Written Answers Nos. 572-590
572. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of overseas passengers arriving here; the level of compliance in filling out the passenger locator form; the number of forms that were correctly completed; the number of follow-up calls made to passengers; the number of successful follow-up calls completed in each of the past eight weeks in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16541/20]
View answerOn the 28 April 2020, my Department agreed to undertake, on behalf of the health authorities, the collection of public health passenger locator forms on a temporary administrative basis. The Border Management Unit (BMU) operate the scheme at Dublin Airport, which is the principal route through which people enter the State by air. While the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) manage the compliance for the other ports, the passenger locator forms are forwarded to the BMU in Dublin Airport, who also carry out the follow-up calls for those ports.
The following tables detail the compliance rate for the period 28 April – 30 June 2020.
|
Dublin Airport |
|
|
Passenger Arrivals |
28.4.20 - 30.6.20 |
|
Forms Received |
41,949 |
|
Exempt from Follow-UpThis includes passengers -Transiting to NI - In the State for less than 2 days- Completing forms unnecessarily |
11,695 |
|
Number of Call 1 Made (2 days after Arrival) |
28,544 |
|
Calls Answered |
18,246 |
|
% Answered |
64% |
|
Passenger Arrivals |
28.04.20 - 19.06.20 |
|
Number of Call 2 Made(12 days after Arrival) |
16,295 |
|
Calls Answered |
8,649 |
|
% Answered |
53% |
|
Dublin Port |
|
|
Passenger Arrivals |
28.4.20 - 30.6.20 |
|
Forms Received |
19,338 |
|
Exempt from Follow-UpThis includes passengers- Transiting to NI- In the State for less than 2 days- Completing forms unnecessarily |
12,082 |
|
Number of Calls Made |
6,645 |
|
Calls Answered |
3,283 |
|
% Answered |
49% |
|
Rosslare Port |
|
|
Passenger Arrivals |
28.4.20 - 23.6.20 |
|
Forms Received |
4,584 |
|
Exempt from Follow-UpThis includes passengers- Transiting to NI- In the State for less than 2 days- Completing forms unnecessarily |
2,637 |
|
Number of Calls Made |
1,889 |
|
Calls Answered |
999 |
|
% Answered |
53% |
|
Cork Airport |
|
|
Passenger Arrivals |
28.4.20 - 25.6.20 |
|
Forms Received |
1,676 |
|
Exempt from Follow-UpThis includes passengers- Transiting to NI- In the State for less than 2 days- Completing forms unnecessarily |
315 |
|
Number of Calls Made |
1,359 |
|
Calls Answered |
720 |
|
% Answered |
53% |
Since 1 July 2020, given the increase in passenger numbers, the BMU is required to concentrate on their core immigration duties and my Department awaits handover of this follow-up process to the Department of Health.
The BMU now rely on the Dublin Airport Authority (daa) arrivals figures as an indication of the number of passenger locator forms collected by the BMU officers less the exempt categories. Therefore, the statistics below for the period 01 July 2020 – 15 July 2020 show the sample of calls made whilst transfer of the follow-up action to the Department of Health is outstanding. It should be noted that the statistics below are for Dublin Airport only. However, follow-up calls are also being progressed for the other ports of entry.
|
Dublin Airport |
01.07.20 - 15.07.20 |
|
DAA Arrival Figure |
61,844 |
|
Sample Taken |
6,195 |
|
Exempt from Follow-upThis includes passengers- Transiting to NI- In the State for less than 2 days- Completing forms unnecessarily |
1,974 |
|
Calls Made |
4,121 |
|
Calls Answered |
2,129 |
|
% Answered |
52% |
573. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of advisers and special advisers appointed by her since becoming Minister; the starting annual salary of each person appointed by her; if an open interview process was conducted for each appointee; the duration and terms of each contract issued to each adviser and special adviser; and if an advisory role has been split to facilitate job-sharing, in tabular form. [16567/20]
View answerOn the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil are currently awaiting Government approval.
At this stage no Special Advisers have been formally appointed by the Government. This process will start once the Guidelines have been approved by Government and details will be published on the DPER website.
574. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures being taken in order that Ireland meets the minimum standards required for the elimination of human trafficking such as victim identification, accommodation services for victims, support and referral, in view of the downgrading of Ireland from tier 1 to tier 2 in the 2020 trafficking in persons annual report by the US State Department to monitor and combat trafficking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16573/20]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to addressing human trafficking in all forms. We are cooperating with partners and are actively engaged in the work of multilateral international organisations who are addressing human trafficking, including the UN, Council of Europe, OSCE and the European Union.
Ireland has ratified the principal international Human Trafficking treaties, namely the Palermo Protocol (2000) to the UN Convention against Organised Crime; and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (2005). Ireland has also ratified the ILO Forced Labour Protocol, which reinforces the international legal framework for combating all forms of forced labour, including trafficking in persons. This initiative put Ireland among the group known as “50 for Freedom”, which stems from an ILO initiative to encourage member countries to ratify the Protocol by the end of 2019.
