Written Answers Nos. 92-98
92. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the preparations for the reception of refugees from Syria; if refugees coming here are already in the EU or are applicants for EU refugee in status countries bordering the war zone of the former Syrian republic, or if refugees entering here will be a mixture of both dispossessed populations. [32394/15]
View answerAs part of the Government's response to the migration crisis, I brought proposals to Government which were considered and agreed at a special Cabinet meeting on 10th of September. A multi-faceted approach is being adopted including the following measures:
- establishing the Irish Refugee Protection Programme which will provide international protection for up to 4,000 persons overall under Resettlement and Relocation Programmes. It is expected that these numbers will be augmented by further family reunifications. The first arrivals under the Programme are expected by year end. The number of persons in need of international protection will be kept under review;
- establishing a new cross-departmental Taskforce, chaired by my Department, to deal with the operational and logistical aspects of the support programme. The Taskforce which has already had its first meeting, will adopt a whole of Government approach and will work with NGOs, religious bodies, local authorities and the Red Cross to implement the Government's response to this crisis;
- engaging with the public on their pledges of support. The Red Cross will lead this task;
- establishing a network of Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres for the initial reception of those arriving under the relocation programme;
- introduce the International Protection Bill as a major priority; and
- providing an additional package of processing resources to deal with major increases in asylum and other immigration cases, including the relocation measure, preparation for the Single Protection application process and increased enforcement across a number of areas, including removals.
Ireland is participating in both Resettlement and EU Relocation programmes. The resettlement programme for 520 people mainly coming from Lebanon and predetermined as refugees by the UNHCR has already commenced and the first Syrian refugees have arrived.
At the emergency Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on 14 September 2015, the Council formally adopted the measure to relocate 40,000 and Ireland has agreed to take a total of 600. I attended a further emergency meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council yesterday at which agreement was reached on the relocation of a further 120,000 asylum seekers from countries in Southern Europe. Our contribution under this measure is likely to be a little less than 2,000.
93. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána each year since 2009; her views that An Garda Síochána has sufficient personnel at present in each Garda division; and her future plans in this regard. [32395/15]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts; and I as Minister have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
This Government is committed to the ongoing recruitment of trainee Gardaí, and to this end the first intake since 2009 of new recruits commenced training at the Garda College, Templemore, in September of last year. To date there has been four intakes of Garda Trainees into the Garda College, giving a total intake of 400. A further 150 recruits will enter college by year end, bringing total recruitment of Garda Trainees to 550. So far 290 of the new Garda Trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána. On attestation, new Probationer Gardaí are assigned to Garda stations throughout the country by the Garda Commissioner, where they are assigned to mainstream uniform policing duties. I am assured by Garda management that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the strength of An Garda Síochána, including Garda Reserve and civilians, for each year from 31 December 2009 to 31 December 2014 and up to the 31 July 2015, the latest date for which figures are readily available, are as set out in the following table:
An Garda Síochána strength 2009 - 2015
|
Year |
Strength |
Reserve |
Civilian |
|
31/12/2009 |
14,547 |
478 |
2,105 |
|
31/12/2010 |
14,377 |
700 |
2,098 |
|
31/12/2011 |
13,894 |
877 |
2,074 |
|
31/12/2012 |
13,424 |
991 |
2,028 |
|
31/12/2013 |
13,093 |
1,164 |
2,071 |
|
31/12/2014 |
12,799 |
1,112 |
2,054 |
|
31/07/2015 |
12,828 |
1,032 |
2,010 |
94. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding staff resources within the Courts Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32400/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts 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 has informed me that due to a staff vacancy in the Office of the Examiner and pressure of other work, it has not been possible for the remaining staff to process applications for self-adjudication in bankruptcy matters as well as performing their other duties. The Courts Service has advised that they are currently in the process of filling this vacancy.
It should be noted that High Court bankruptcy sittings are not held during August or September. The Courts Service envisages that the filling of the staff vacancy will facilitate the listing of applications that have been lodged in the Examiner's Office for dates during the coming law term.
95. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that the position of county registrar in County Sligo has not been filled since the retirement of the previous holder in December 2009, her plans to replace this position in Sligo courthouse in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32423/15]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to be aware that, in recent years the number of serving County Registrars has been reduced to 17 as a result of re-organisation and the introduction of efficiency measures by the Courts Service. Specifically, the reduction has been made possible by reorganising the work of the courts including the establishment of multi-jurisdictional combined court offices which encompassed the transfer of management functions previously exercised by County Registrars to Courts Service management personnel.
The Courts Service has advised my Department that the position of County Registrar in Sligo has not been filled since the retirement of the previous holder in December 2009. Since then the duties of the County Registrar in Sligo have been exercised by County Registrars from adjoining counties particularly the County Registrar for Donegal. The Courts Service have advised that this arrangement, which also applies in relation to cooperation between County Registrar functions for some other counties, has operated satisfactorily and has not resulted in any diminution of services in Co. Sligo. However I can tell the Deputy that I am currently reviewing issues relating to Country Registrar capacity in conjunction with the Courts Service.
96. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the Irish naturalisation and immigration process; the way permission to remain in the State may be secured on the basis of parentage of an Irish citizen child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32444/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that applications for a right of residency, accompanied by a right to work in this State, are considered in respect of Non-EEA parents of an Irish citizen child at the Minister's discretion, subject to statute and relevant case law.
The Deputy will appreciate that applications are considered on a case by case basis having regard to the particular individual circumstances, including, inter alia, information and supporting documentation setting out the role the applicant plays in the Irish citizen child's life.
The Deputy may be interested to know that INIS has recently developed a new application form for these type of applications. The form has been widely circulated and, from 1st October 2015, applications will only be accepted on the designated application form.
Further information on the application process, including guidelines for completing the form, can be found on the INIS website www.inis.gov.ie.
97. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has received a report from the Garda Commissioner in relation to paramilitary activity on this island; if there are paramilitary organisations still in existence on this island; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32467/15]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that I am briefed on a regular basis by the Garda Commissioner with regard to the security situation.
It is the Garda assessment that there continues to be a real and persistent threat from the activities of so-called 'dissident' republican groups. These groups remain resolutely opposed to peace and are prepared to use violence to achieve their aims and, indeed, to support their lifestyles. They reject the democratic will of the overwhelming majority of people on this island which was so resolutely expressed in support for the Good Friday Agreement. I know the Deputy will agree with me that the people of this island want to move on and forge a better future for themselves and their children. These groups are stuck in a past that everyone else wants to leave behind and they should simply stop.
An Garda Síochána is constantly engaged in intensive operational efforts against these groups and will continue to target them. Co-operation with the PSNI is central to these efforts and, I am happy to say, that co-operation has never been closer. There is a strong and resolute commitment on the part of the two services to work together and nowhere is this more important than in the area of security co-operation. Constant contact is maintained between anti-terrorist officers on both sides and intelligence is shared in both directions with a view to making arrests and ensuring successful prosecutions of those involved in terrorist activity. The House can rest assured that, with the Government's support, the Gardaí will take all appropriate measures, within the rule of law, to defeat these groups.
It might be helpful to add that the position with regard to this jurisdiction in relation to the Provisional IRA has been made clear in statements issued by me and by the Garda Commissioner at the end of August and it is consistent with the assessments of the Provisional IRA provided previously by the Independent Monitoring Commission. In the light of recent developments in Northern Ireland An Garda Síochána is maintaining close liaison with the PSNI in respect of the investigation into the murder of Mr. McGuigan and I have asked the Garda Commissioner, in light of any new evidence emerging from that investigation, to let me have a fresh assessment of the status of the Provisional IRA.
The Deputy will be aware that in the context of the current discussions between the parties in Northern Ireland and the Irish and British governments, the British Government has arranged for an assessment to be made of paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland, which will include an assessment in relation to loyalist paramilitary activity.
98. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social worker posts currently vacant; and his plans to ensure all posts are filled immediately. [32391/15]
View answerMy officials have requested the information from the Child and Family Agency and I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with it.
