Written Answers Nos. 93-104
93. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the basic payment scheme; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45652/15]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the ‘new entrant to farming’ category of the 2015 National Reserve. Payments under the 2015 National Reserve commenced during the week beginning 14 December. The application submitted by the person named has been fully processed and payment is due to issue in the coming days.
94. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force on the most recent date available and the estimated full-year cost of increasing this number to the 9,500 agreed level. [45651/15]
View answerOn the 31 of October, 2015 (the latest date for which figures are available), the strength (whole-time equivalent) of the Permanent Defence Force was 9,155. Budget 2016 includes a provision of some €416 million for Permanent Defence Force Pay and this amount will allow for the payment of the full establishment of 9,500 personnel, in line with the commitment in the White Paper on Defence.
The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at or near 9,500 personnel; comprising of 7,519 Army, 887 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service. Targeted recruitment has taken place so as to maintain the level of personnel in, and to ensure the operational capacity of, the Defence Forces. 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, both at home and overseas, the tasks that are laid down by Government.
95. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding paternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45503/15]
View answerAs announced in the October Budget, a provision for two weeks paternity leave with a related paternity benefit to be paid through the social welfare system will be introduced from September 2016. As the Deputy will appreciate, substantial changes to legislation as well as new administrative systems in the Department of Social Protection are needed before the benefit and leave arrangements can be implemented. The proposed commencement date of September 2016 is therefore necessary to ensure that all these necessary requirements are in place before paternity leave and payment of paternity benefit can commence.
This is a very important reform of our family leave arrangements, but it does need time to implement. Whatever commencement date is selected, it will inevitably only cater for cases that arise after that date.
96. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the re-introduction of the paramilitary monitoring commission and the establishment of a cross-Border agency to deal with organised crime, as outlined in the Fresh Start agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45609/15]
View answerThe Fresh Start Agreement was established between the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish and British Governments in November 2015. The Agreement addresses a range of measures relating to the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland.
The new agreement also includes Justice related provisions for a new Joint Agency Task Force, led by police and revenue services, to bring together the relevant law enforcement agencies and better coordinate strategic and operational actions against cross border organised crime. The new Task Force will consist of a senior level strategic oversight group that will oversee the work of an operations coordination group to coordinate front line joint, inter-agency operations and direct relevant resources in that context.
Preparations for the new Task Force are at an advanced stage.
In addition, the Fresh Start Agreement contains cross border commitments on the establishment of a new monitoring and verification body as part of the initiative to end paramilitarism. The Northern Ireland Executive will appoint a three person panel by the end of December 2015. The Panel will be charged with the task of bringing a report to the Executive with recommendations for a strategy to disband paramilitary groups. This report must be presented to the Executive before the end of May 2016 and the Executive is to present a strategy by end-June 2016.
In order to monitor the implementation of the strategy for ending paramilitarism, a four member independent monitoring and verification body, to include persons of international standing, will be established by the UK and Irish Governments. The UK Government and the Irish Government will nominate one member each and the Executive shall nominate two members. This monitoring and verification body will be required to be established and operational in 2016.
We are currently in discussions with the UK Government to advance the formation of the monitoring and verification body.
97. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has had any connect with the Police Ombudsman's office in the North which is carrying out an investigation into the bomb attack at Kay’s Tavern; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45472/15]
View answer98. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will implement the recommendations of the Oireachtas final report on the report of the independent commission of inquiry into the bombing of Kay's Tavern on Crowe Street in Dundalk on 19 December 1975; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45473/15]
View answer99. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she accepts the conclusion of the Oireachtas final report on the report of the independent commission of inquiry into the bombing of Kay's Tavern, on Crowe Street in Dundalk on 19 December 1975 that there was widespread collusion between British State forces and Unionist paramilitaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45474/15]
View answer100. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she accepts the conclusion of the Oireachtas final report on the report of the independent commission of inquiry into the bombing of Kay's Tavern on Crowe Street in Dundalk on 19 December 1975 that it will lead to a commission of inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45475/15]
View answer101. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will establish a commission of investigation into the bombing of Kay’s Tavern on Crowe Street in Dundalk on 19 December 1975. [45476/15]
View answer102. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she accepts the conclusion of the Oireachtas final report on the report of the independent commission of inquiry into the bombing of Kay's Tavern that there was sufficient information available to the Government that British security personnel were working with and as loyalist paramilitaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45477/15]
View answer103. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she accepts the conclusion of the Oireachtas final report on the report of the independent commission of inquiry into the bombing of Kay's Tavern that more should have been done by the State to assist victims of the atrocities and that they should not have been left in a position where they legitimately felt they had been forgotten about; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45478/15]
View answer104. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will request An Garda Síochána to meet the families of the victims of the bomb attack at Kay's Tavern and other incidents covered by the reports of the Barron Commission and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights; if An Garda Síochána will brief the families on the current status of its investigations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45479/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 97 to 104, inclusive, together.
The bombing at Crowe Street in Dundalk on 19 December 1975 was a brutal and indiscriminate attack. Two men, Hugh Watters and Jack Rooney, were killed when a car bomb exploded outside a licensed premises known as Kay’s Tavern and many more people were injured by the explosion. As we approach the fortieth anniversary of this bombing our thoughts are with the families of those who were killed and those who were injured. I extend my sincere sympathies to all of the victims of this attack.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that an extensive criminal investigation was carried out at the time of this attack - indeed this is set out in detail in the Barron Inquiry Report - and that it has been comprehensively reviewed subsequently. It is a matter of regret that nobody has been held accountable for this crime. However, the Garda investigation file remains open and any new or additional evidence will be pursued fully.
This bombing was among a number of incidents that were the subject of a comprehensive inquiry conducted by the late Mr Justice Henry Barron and considered subsequently by a sub-committee of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. The Barron Inquiry concluded that the bombing was carried out by loyalist extremists who were most probably associated with the Mid-Ulster UVF. This bombing is one among a number of troubles-related violent incidents, including killings, in respect of which allegations have been made of collusion between security forces and paramilitary groups.
I have requested the Garda Commissioner to provide me with a report on the current situation and on any developments with regard to the bombing and the Garda investigation and I will communicate further with the Deputy when that is to hand.
