal Justice (Corruption) Bill	20/06/12
N/A	Mediation Bill	05/03/13
N/A	Gambling Control Bill	15/07/13
N/A	Criminal Justice (Community Sanctions) Bill (Previously Probation Service Bill)	07/02/14
N/A	Criminal Procedure Bill	25/06/14
N/A	Choice of Court (Hague Convention ) Bill	08/12/14 Following a briefing from departmental officials on this matter on 17/12/2014, the Committee did not feel it was necessary to undertake a pre-legislative scrutiny process on the General Scheme.
N/A	Táillte Éireann Bill	20/01/15 Following a briefing from departmental officials in relation to the General Scheme on 18 February 2015, the Committee took the view that a full pre-legislative scrutiny process was not necessary
N/A	Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill	Justice Committee briefed by officials on 04/02/2015
N/A	International Protection Bill	26/03/2015
N/A	Criminal Justice (Burglary of a Dwelling) Bill	15/04/15
N/A	Prisons Bill (formerly Saint Patrick’s Institution (Closing) Bill)	14/04/15
N/A	Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill	31/05/2015

Legislative Process

Questions (471)

Micheál Martin

Question:

471. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number, name and date of Bills initiated in her Department since September 2013. [23669/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

Since September 2013, 11 Bills in my Department were initiated in the Dáil or Seanad (7 of these have since been enacted).

Bills initiated in Dáil/Seanad since September 2013

Bill Number	Bill Name	Date Initiated in Dáil/Seanad
No. 93 of 2013	Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013 (Enacted 2014)	09/09/2013
No. 20 of 2014	Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014 (Enacted 2014)	19/03/2014
No. 68 of 2014	Court of Appeal Bill 2014 (Enacted 2014)	02/07/2014
No. 82 of 2014	Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014 (Enacted 2015)	15/08/2014
No. 83 of 2014	Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014 (Enacted 2015)	18/08/2014
No. 84 of 2014	Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014	18/08/2014
No. 96 of 2014	Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014	21/10/2014
No. 111 of 2014	Redress for Women Who Were In Certain Institutions Bill 2014 (Enacted 2015)	10/12/2014
No. 5 of 2015	Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015	21/01/2015
No. 14 of 2015	Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015 (Enacted 2015)	17/02/2015
No. 47 of 2015	Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015	14/05/2015

Departmental Staff Expenses

Questions (472)

Barry Cowen

Question:

472. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the total amount spent in each of the years 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date on staff subsistence payments and staff taxi payments; if her Department has been audited for tax compliance on these payments and other benefits in kind; if these processes have been revised, in view of the Revenue Commissioners concerns over practices in other State bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23685/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I can inform the Deputy that the total amount spent per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and from 1st January to 31st May in 2015 in my Department on staff subsistence payments and staff taxi payments is as follows:

Year	Subsistence	Taxi Costs
	€	€
2011	427,581	46,501
2012	364,233	30,242
2013	437,169	34,514
2014	447,929	31,729
2015 (Jan to May)	79,113	15,360

All travel and subsistence payments are in compliance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform circulars. All payments are approved by managers before the payments are processed.

Expenditure levels are monitored on a regular basis by the financial management unit and audits are carried out to ensure that expenditure is in compliance with the circulars and has a business justification. In addition, all expenditure is subject to regular audit by the Comptroller and Auditors General's Office.

Consultancy Contracts Data

Questions (473)

Barry Cowen

Question:

473. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, by year, all external consultant reports commissioned by her Department since March 2011; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and publication date. [23701/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I wish to inform that Deputy that the information requested is contained in the following table:

