Written Answers Nos. 69-90
69. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will appoint the director of decision support services in line with the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015; the extent of the resourcing; when the director will commence working with professionals responsible for carrying out the codes of practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16850/16]
View answerThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 was signed into law by the President on 30 December 2015 but has not yet been commenced. The Act provides for the setting up of the Decision Support Service within the Mental Health Commission, which is an independent body under the aegis of the Department of Health. The appointment of the Director of the Decision Support Service is a matter for the Mental Health Commission, as provided by section 94 of the Act.
A Steering Group on the Implementation of the Decision Support Service was recently established to oversee the establishment and commissioning of the Decision Support Service, including overseeing the recruitment of the Director of the Service and matters relating to the resourcing of the Service. The Steering Group comprises senior officials from the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Health and the Mental Health Commission.
In relation to the codes of practice provided for in the Act, preparatory work has commenced on preparing guidance material for healthcare and non-health care related codes of practice. This guidance material will enable the Director, when appointed, to quickly engage with the relevant stakeholders in order to publish the necessary codes of practice.
Deputies will appreciate that careful planning and groundwork, and not just funding, has to be put in to ensure that the commencement of the legislation is correctly, appropriately and effectively handled and my officials are working carefully on this at present in consultation with the Department of Health and the Mental Health Commission.
70. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the pension to which a retired garda who served between 1966 and 1974 is entitled; the criteria for qualifying for a pension; the application procedure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16666/16]
View answerA member of An Garda Síochána, having served from 1966 and left the Force in 1974 through resignation or dismissal would not qualify for superannuation benefits under the Garda Síochána Pension Scheme. Any contributions already made to the scheme would have been refunded in accordance with the Garda Síochána Pension Orders.
71. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the convictions incurred by a person (details supplied) qualify as spent convictions under the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016. [16671/16]
View answerThe Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions and Certain Disclosures) Act 2016 was commenced in full on 29th April 2016.
The effect of the Act is that a person is not obliged to disclose certain convictions which are over 7 years old, subject to specified limitations. A person will not be penalised in law or incur any liability for failing to disclose a spent conviction.
In accordance with the provisions of the Act the following convictions are now spent:
1) All convictions in the District Court for Motoring offences which are more than 7 years old subject to the proviso that spent convictions for dangerous driving are limited to a single conviction.
2) All convictions in the District Court for minor public order offences which are more than 7 years old.
3) In addition, where a person has one, and only one, conviction (other than a motoring or public order offence) which resulted in a term of imprisonment of less than 12 months (or a fine) that conviction is spent after 7 years. This provision applies to either a District Court or Circuit Court conviction.
Where a person appears before a court and is convicted of 2 or more offences which were committed at the same time or relate to the same event and more than one sentence is imposed by that court at that time, these are regarded as a single conviction for the purposes of the Act.
Sexual offences or convictions in the Central Criminal Court are not eligible to become spent convictions.
72. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if it is illegal under the Equality Act 2015 or other legislation for private emergency accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts or hotels, to specifically deny accommodation to persons on the grounds that they are homeless; or on the basis that they are paying via emergency homeless assistance payments from local authorities. [16678/16]
View answerThe Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Status Act 2015 introduced new provisions that prohibit discrimination in the provision of rented accommodation on the basis that a person is in receipt of certain payments (such as rent supplement or housing assistance payment). Advice for persons who consider that they might have been discriminated against under these provisions or any provision of equality legislation is available from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. A person who considers that their rights have been infringed under any provision of equality legislation can bring a claim for adjudication to the Workplace Relations Commission. It would not be appropriate for me to offer legal advice or a legal interpretation of any statutory provision where compliance with that provision is or may be subject to adjudication by a Tribunal or consideration by a Court.
73. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the funding she is making available to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority as provided for in the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16686/16]
View answerAs previously conveyed to the House, preparations for the phased commencement of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 are already underway. A necessary first step in preparation for these commencements is the appointment of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority after which the Authority will appoint its own Chief Executive. Nominations to the new Legal Services Regulatory Authority have been received from the relevant nominating bodies as set out in the Legal Services Regulation Act. The appointment by Government of the relevant nominees under the various criteria set out in the Act will then be subject to approval by resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Government will appoint one of the lay members of the Authority to be Chairperson. At the same time, preparations are also being made in support of the public recruitment, by the new Regulatory Authority, of its Chief Executive whose terms and functions are similarly set out in the 2015 Act. A start-up support team is being established and a suitable premises is being identified from which the new Authority can commence its operations.