The EU Anti Trafficking Directive (2011/36/EU) and in Ireland, the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 and Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) (Amendment) Act 2013 are the relevant legislative measures here and the Second National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking was launched in 2016. This involves a victim-centred and human rights based approach with the ultimate aims of preventing human trafficking, ensuring an effective criminal justice response and delivery of supports to victims.
There is a specialised Garda Unit - the Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit – to address this form of criminality and a High Level Group involving the Department of Justice and Equality, the Office of the DPP and An Garda Síochána is in place which keeps the legislative and operational framework for investigation and prosecution of trafficking under review.
A number of partners across the public service provide care and practical support to victims of trafficking including the HSE, the Legal Aid Board, the Immigration Service and Tusla. The Department of Justice and Equality also provides funding to NGOs for their work to provide support to victims of trafficking. Other measures currently being taken include training of Gardaí and immigration officers and awareness raising initiatives which are crucial to early detection of this crime.
Addressing human trafficking is an ongoing challenge and a number of other key actions are currently planned or due to begin in the near future. In particular:
- The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) is to be designated as Ireland’s independent National Rapporteur for Anti-Human Trafficking under article 19 of the EU Human Trafficking Directive. Legislation is currently being drafted to make this designation;
- The review of the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences) Act 2017, which criminalised the purchase of sex as part of a wider approach to protection of persons trafficked into prostitution, has been launched;
- There is ongoing engagement by the Department of Justice and Equality with NGOs to identify solutions to the provision of accommodation to victims of trafficking, particularly female victims of sexual exploitation;
- The Department has established a forum for victims and stakeholders in relation to human trafficking, which had its first meeting earlier this month and which will examine the need to update the existing National Action Plan on Human Trafficking, including to respond to the commitment in the Programme for Government to adopt and implement a comprehensive strategy to combat trafficking of women and girls;
- The Forum will also work with the Department in a review of the National Referral Mechanism in Ireland, learning from best practice models in other EU Member States; and
- Legislation is being drafted to strengthen the penal framework on people smuggling, thereby implementing three international legal instruments in the area.
My Department is closely studying the report and recommendations included in the US State Department ‘Trafficking in Persons’ (TiPs) Report 2020. Ireland maintains in close ongoing contact with the United States on this issue and the report will feed into the Department’s ongoing work on the National Action Plan to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking.
575. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 337 to 339, inclusive, of 30 June 2020, if a comparative assessment has been carried on the cost of a full refurbishment of Sligo Garda station compared with the cost of a new build on the site already purchased for this purpose which was not addressed in the reply. [16590/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware 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 (OPW), which has the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation.
As part of the implementation of the new Operating Model, the need for a new station in Sligo has been reviewed by An Garda Síochána and, further to that review, the Commissioner has determined that a new Garda Station in Sligo is no longer justified.
In relation to a comparative assessment on refurbishing the existing Station relative to the provision of a new Garda Station, I have been informed that the rationale for the decision not to proceed with a new Station in Sligo was based on the changed status of Sligo under the new Garda Operating Model, as referred to above.
Nonetheless, as outlined in the replies mentioned by the Deputy, the Garda Commissioner is very conscious of the need to provide fit for purpose facilities for Garda members and staff based at Sligo Garda station and it is the intention of An Garda Síochána to continue to work with the OPW to ensure Gardaí operating in Sligo town have a station facility that will be fully fit for purpose.
In this context, it is envisaged that that the refurbished Garda Station in Sligo will fully reflect the functional requirements under the new Operating Model for the Donegal/Sligo/Leitrim Division in order to support the delivery of policing services for the town and community of Sligo and for all Garda personnel based in Sligo.
The expenditures by the OPW Property Maintenance on Sligo Garda Station from 2017 is as follows:
|
Year |
OPW Funded |
Garda Funded |
Total |
|
2017 |
€58,163 |
€199 |
€58,362 |
|
2018 |
€76,946 |
€39,171 |
€116,117 |
|
2019 |
€291,528 |
€419,566 |
€711,094 |
|
2020 |
€142,781 |
€494 |
€143,275 |
As outlined in the reply of 30 June, Property Maintenance are on site in Sligo Garda Station working on the cell upgrade (the balance to pay on this project is approximately €1.3m) and Property Maintenance are also currently preparing a tender package to provide facilities for a Scene of Crimes unit.
576. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to provide funding for the purchase of additional high-powered unmarked vehicles for the Garda roads policing unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16608/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of an Garda Síochána as well as for the allocation of Garda resources, in light of identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no role in those matters.
However, the 2020 Estimates provided a budget of €9 million for the purchase of Garda vehicles. I have been informed that as part of the 2020 purchasing plan, twenty five (25) higher-powered Tucsons (184BHP) have been ordered for roads policing and following fit out they will be allocated later this year as marked vehicles. I am further informed that the budget for 2020 is fully committed and there are no plans to purchase higher-powered unmarked vehicles for roads policing.
577. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16610/20]
View answerI am advised by the Immigration Service of my Department that a preliminary examination of the case of the person concerned suggests that it is impacted by the Ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in the Chenchooliah case and is among a body of cases potentially so impacted.
