Written Answers Nos. 154-161
154. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the review of firearms licensing legislation; if the concerns of the National Association of Regional Game Councils and the Sports Coalition have been given detailed consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28065/15]
View answerAs part of the consultation process for the on-going review of firearms licensing I have given a commitment that I would not make any decisions until I had met the key stakeholders, including the organisations who represent those who use firearms for sporting purposes. I had a useful meeting with the key stakeholders on 29 April 2015. Consideration of the issues involved, including the Sports Coalition (of which the National Association of Regional Games Councils is a member) proposals, is continuing. I intend to conclude consideration of the issues in the near future.
155. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when she will bring forward the legislation regarding the sex trafficking industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28085/15]
View answerOn 27 November, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. The General Scheme includes wide ranging provisions to enhance the protection of children and vulnerable persons from sexual abuse and exploitation. In addition, the Bill will provide for new offences of purchasing, in the context of prostitution, sexual services.
The first is a general offence of purchasing sexual services which carries a penalty of a fine of up to €500 for a first offence and fines of up to €1,000 for a second or subsequent offence. The second is the more serious offence of purchasing a sexual service from a trafficked person and carries a potential penalty of up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine. In both cases, the person selling the sexual service will not be subject to an offence.
These proposals have been developed following extensive consultation, initiated by my Department, dating back to 2012. The new offences also implement the recommendation from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence which called for the introduction of an offence criminalising the purchase of sexual services. The Bill is priority legislation and is currently being drafted, with a view to publication in this parliamentary session.
I would also draw the Deputy's attention to the existing legislative provisions addressing the trafficking of persons for the purpose of exploitation (including sexual exploitation) which can attract significant penalties. Under the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008, any person found guilty of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation shall be liable to imprisonment for a period up to life. It is also an offence for a person to solicit or importune a trafficked person for the purposes of prostitution with a potential penalty of imprisonment for up to 5 years.
156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 139 of 25 June 2015, in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Mayo, if it will be possible to indicate, given that the person's case has been pending for more than six years, if a more precise indication will be provided of the person's status and the options available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28108/15]
View answerAs stated in my replies to Parliamentary Question No. 255 of 7 July, 2015 and to Questions No. 138 and 139 of 25 June, 2015 in the case of the persons whose details were supplied, and in accordance with Section 19 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) which provides for the protection of the identity of asylum applicants, it is not the practice to comment on asylum or subsidiary protection applications until such time as they have fully completed the protection process.
I have also informed the Deputy in the replies referred to above, and previously, with regard to the temporary residence permission which is granted to those awaiting a final decision on their protection applications.
157. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding leave to remain in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28114/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned and their dependant child have been granted leave to remain in this State. This decision was conveyed to the person concerned by letter dated 24 February, 2015.
The Deputy will be aware that 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.
158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a stamp 4 will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28116/15]
View answerThe Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department advises me that following receipt of an application for a Reactivation Employment Permit Permission, a temporary residence permission was granted to the person concerned effective from 19th March, 2015 to allow for them to then apply to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for the new Employment Permit type, the “Reactivation Employment Permit” which would permit them to work in the State.
The person concerned is currently registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau on that basis under Stamp 1 conditions valid until 24th November, 2015 specifically to allow them make an application for a "Reactivation Employment Permit" to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. This is the appropriate immigration stamp for the person to hold to allow for them to re-enter the work force which does not require the issuing of a Stamp 4.
The Deputy will be aware that 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.
159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of decrees of divorce applied for and granted in each year from 2004 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28126/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, which includes the provision of information on the courts system, is the responsibility of the Courts Service.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had inquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that in 2014 there were 3,831 applications for divorce and 2,638 orders were granted.
Statistics for the years 2004 to 2013 are published in the Courts Service annual reports and are available on the Courts Service website www.courts.ie and in the Oireachtas Library.
160. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if fixed odds betting terminals will be banned under the Gambling Control Bill 2013; when this Bill will become law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28160/15]
View answerThe General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill was approved by Government in July 2013 and published on my Department's website. As the Deputy may be aware, it was also referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality which held hearings in October 2013 on the General Scheme. Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBT) are defined in the Scheme of the Bill which includes explicit provision for their prohibition. The Bill was referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting but it is not possible to indicate at this point when the Bill will be published due to other competing priorities.
161. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for which the current panel will remain in place after the most recent recruitment competition into the Garda Síochána; when it is envisaged the next competition will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28161/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I have received sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for two further intakes of 125 Garda recruits later this year. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is managing the recruitment process for the Garda Commissioner and I have no direct involvement in the matter.
The position in relation to the current competition is as follows: Following receipt of 24,000 applications, PAS invited candidates to complete Stage 1 of the competition which consisted of an assessment questionnaire and reasoning tests which were undertaken on-line. I understand that around 18,000 candidates completed this stage and fewer than 13,000 candidates reached a satisfactory standard. Those who did achieve a satisfactory standard were placed in three bands determined by their overall scores. 5,000 candidates (i.e. those in Band 1) were invited to take a subsequent series of tests and of that number, just over 3,000 were successful.
I understand that PAS is continuing to progress Band 1 through the selection process and interviewing for that group will conclude in August. The names of candidates who qualify through these initial rounds will be forwarded to the Garda Commissioner for further consideration.
Depending on the Commissioner's recruitment requirements, PAS will then move to those in Band 2 and possibly Band 3, if necessary.
The timing of the next recruitment competition will depend on the extent to which the current bands of candidates satisfy Garda student intake requirements.