These are the initial steps that will enable the members and Chief Executive of the new Regulatory Authority to spear-head the coming into operation of the new legal services regulatory regime. This stage will also include the phased commencement of the Parts of the Act such as those dealing with legal costs, the new Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicator, the Roll of Practising Barristers and Pre-Action Protocols.
Following establishment of the Authority and appointment of a Chief Executive the key provisions centred around Part 6 of the Act dealing with the new public complaints and professional conduct and disciplinary procedures, and the appointment of the new Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, will be commenced. The managed commencement of these functions is planned for the Autumn in order to allow adequate time and preparation to ensure their effectiveness and success as crucial components of the new regulatory framework. It should be noted that, under the relevant transitional provisions contained in the 2015 Act, complaints already made to the Law Society under the Solicitors Acts will be brought to completion under that framework and existing law.
In support of the planned and managed commencement of the relevant Parts of the 2015 Act proposed, as I have outlined, between now and the end of this year, an allocation of €1 million has been made under the Justice Vote for 2016 as set-up support for the new Regulatory Authority. Any funding advanced from this allocation will be provided on a recoupable basis. As an independent corporate body under statute the new Authority will have the power to manage the conduct of its affairs and its finances. Once in operation, the new regulatory regime will be self-funding by means of a levy on the regulated legal professions. The levy will be applied under the terms set out for that specific purpose in Part 7 of the 2015 Act.
74. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of An Garda Síochána in west County Dublin in each of the years from 2012 to May 2016. [16764/16]
View answer75. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of community gardaí in west County Dublin in each of the years from 2012 to May 2016. [16765/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.
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 taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner the number of Gardaí and Community Gardaí in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) West on the 31 December 2012 to 2015 and on the 30 April 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the following table.
As the Deputy will be aware, when the financial crisis hit, the Government of the time introduced a moratorium on recruitment and the four year National Recovery Plan, published in 2010, envisaged a steady reduction in Garda numbers. Thankfully, in a recovering economy, we were able to reopen the Garda College in September 2014, and a total of 700 Garda trainees have been recruited with a further 450 planned to be recruited during the remainder of this year. So far 463 of the new Garda trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide. Another 76 will attest on the 7 July with 150 more to attest in November. I am assured by the Commissioner that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of newly attested Gardaí and that 41 newly attested Gardaí have been assigned to the DMR West Garda Division to date.
In relation to the number of Community Gardaí, it is of course, the case that all Gardaí have a role to play in addressing community policing issues as and when the need arises. In that sense, community policing involves far more than a single unit within An Garda Síochána, a point highlighted by the Garda Inspectorate in their third report entitled "Policing in Ireland—Looking Forward" in which they stated that community policing is a fundamental policing philosophy and that there is a strong foundation for it in Ireland.
The Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that community policing is the embodiment of An Garda Síochána, providing a means of recognising that every community – both urban and rural – has its own concerns and expectations. It commits the Government to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the commitment in the Programme to continue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000 as well as doubling the Garda Reserve and increasing the number of civilian staff so as to free-up Gardaí for front-line policing.
The Garda Commissioner's Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021, published on 9 June 2016, places a strong emphasis on developing and supporting the community policing ethos of the organisation and enhancing the current delivery model so that Gardaí spend more time in the community, gaining public confidence and trust and providing a greater sense of security. I welcome in particular, the proposal to establish local Community Policing Teams (CPTs) headed by an inspector and made up of Gardaí from across a range of areas to work with the community to prevent and detect crime. The CPTs will take proactive measures to prevent crime from happening in the area. This will entail a combination of crime prevention advice, targeting and disrupting criminals through operations and patrols, and where possible diverting people from committing crime. I also welcome the proposal to establish Community Safety Fora in every District comprising local Gardaí, local communities and key stakeholders. The implementation of these initiatives has started and will be rolled out nationwide.
DMR West Garda Division.
|
Date |
Garda |
Community |
|
31/12/2012 |
744 |
80 |
|
31/12/2013 |
717 |
68 |
|
31/12/2014 |
699 |
62 |
|
31/12/2015 |
688 |
63 |
|
30/04/2016 |
684 |
63 |
76. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the location of the new building acquired by the Office of Public Works for the new Garda station in Bailieborough, County Cavan; if funding is in place for this project; the date when works will go to tender and when it will be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16803/16]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has the primary responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation and works closely with the Garda authorities in this regard.
The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 includes the development of a new Garda station at the District Headquarters of Bailieborough, Co. Cavan.
I am happy to inform the Deputy that, following consultation between Garda management and the OPW, a site has been identified for the new Garda Station and the OPW advises that it is progressing the legal matters relating to the acquisition of the site.
