Brendan Griffin
Question:87. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the future of Tralee courthouse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36913/16]
View answerCourt Accommodation Provision
Questions (87)
Written answers
As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, 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 the current courthouse in Tralee comprises two courtrooms and lacks the facilities necessary to deal with the range of business and needs that present in a contemporary court environment. The Courts Service envisages a courthouse comprising four courtrooms and related facilities as being required to meet future demand in Tralee and this will require a building significantly larger than the current courthouse. The scope for refurbishing and developing the existing courthouse on Ashe Street to provide the range of services expected in a modern courthouse is extremely limited due to the nature of the building and space constraints.
The Courts Service explored the possibility of acquiring adjoining buildings on Ashe Street a number of years ago to provide a larger site but satisfactory terms could not be agreed. In order to advance matters, the Courts Service decided it had to consider other sites including, if necessary, sites outside the town centre. However, no decision as to the future of Tralee Courthouse has been made and I am informed that the views of all court users and interested parties will be considered as part of the decision making process.
Court Accommodation Refurbishment
Questions (88)
Brendan Griffin
Question:88. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the renovation of Killarney courthouse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36919/16]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, 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 internal upgrading works were carried out to Killarney Courthouse to improve the condition of the building in 2009. The Courts Service is currently in discussions about improving the bathroom facilities in the building for court users.
Garda Station Refurbishment
Questions (89)
Brendan Griffin
Question:89. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the upgrading of Tralee Garda station; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36920/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy will appreciate that the programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. This includes identifying and progressing any necessary remedial or refurbishment works required at individual stations and I, as Minister, have no role in these matters.
As the Deputy will be aware, the upgrade of the Garda Station at Tralee is among the projects included in the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021, which I announced in October 2015 with my colleague the Minister of State at the Office of Public Works.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the project provides for upgrade works and includes a reconfiguration of the internal space to maximise the capacity of the station, the creation of a second interview room, and an upgrade of the public area.
The Office of Public Works has advised that the tender package for this project is currently being finalised and it is expected that works will commence in 2017.
Crime Data
Questions (90)
Peter Fitzpatrick
Question:90. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of successful prosecutions for selling alcohol to underage persons in the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36924/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of the official recorded crime statistics, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have asked the CSO to forward the available statistics in relation to the information requested directly to the Deputy.
Proposed Legislation
Questions (91)
Robert Troy
Question:91. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will bring forward additional legislation to tackle issues surrounding convicted murderers serving consecutive life sentences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36945/16]
View answerWritten answers
The mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment, as provided by section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1990. A sentence of life imprisonment means that the prisoner is subject to that sentence for the rest of his or her life. Such a prisoner has no right to be released early at any stage. If granted temporary release, the prisoner remains subject to the life sentence and can be recalled to prison at any stage.
Accordingly, the imposition of multiple life sentences, whether concurrently or consecutively, in a case where more than one murder is committed in the same incident, does not increase the severity of the sanction and has no such effect in practice or in law.
Question No. 92 answered with Question No. 86.
Departmental Information
Questions (93)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:93. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the provisions of section 18 of the Official Secrets Act 1963 applies to e-mails, text messages and other electronic communications using phone applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36957/16]
View answerWritten answers
Section 18 of the Official Secrets Act 1963 has been repealed by section 14 of the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993.
Departmental Staff Data
Questions (94, 95, 96, 97)
Dara Calleary
Question:94. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff from her Department currently seconded to other Departments or agencies in the Civil Service per annum from 2010 to date in 2016, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36969/16]
View answerDara Calleary
Question:95. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff from her Department that have appealed against secondment per annum from 2010 to date in 2016, in tabular form; the appeals mechanism involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36985/16]
View answerDara Calleary
Question:96. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff from her Department currently seconded to a firm in the private sector per annum from 2010 to date in 2016, in tabular form; the details of the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37001/16]
View answerDara Calleary
Question:97. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of staff from her Department currently seconded from a firm in the private sector per annum from 2010 to date in 2016, in tabular form; the details of the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37017/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 to 97, inclusive, together.
The table outlines the number of staff currently seconded to other Departments or agencies of the Civil Service from my Department who have taken up those secondments since 2010. It does not encompass the staff who moved on a temporary basis to the Irish Permanent representation in Brussels during the Irish Presidency of the EU in 2013; the staff who were seconded temporarily to the Insolvency Service of Ireland before it was an established agency of the Department; nor the staff of the Department who are currently serving in Visa Offices abroad.
|
Year |
Number of Secondments |
|
2010 |
0 |
|
2011 |
0 |
|
2012 |
1 |
|
2013 |
1 |
|
2014 |
4 |
|
2015 |
9 |
|
2016 |
11 |
My Department had three short term secondments from external firms in the years in question. There was one secondment from Grant Thornton Corporate Finance Limited for the period 12 November 2012 to 11 January 2013; one from KPMG for the period 10 December 2012 to 9 February 2013; and one from Deloitte for the period 4 February 2013 to 12 April 2013. The individuals concerned provided expert assistance on the establishment of the Insolvency Service of Ireland and their services were provided on a pro bono basis.