Year	Title of Report	Consultancy Firm	Cost of Report (€)	Publication Date
2011	Security Review - Penetration Testing	RITS Bianconi Research Ltd	10,083	Not for Publication
2011	Audit of Security arrangement for State Visits in 2011 and associated costs	Capita Consulting	6,598	Not for Publication
2011	Feasibility study into Circles of Support and Accountability for Ireland, 2011 (Probation)	Eustace Patterson Ann Clarke	€9,983	December 2011
2011	Drug and Alcohol Misuse among Adult Offenders on Probation Supervision in Ireland	Michelle Martyn	€9,958	May 2012
2011	Follow up audit on HR payroll procedures.	Mazars	5,955	Not for Publication
2011 & 2012	Strategy Development - Quality control process to review and assist in implementing audit recommendations to ensure effective internal controls in financial management and payroll systems	Tribal/Helm taken over by Capita	44,227	Not for Publication
2012	Review of the Implementation of the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence 2010-2014	The Institute of Public Administration	24,539	December 2012
2012	An audit on the Financial Shared Service Payroll and Financial Management Systems - these are specialist audits to ensure that these key systems have effective internal controls in place	Mazars	12,677	Not for Publication
2012	Department of Justice and Equality Safety Statement, May 2012, 51 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2	Safecon Training and Consultancy	984	Not for Publication
2012	Report on the Workshop of National Traveller Committees	Mr. Owen McCarthy	2,450	November 2012
2012	Software Asset Management 360 Microsoft Baseline Report	SAM360/OpenPlain	6,458	Not for Publication
2012	Security Review - Penetration Testing	RITS Bianconi Research Ltd	6,874	Not for Publication
2012	Report on 'Ethnicity and Travellers: An Exploration' conference proceedings	Mr. Owen McCarthy	2,200	December 2012
2012	National evaluation report on the results and impacts of actions co-financed by the European Refugee Fund concerning the period 2008-2010.	Capita Consulting	14,760 (This is the joint cost of this report and the one immediately following. No individual costs.)	Not published to date.
2012	National evaluation report on the results and impacts of actions co-financed by the European Fund for the Integration of third-country nationals concerning the period 2007-2010.	Capita Consulting	SEE ABOVE	Not published to date.
2012	Audit of AISIP	CAPITA	4,920	Not for Publication
2012	Audit of ICT Shared Services in Justice	CAPITA	9,225	Not for Publication
2012	Audit of ICT in Probation Service	CAPITA	3,997	Not for Publication
2012	An audit on the Financial Shared Service Payroll and Financial Management Systems	Mazars	12,677	Not for Publication
2013	Equality for Women Measure - Impact Evaluation Study	RSM McClure Watters	34,820 ex VAT	Not for Publication
2013	IT Infrastructure Architecture Report	Hibernia Everos	24,631	Not for Publication
2013	Strategy Development - Audit on ICT in FSS. These are specialist audits to ensure that key systems have effective controls in place	CAPITA	3,338	Not for Publication
2013	Dignity at Work in the Irish Prison Service - Report on Staff Perceptions	Jacinta Kitt and Sue Corbett	10,500	June 2014
2014	Facilitators Reports of the Workshop on Irish Sign Language held on 14 December 2013	The Communications Clinic Ltd	1,374	Not for Publication
2014	Analysis of text for final Review of National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2010-2014	University of Limerick	5,786	November 2014
2014	Facilitation of and Reporting on a Consultative Forum for the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence on 17 November 2014	Ms. Maureen P. Lynott	4,900	Not published to date
2014	Information Security Expert Opinion provided to Minister	RITS Bianconi Research Ltd	10,096	Not for Publication
2014	Information Security Expert Opinion	RITS	5,623	Not for Publication
2014	Evaluation of the Stable and Acute 2007 Risk Assessment and Supervision Model in Use in Ireland and Northern Ireland (Probation)	Professor Tim Trimble, TCD	12,373 paid to date	Not yet completed
2014	Review of Irish Prison Service ICT Security	RITS	29,410	Not published externally
2014	Healthcare Audit for the Irish Prison Service in Arbour Hill, Dochas, Limerick and Cork	Kennedy Roberts	6,389	Not published externally
2015	Feasibility Study of Laundry Service Mountjoy	Archie Kerr, Tarheel Training Centre, Scotland	€973.00	Unpublished – In Progress. Internal Review.
2015	Review of Irish Prison Service Psychology 2015	Frank Porporino	€7,200 plus vat	Unpublished – Incomplete; due for publication later in 2015

Alcohol Sales

Questions (474)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

474. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 208 of 28 April 2015 and 127 and 143 of 14 May 2015 in respect of distance sales of alcohol, if she is aware of legal advice obtained by senior gardaí in Ballymun, Dublin 11, on foot of a request for direction from the Director of Public Prosecutions, regarding payment on delivery for alcohol sales, which is in direct contradiction to the views of the Government alcohol advisory group 2008 report as outlined in her reply to this Deputy on 28 April 2015; and if she will provide clarification in this regard. [23733/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to comment on any particular case in my capacity as Minister for Justice and Equality. Moreover, I have no function in relation to independent legal advice provided by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Gardaí in response to matters referred to the Director.

As stated in replies to the previous Parliamentary Questions referred to by the Deputy, the Government Legislation Programme provides for future publication of the Sale of Alcohol Bill. The Bill, which will update the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2011 and replace them with provisions more suited to modern conditions, will provide an opportunity to further consider the difficulties arising in relation the control of distance sales of intoxicating liquor and the enforcement of such controls.

Coroners Service

Questions (475)

Niall Collins

Question:

475. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the coroners and assistant deputy coroners who are acting in each functional area; the annual remuneration paid to each, either by way of salary, fee or other arrangement in each of the years 2011 to 2014; the retirement date for each; the process of appointment to be followed for vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23746/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The names of Coroners, their Deputies and the Districts they act in are published and available on the website www.coroners.ie.

Payments are made to Coroners by the Local Authority with responsibility for each District, in the main, on the basis of a basic retainer and a fee per item as follows:

Retainer

Grade 1 - €21,744.00

Grade 2 - €17,932.00

Grade 3 - €12, 807.00

Fee per case

- Death reported: €129.68

- Deaths certified following post mortem: €188.54

- Death certified following post mortem and inquest: €522.97

The figures for annual retainers incorporate staffing, accommodation and general office costs.

The breakdown of total remuneration for the years requested by the Deputy, in so far as they are readily available, are currently being compiled and verified by Departmental officials and will be forwarded to the Deputy when completed.

Section 32(7) of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2011 provides for the amalgamation of Coroners' Districts, where more than one exists in a Local Authority area, when a vacancy arises.

Where there is a single Coroner for a District the appointment of a new Coroner is provided for in the Coroners Act, 1962. The process of the appointment of Coroners is being looked at in the review of the 2007 Coroners Bill which is currently underway in my Department.

The 2007 Bill needs review in the light of:

- the changed public finances;

- the increased emphasis on delivering leaner, better integrated and more customer-focused public services; and

- developing Coroner practice and case law.

As finalising the review is dependent on competing legislative priorities I am not in a position to give a definitive indication on a time frame for this project at present.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (476)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

476. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the draft general scheme of the consolidated Bill on domestic violence will be published; if she envisages that it will be published before the summer recess; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23798/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am currently finalising legislative proposals on the draft General Scheme of the Consolidated and Reformed Domestic Violence Legislation which I plan to bring to Government shortly. It is my plan, subject to necessary approval of Government, to publish the General Scheme before the summer recess. I would then intend to forward the draft General Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality for pre-legislative scrutiny.