Until the site acquisition is completed, it is not possible to provide an exact timeline and details on procurement, construction and costing of the new station.
77. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a reply will issue from her office to a query submitted on 23 May 2016 (details supplied). [16809/16]
View answerAs indicated to the Deputy in the response issued on 16 June 2016, Section 3D of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides that only those centre fire short firearms licensed before 19 November 2008 remain licensable. Therefore, it is not possible to substitute another centre fire handgun for a handgun licensed before 19 November 2008. However, it is open to the certificate holder to replace a part of the licensed handgun, for example, if the part was faulty.
78. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will appoint the criminal injuries compensation tribunal and when it will hear appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16964/16]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that vacancies were advertised on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal in April and I expect the process of making appointments to be finalised in the near future. I am informed that the Tribunal, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, will then plan the scheduling of appeal hearings.
79. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has evaluated or plans to privatise part of the operations of the Prison Service. [17006/16]
View answerI have no plans currently to privatise any part of the operations of the Irish Prison Service.
The operation of the service is constantly kept under review. In this respect, it should be noted that section 5 of the Prisons Act 2007 provides that 'the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance and the approval of Government, enter into an agreement with another person (in this Act referred to as a "contractor") for the provision by that person of prisoner escort services.
80. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide the policy document and latest information on the implementation of the cell-share risk assessment tool proposed as part of the Prison Service's strategic plan; the locations where it is in operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17014/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Director General of the Irish Prison Service accepted in full the recommendations contained in the Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Death of Gary Douche (commonly referred to as the McMorrow Report). As a result a "Cell Sharing Risk Assessment Policy" was drafted and piloted in the Midlands Prison.
As a result of this pilot, the Director General appointed a high-level Group to introduce a standard Risk Assessment Tool for use throughout the prison Estate. This Risk Assessment Tool will include provisions for the assessment of prisoners for suitability for cell-sharing, for moves within individual prisons and other operational decisions. The Assessment Tool is currently being developed with professional advice and assistance from the State Claims Agency, and is very much at an advanced stage.
Upon completion of this developmental stage of the introduction of the Assessment Tool, a decision will then be taken as to whether or not the policy will be published, subject to the usual operational and security considerations.
81. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the development of a dignity at work charter in the Prison Service, including when she will publish information on it; if she has launched a dignity at work campaign; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17015/16]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that, as part of the IPS Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015, a Dignity at Work steering group was established and five behaviours were identified by staff to ensure a dignified work environment – Respectful, Supportive, Fair and Inclusive, Openness, and Competence.
Following from this the Irish Prison Service developed a number of policies including Acceptable Behaviour Standard, Anti Graffiti Policy, Competency Framework, Well-Being at Work Policy, to create the foundations to the Programme.
Support and development of staff to promote these behaviours is a key Strategic Action in the new Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan 2016 – 2018 'Creating a Better Environment' which I will be publishing on Monday 27 June 2016. When developing this strategic action the Irish Prison Service took into account the report by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons Report on Culture and Organisation in the Irish Prison Service: A Roadmap for the Future which examined the current culture within the Irish Prison Service and brought forward suggestions for the future organisational and cultural development of the Irish Prison Service.
As part of the new Strategy, the Irish Prison Service is committed to creating a better work environment for staff that promotes positive engagement, open communication, fairness, equality and respect. This approach is underlined by the Irish Prison Service core organisational values of Teamwork, Integrity, Positivity, Safety and Support.
82. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will publish the strategies for older prisoners, young prisoners, sex offenders and prisoners requiring protection; when these strategies and the joint strategy for women prisoners will be operational in each prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17016/16]
View answerI can advise the Deputy the Irish Prison Service published its three year strategic plan 2012-2015 on 30 April 2012. Appended to this document were the Irish Prison Service's strategy for the management of older prisoners, the strategy for the management of young offenders and women offenders, the strategy for reducing re-offending by sex offenders, and the strategy for the management of prisoners requiring protection.
The implementation of the actions contained in the individual strategies is ongoing at prison level.
I can further advice the Deputy that in regard to younger persons, since December 2013 all boys aged 17 years sentenced to detention in St. Patrick’s have been transferred to dedicated units in Wheatfield Place of Detention. The Irish Prison Service continues to engage extensively with the Irish Youth Justice Service regarding the transfer of responsibility for 17 year olds to Oberstown Campus in line with the Government decision to close St. Patrick’s Institution. The Prisons Act 2015 was passed by the Oireachtas in December 2015 and is a significant step toward the closing of St. Patrick’s Institution.
