Written Answers Nos. 121 - 131
121. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide, in tabular form, the expenses incurred by him between 2011 and to date in 2015 to include the date, expense type, description and amount; if each expense was vouched; his plans to introduce changes to the expenses system to ensure all expenses are fully vouched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26993/15]
View answerThe expenses incurred in my capacity as Minister for Defence since my appointment on 11 July 2014 are set out in the following table.
|
- |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Accommodation |
€ 899.05 |
€ 318.59 |
|
Subsistence reimbursed |
Nil |
€527.00 |
|
Foreign Travel - Air |
€ 2,504.08 |
€ 2,640.25 |
|
Ground Transport incl. rail |
Nil |
€ 1,945.58 |
|
Misc Expenses |
€ 5.00 |
€ 386.03 |
During this period I attended 2 Formal Council of Minister meetings, 2 Informal meetings of Defence Ministers, and a summit on Strengthening UN Peace Operations in New York. I also visited Defence Force Personnel serving in both Lebanon and Mali.
122. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of requests for meetings she has received from private, external, non-State-funded lobby groups; the number of meetings she has held with these groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26704/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, in view of the range of my remit as Minister I receive representations, including requests for meetings from a broad range of sources, including members of the Oireachtas, local and voluntary groups and private individuals and companies.
While my Office does not maintain a register of all such requests for meetings or invitations received, I can advise the Deputy that the information sought is being compiled and will be provided to him as soon as possible.
The Deputy will be aware that the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 has recently been enacted by the Oireachtas and will commence on 1 September 2015. The Act provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission (the Standards Commission) will establish and maintain an online register of lobbying and oversee compliance with the legislative provisions. The purpose of the register will be to make information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials. Persons lobbying will have to register with the Standards Commission and will be required to submit returns on their lobbying activities.
123. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of direct provision centres there are currently in operation; the number of residents in each as of 1 June 2015; the situation on 1 June 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26726/15]
View answerThe Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in the Direct Provision system. At end May 2014 there were 4,305 persons being accommodated in the system. At end May 2015 there were 4,484 persons being accommodated. There are currently 37 accommodation centres in operation across 16 counties.
Asylum seekers are not required to avail of direct provision accommodation, and a number choose to make their own arrangements. Asylum seekers who choose to avail of direct provision accommodation may do so until such time as their status is resolved to finality. That is to say, they may remain in RIA accommodation until such time as they are either removed from the State or are granted some form of status allowing them to stay in the State. While the net change in those accommodated by RIA is plus 179 over the period, during that time a number of persons will have moved on from the accommodation while others will have come in to the system, mainly newly arrived asylum seekers.
The Report of the Working Group set up to report to Government on improvements to the protection process, including direct provision and supports to asylum seekers was launched on Tuesday 30 June, 2015 and contains a number of recommendations in this area.
|
Centre Name |
Occupancy end-May 2014 |
Occupancy end-May 2015 |
|
Knockalisheen, Co. Clare |
168 |
250 |
|
Ashbourne Hse, Co. Cork |
70 |
82 |
|
Kinsale Road, Cork |
249 |
244 |
|
Glenvera, Cork |
99 |
96 |
|
Millstreet, Co. Cork |
191 |
161 |
|
Clonakilty Lodge, Co. Cork |
89 |
82 |
|
Balseskin Reception Centre, Dublin |
153 |
286 |
|
Clondalkin, Dublin |
210 |
213 |
|
Georgian Court, Dublin |
83 |
85 |
|
Staircase, Dublin |
28 |
27 |
|
Hatch Hall, Dublin |
122 |
155 |
|
Watergate, Dublin |
61 |
50 |
|
Eglinton Salthill, Galway |
175 |
178 |
|
Great Western, Galway |
121 |
146 |
|
Atlas House (Killarney) |
35 |
31 |
|
Atlas House (Tralee) |
55 |
85 |
|
Johnston Marina, Tralee |
66 |
77 |
|
Park Lodge, Killarney |
0 (closed for refurbishment) |
27 |
|
Eyre Powell, Newbridge Kildare |
63 |
71 |
|
Montague, Portlaoise |
162 |
179 |
|
Carroll Village, Dundalk |
18 |
28 |
|
Hanratty's, Limerick |
106 |
103 |
|
Westbourne, Limerick |
82 |
84 |
|
Mount Trenchard, Co. Limerick |
55 |
70 |
|
The Old Convent, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo |
205 |
169 |
|
Mosney, Co Meath |
605 |
503 |
|
St. Patrick's Monaghan |
177 |
177 |
|
Globe House, Sligo |
202 |
187 |
|
Bridgewater House, Carrick-on-Suir |
93 |
84 |
|
Atlantic House, Tramore, Waterford |
54 |
53 |
|
Ocean View, Tramore, Waterford |
54 |
57 |
|
Birchwood/Ursuline. Waterford |
114 |
123 |
|
Viking House, Waterford |
86 |
80 |
|
Athlone, Westmeath |
254 |
289 |
|
Total |
4,305 |
4,484 |
124. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware of the revelations emanating from the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry in Northern Ireland that An Garda Síochána was aware of the abuse of children by a person (details supplied), yet no actions were taken; the actions she will take to clarify this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26733/15]
View answer125. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the actions she will take to ensure that the victims of a person (details supplied) will be given justice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26734/15]
View answer126. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has had any communication with her Northern counterpart surrounding the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26735/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 124 to 126, inclusive, together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Commissioner has appointed a Detective Superintendent to conduct an in-depth review of Garda files and records in order to ascertain the facts surrounding the information referred to by the Deputy. This review is currently ongoing.