In addition, the Civil Service Staff Exchange Scheme which operated under the remit of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, was circulated to all Departments in 2013. The Scheme involved the placement of Civil Servants from Government Departments/Offices in private sector companies for a minimum period of three months and up to a period of one year with a reciprocal arrangement with the Private Sector. My Department nominated a member of staff for participation in the scheme in 2013 who was ultimately not facilitated with an actual secondment.
I am advised by my officials that officers from my Department have not appealed against a secondment during the period in question.
Garda Deployment
Questions (98)
Catherine Murphy
Question:98. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to increase the number of gardaí stationed at Maynooth Garda station in view of the fact that the town has a large student population in addition to permanent residents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37028/16]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that in regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Garda Division. The Divisional officer for each Garda Division allocates personnel within his or her Division as appropriate.
Maynooth Garda Station is in the Leixlip Garda District which forms part of the Kildare Division. As on the 31 October 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 307 members of An Garda Síochána assigned to the Kildare Division, of these 12 were assigned to Maynooth Garda Station. The Kildare Division is supported by 22 members of the Garda Reserve and 29 Civilian Staff. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI), the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (formerly the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation) and the Garda National Drugs and Organise Crime Bureau.
This Government is committed 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. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Appointments will also be made to the Garda Reserve of approximately 300.
Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College, 679 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána of whom 35 have been assigned to the Kildare Division. No doubt the Kildare Division, like all Garda Divisions and activities, will benefit from the increased resources coming on stream.
Garda Reports
Questions (99, 100, 101)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:99. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her reasons for commissioning a new Garda report into undercover policing here by British Metropolitan Police officers; and if she will make the findings of that report public. [37037/16]
View answerJonathan O'Brien
Question:100. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the terms of reference for the new report into undercover policing here by the British Metropolitan Police will seek to establish if any of the undercover police officers were carrying Irish passports. [37038/16]
View answerJonathan O'Brien
Question:101. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to whether an undercover British Metropolitan Police officer used an Irish birth certificate to procure either a British or Irish passport; and if not, if she included this in the terms of reference of the second Garda report. [37039/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 101, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, allegations regarding an undercover police officer in this jurisdiction were first made public in 2011. A report was sought from the Garda Commissioner on the matter at that time and that report was provided to my predecessor in March 2011. The report noted that no evidence had been established that the person in question had been involved in any criminal activity while in this jurisdiction.
As I have stated to the House previously, in the light of developments which have taken place outside this jurisdiction since these matters first came to light, including the establishment of an inquiry into undercover policing by the UK Government, a fresh report has been requested from the Garda Commissioner on any issues arising. In seeking that report, I have not sought to circumscribe in any way the information which the Garda Commissioner would provide. I will fully consider this report when it is available.
I have also made it clear previously that should anything emerge from the findings of the UK's undercover policing inquiry that would be relevant to policing in this jurisdiction I will consider it fully and take any action that may be required.
Workplace Safety
Questions (102)
Clare Daly
Question:102. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of workplace deaths reported to the coroner that proceeded to inquest in each of the years 2008 to 2014, inclusive. [37059/16]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department publishes annual statistics on the number of deaths reported to each Coroner, the number of post mortem examinations ordered by each Coroner and the number of inquests held by each Coroner. These statistics are published on www.coroners.ie. Figures on the number of workplace deaths reported to Coroners are not held by my Department.
Courts Service Administration
Questions (103)
Seán Barrett
Question:103. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will establish a property court to deal with all property matters, including commercial property, eviction proceedings, rights of appeal, judgment proceedings, arbitration and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37063/16]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to inform the Deputy that the Government has no intention, at present, to establish a property court to deal with all property matters. As the Deputy will be aware, the preparation of the Mortgages Special Court Bill/Courts (Mortgage Arrears) Bill is under way. My Department is in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, having regard to the constitutional and legal aspects arising, as indicated in the Government's Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness published last July.
As the Deputy will also be aware, priority was given to getting the new national Mortgage Arrears Resolution Service (Abhaile) up and running, and this was formally launched in October 2016. The Service, which forms part of the Programme for Partnership Government commitments on mortgage arrears, comprises a Mortgage Arrears Aid and Advice Scheme, and a related communications and promotions campaign which will be targeted to reach those most in need of help.
Under the Aid and Advice Scheme, home owners who are unable to pay their debts and are at risk of losing their homes are provided with access to free independent expert financial and legal advice and assistance, so they can put in place solutions to their mortgage arrears, with priority to allowing them to remain in their home where that is a sustainable option.
In terms of its success so far, I can confirm that over 2,800 vouchers for financial or legal advice and assistance were issued under the Scheme between 22 July and 25 November 2016.