In relation to older persons, having cognisance of the particular needs of older people in custody all prisoners over 55 years of age now have an active nursing care plan, in which their specific needs have been identified. This care planning process assists healthcare staff in identifying patient specific issues and arranging effective through-care on release. A survey of older prisoners has been completed and the results are currently under consideration. A Policy on the management of Older Prisoners is also currently in development.
A joint Irish Prison Psychology Service/Probation Service National Programme of Excellence is in operation between the Midlands and Arbour Hill prisons, targeting treatment efforts at moderate to high risk offenders convicted of sexual violence. This is managed by a multi-disciplinary oversight group between both prisons, chaired by the Director of Care and Rehabilitation.
Regular meetings of the Solitary Confinement Group, chaired by the Director General are held to bring about a reduction in the of prisoners on 23 hour lock up and to introduce measures to reduce the number of prisoners held on restricted regime. Since the introduction of the Irish Prison Service Solitary Confinement Group the number of prisoners on 22/23 hour lock up has decreased by 126 or from 211 to 85 in April 2015. An internal committee has been established to examine the area of protection in a wider context, aiming to reduce the number of prisoners seeking protection and to increase access to regimes.
83. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the women in prison strategy published in March 2014 has been unsuccessful (details supplied); her plans to address the level of overcrowding and the continual increase in the number of women being committed to prison each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17017/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service must accept all persons committed by the courts and does not have the option of refusing committals.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the joint Probation Service/Irish Prison Service Women's Strategy 2014 - 2016, "An Effective Response to Women Who Offend" is ongoing and will be reviewed at the end of its term. The Women’s Strategy sets out how the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service work together, as well as with other statutory, community and voluntary sector partners, to provide women-focused interventions to help reduce offending, improve opportunities for reintegration and to improve outcomes more generally.
As part of the Joint Strategy, the Irish Prison Service made a commitment to explore the development of an open centre/open conditions for women assessed as low risk of re-offending. This commitment was acknowledged in the Report on the Strategic Review of Penal Policy who also recommended that a greater focus on step down facilities, supported accommodation, use of more community based open conditions for female offenders and the provision of an open centre for women.
A joint Irish Prison Service/Probation Service working group considered an open centre for women and decided to recommend, rather than developing an open centre for women, that a more practical and cost effective way to address the deficit is to pursue step down facilities for women. In this regard, I have given approval to the Heads of the Irish Prison Service and Probation Service to proceed to scope the possibilities for the development of step down units for female offenders and female ex-offenders.
Alternatives to custody continue to be pursued and legislation has already been passed. This includes the Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) Act 2011 which requires the sentencing judge to consider the imposition of community service where a custodial sentence of 12 months or less is being considered.
Also the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 provides that the Court imposing a fine shall take into account a person's financial circumstances. It further provides, inter alia, that where a person fails to pay a fine by the due date, the Court may make an attachment order to earnings as a means of recovering the unpaid fine. As a result of this legislation, it is expected that we will see a reduction in the number of committals to prisons on short sentences.
To address the female accommodation within the prison estate, planning is well under way for the modernisation and expansion of facilities in Limerick Prison. Part of this redevelopment includes the provision of high quality prison accommodation for female prisoners with a capacity of approximately 50 individual cells and 8 transition units which will more than double its current capacity.
84. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to provide better protection to victims of domestic violence by ratifying and implementing the Istanbul Convention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17036/16]
View answerThe protection of members of society from domestic violence, sexual violence and exploitation are primary concerns for me and my Department. The Istanbul Convention is a significant legal instrument in the fight against domestic and sexual violence. Ireland is fully supportive of the aims and terms of the Convention and the Deputy will be aware that Ireland signed the Convention on 5 November 2015. The recently published Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to implementing the Istanbul Convention. The 18 legislative and administrative actions which, when implemented, will enable Ireland to ratify the Convention are contained in the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, which was published in January. A monitoring committee in relation to implementation of the Strategy, which involves the community and voluntary sector, has been established. It met earlier this month and will shortly commence formal monitoring of implementation of the Strategy.
85. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to amend the Domestic Violence Act to extend eligibility for safety orders to all parties who are or have been in an intimate relationship, regardless of cohabitation, and to provide for emergency barring orders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17037/16]
View answerMany incidences of abuse in dating relationships are offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, including assault, harassment and coercion. The provisions of a statutory definition of dating relationships is problematic. Questions that would arise include issues around when a dating relationship can be said to begin and the behavioural threshold required for a meeting of two people to be classified in such a way. Given the complexities, these relationships have not been included in the General Scheme of the Domestic Violence Bill. However I am seeking legal advice on the issue of including dating relationships in domestic violence legislation.