I can also inform the Deputy that I meet regularly with my Northern Ireland counterpart David Ford. We met most recently on 19 June in Armagh and had the opportunity to discuss a full range of issues of mutual concern relating to North-South policing and justice co-operation, including child sexual abuse and related issues. The Deputy will appreciate, of course, that the Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry is an independent statutory inquiry established by and reporting to the Northern Ireland Executive. That inquiry process is ongoing and any conclusions or findings or relevance to this jurisdiction will be studied as and when they are made, taking into account in particular the historical inquiries which have already been carried out in this jurisdiction.
127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of incidences of robbery recorded against persons in the Kildare north Garda division for the Leixlip and Celbridge area on the police using leading systems effectively, PULSE, system; the number of such cases currently under investigation; the number of such cases that were finalised, charged, prosecuted or were not actively investigated between 1 January and 31 May 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26737/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the publication of recorded crime statistics.
In relation to the matters referred to, I have requested the CSO to provide the available statistics directly to the Deputy.
128. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the post of Secretary General in her Department is to be filled; if she will report on the Garda districts currently without a superintendent; the length of time each post has been vacant; when each post will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26757/15]
View answerIn respect of the query on the post of Secretary General in my Department, I refer the Deputy to my recent reply to Parliamentary Question 419 of 16 June 2015. The position has not changed.
As 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 am informed by the Garda Commissioner that where a vacancy exists at the rank of Superintendent it is the practice of Garda management to allocate a member of Inspector rank to act at the rank of Superintendent, pending the filling of the vacancy by way of Competition. I understand that for operational reasons it is not the policy of the Commissioner to disclose where current vacancies exist.
I have been further informed by the Garda Commissioner that in total there has been 38 newly appointed Superintendents since 3 February 2015.
129. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that adequate resources are provided for the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains, in view of the very important and difficult work that the commission undertakes. [26803/15]
View answerThe Irish and British Governments established the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) in 1999 as a means to facilitate the location of the remains of a number of people who were killed and buried secretly by paramilitary organisations during the troubles. This group of victims has become known as the Disappeared.
The families of the Disappeared have had to face a very cruel fate over many years, not only having lost a loved one, but having been denied for so long information regarding the burial places of their loved ones.
With the support of the two Governments, the ICLVR has worked tirelessly over the past 16 years in pursuit of a solely humanitarian objective - to locate the victims’ remains in order that they may be returned to their families to receive a decent burial and that the families would then have a grave at which to grieve and to remember.
As the Deputy will know, in the course of its ongoing work the ICLVR uncovered the remains of two persons at a site in Co. Meath last week. The discovery was made at a location where a search for the remains of Joe Lynskey was being carried out. This location is also where it is believed the remains of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee may be buried. While a positive identification of the remains found will take some weeks to complete, it is to be hoped that the suffering of the families of some of those who were disappeared will now be eased.
While the remains of a number of the Disappeared have been recovered, there are still victims whose remains have yet to be located. The ICLVR is continuing its work in relation to these cases and I can assure the families of my and the Government's full support for this ongoing humanitarian work.
I know the Deputy will join with me in encouraging anyone with information that could help to locate those still missing to give that information to the ICLVR without delay. I would emphasise that all information provided to the ICLVR is treated as strictly confidential and, by law, can only be used to locate and identify the remains of victims. The Government remains strongly committed to the aim of locating these victims and returning their remains to their families. I call on all others to help to bring it about.
130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the process to be followed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway in order to regularise that person's position and eligibility for naturalisation, given that this person has had a work permit in this jurisdiction for nine years, given that the person's application for a passport for their child was refused and given that the person is most anxious to regularise their position in this jurisdiction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26853/15]
View answerI am informed by the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to, who currently has permission to reside in the State until 15 July 2015, or on behalf of her child.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended. The INIS website at www.inis.gov.ie provides detailed information on Irish Citizenship and Naturalisation and includes an on-line calculator which may be of assistance in establishing if the residency requirements are met.
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 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 INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 18 June 2015, the position in regard to long-term residency and eligibility for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26854/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned is currently registered in the State under Stamp 4 conditions as the spouse of an Irish national, valid until 04/12/2015, which is renewable directly with their local Garda Registration Office.
A foreign national who is married to, or is the civil partner of, an Irish citizen for at least three years may apply for naturalisation under section 15A of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended where, inter alia, they have been continuously resident in the island of Ireland for the year immediately prior to the date of their application and for two out of the four years prior to that year. The marriage or civil partnership must be subsisting and recognised under Irish law. Section 15A provides that the Minister may waive certain conditions for naturalisation if satisfied that the applicant would suffer serious consequences in respect of his or her bodily integrity or liberty if not granted Irish citizenship.
Further information surrounding the Naturalisation process can be found on the INIS website www.inis.gov.ie under Citizenship.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS 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.