A proposal in relation to emergency barring orders was included in the general scheme of the Domestic Violence Bill, approved by Government and following legal advice an appropriate provision will appear in the Bill when it is published.
86. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce stalking legislation to cover traditional, online and digital stalking in their direct and indirect forms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17038/16]
View answerSection 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 provides that any person who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, by any means including by use of the telephone, harasses another by persistently following, watching, pestering, besetting or communicating with him or her, is guilty of an offence. Harassment is deemed to occur where a person seriously interferes with the other's peace and privacy or causes alarm, distress or harm to the other. Section 10(3) also provides for orders to be made by the court to prevent communication by any means with the victim or to approach within any distance specified by the court of the place of residence or employment of the victim. Such an order can be made even in circumstances where the accused person is not convicted of the offence if the court is satisfied, having regard to the evidence, that it is in the interests of justice.
I would also add that the Law Reform Commission (LRC) is currently carrying out a project on Cybercrime affecting personal safety, privacy and reputation, including cyberbullying. In November 2014 the LRC published an Issues Paper and sought the views of interested parties on the key issues it had identified. In April 2015 it held a seminar to discuss these issues. It is hoped that the LRC Report will be published in the coming months and its recommendations, including any proposals in relation to legislation, will then be considered.
87. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the family reunification scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17076/16]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the application for the person referred to by the Deputy is currently being processed and that the Family Reunification Unit recently requested more information. On receipt of the information requested the application for family reunification will be finalised.
The Deputy may wish to note that 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 established specifically 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.
88. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will review the Garda stations that were closed under the previous Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17081/16]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government recognises that community policing is the embodiment of An Garda Síochána, providing a means of recognising that every community, both urban and rural, has its own concerns and expectations. It commits the Government to ensuring visible, effective and responsive policing in every community, including the most minimal response times possible.
In support of this objective, the Policing Authority will be asked to oversee a review of, among other things, both the boundaries of Garda districts and the dispersement of Garda stations in rural areas, and in developing urban and suburban areas, with a view to ensuring both an efficient and optimum geographical distribution of stations and minimal response times, including taking account of station closures since 2012.
Under the Programme, the Government is committed to launching a pilot scheme to reopen 6 Garda stations, both urban and rural, to determine possible positive impacts that such openings will have on criminal activity, with special emphasis on burglaries, theft and public order.
I will shortly be in contact with the relevant authorities in the relation to these matters.
89. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount saved by having a lower level of pay for new recruits in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13012/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that in 2011 the Government introduced revised rates of pay for new entrant public servants in order to reduce the Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill. This was one of a range of measures introduced over the period of the fiscal crisis which directly affected the pay of public servants.
Since 2011, it is estimated that approximately €380,000 was saved by my Department as a result of the introduction of lower levels of pay for some recruitment grades. This figure applies to civil service grades in my Department and does not include others agencies under the aegis of my Department, such as An Garda Síochána.
The Deputy will be aware that the Government is currently in the process of establishing a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the public service. The precise structure of such a commission and the technical aspects as to how it would operate have yet to be decided upon by Government and will require broad consultation, including engagement with staff representatives as committed to in the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
90. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she received the O'Higgin's report from the commission of investigation into certain matters relative to the Cavan and Monaghan division of the Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11431/16]
View answerI received the report of the O'Higgins Commission of Investigation on 25 April 2016. I published the report on 11 May 2016.
As the Deputy is aware, the report was the subject of a debate in the House on 25 and 26 May 2016. In the course of my contribution I outlined the reasons why publication was not possible before the date on which I did publish it.
As I have already informed the House, the Policing Authority is overseeing the Garda response to the O'Higgins Report. You will be aware of the framework which the Authority has put in place in this regard, including two public meetings. Matters relating to the treatment of victims, protected disclosures and culture were addressed at the meeting of 13 June. The meeting scheduled for 30 June is intended to focus in particular on governance, performance management and supervision issues.
In addition, I have asked the Garda Commissioner to examine the report and to indicate to me what further measures might be taken to try to prevent the type of difficulties outlined in it in relation to An Garda Síochána arising again. I am also seeking her proposals concerning the recommendations which it contains in relation to the Garda service. I am committed to overseeing further reforms which are necessary to avoid a recurrence of the type of incidents highlighted in the report.
I very much appreciate that the events outlined in the report have been traumatic for many people who have been affected by them. It would be an injustice to those who brought events to light in the public interest and those who have lived under the shadow of these events for a long time, if we do not take on board the lessons from these events. I hope they can take some reassurance from the fact that the examination of those events in this report will help serve to consolidate a programme of reform which will ensure we continue to have a Garda Síochána in which its members and the community it serves can take great pride.