My Department is currently finalising the amendment of the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015, to fully bring them in line with the ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in the Chenchooliah case. The Immigration Service is also finalising a removal procedure for the persons who come, or have once come, within the provisions of the Free Movement Directive.
As soon as the Regulations are amended and the removal procedure has been finalised the Immigration Service will be in contact with the various persons whose cases are impacted by the ruling, and their legal representatives.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
578. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of thefts of domestic dogs and-or pets reported to An Garda Síochána in the past three years to date. [16619/20]
View answer597. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of dogs registered as stolen between 2018 and 2020, by county in tabular form; the number of convictions and fines associated with these thefts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17125/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 578 and 597 together.
I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that, regrettably, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of such thefts to divisional level as to do so could allow for the identification of injured parties.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following are the approximate number of domestic dogs and/or pets reported stolen to An Garda Síochána in 2018, 2019 and up to 15 July 2020.
Dog Theft Incidents
|
Garda Regions |
2018 |
2019 |
2020* |
|
Dublin Region |
20 |
13 |
8 |
|
Eastern Region (NEW) |
79 |
82 |
57 |
|
North Western Region |
5 |
16 |
15 |
|
Southern Region (NEW) |
41 |
94 |
40 |
|
National Total |
145 |
205 |
120 |
I am further advised that these figures are approximate as they are based on descriptions given on the PULSE system.
As the Deputy may be aware, on 9 July 2020, An Garda Síochána appealed to the public to take extra crime prevention measures when it comes to caring for their pets, particularly high-value breeds of dogs, following the reporting of a number of dog thefts in recent months. A range of measures for pet safety, recommended by the National Crime Prevention Unit, can be found on the Garda website at https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/dog-theft-crime-prevention-advice.html.
I am further informed by the Courts Service that the ability to pull together data in response to the Deputy's question is dependent upon being able to isolate animal theft in their records over any other type of theft. For other offences, this is possible because the offence type has a specific code on An Garda Síochána's PULSE system, which the Courts Service use for populating their own records.
I understand that there is no specific code on PULSE for theft of animals. The same code is used for all types of theft and it would require the checking of individual records within the Courts Service to separate out theft of animals from other types of theft. Given the numbers of offences of theft every year, this is too onerous a task to narrow down over the three year period the Deputy has requested.
579. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to update the Firearms (Firearm Certificates For Non-Residents) Act 2000. [16732/20]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the Firearms (Firearm Certificates for Non-Residents) Act 2000 provides that a non-resident firearm certificate is required by persons resident abroad wishing to "have in his or her possession, use and carry" a firearm in the State.
My Department currently has no plans to amend the Act. However, as with all legislation within the remit of my Department, this position is kept under review.
580. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí attached to each divisional drugs unit as of 13 July 2020 by rank in tabular form. [16756/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for the allocation of all Garda resources and I as Minister have no role in these matters. However, Gardaí have informed me that the allocation of resources is kept under continuous review, in light of crime trends and policing priorities, in order to ensure their optimum use.
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (D.O.C.B.) leads in tackling all forms of drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs in Ireland. Working closely with international law enforcement partners, the Bureau is having significant success in disrupting drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs in Ireland, as well as organised crime groups. There were 98 Garda personnel assigned to the D.O.C.B. at end June 2020.
Divisional Drugs Units, to which 308 Garda personnel are assigned, tackle drug related crime on a local basis throughout the country supported, as needed, by the national Bureau. For the Deputy's information, the table below, as furnished to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Garda members attached to each divisional drugs unit as of 30 June 2020, the latest date for which figures are available.
|
Division |
Inspector |
Sergeant |
Garda |
Total |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
0 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
|
Clare |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Cork City |
0 |
2 |
13 |
15 |
|
Cork North |
0 |
3 |
6 |
9 |
|
Cork West |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
D.M.R.E. |
1 |
1 |
6 |
8 |
|
D.M.R.N. |
0 |
3 |
27 |
30 |
|
D.M.R.N.C |
1 |
2 |
13 |
16 |
|
D.M.R.S. |
0 |
3 |
18 |
21 |
|
D.M.R.S.C. |
1 |
2 |
14 |
17 |
|
D.M.R.W. |
0 |
3 |
19 |
22 |
|
Donegal |
0 |
0 |
21 |
21 |
|
Galway |
0 |
1 |
8 |
9 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
1 |
8 |
9 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
0 |
9 |
9 |
|
Kilkenny/Carlow |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
Limerick |
0 |
2 |
16 |
18 |
|
Louth |
0 |
2 |
10 |
12 |
|
Mayo |
0 |
2 |
6 |
8 |
|
Meath |
0 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
|
Roscommon/Longford |
0 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
0 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Tipperary |
0 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
|
Waterford |
0 |
1 |
12 |
13 |
|
Westmeath |
0 |
2 |
6 |
8 |
|
Wexford |
0 |
0 |
8 |
8 |
|
Wicklow |
0 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
|
Total |
3 |
39 |
266 |
308 |
The resources provided to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2020 of €1.88 billion. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff and as a result, An Garda Síochána is a growing organisation. There are now approx. 14,700 Gardaí nationwide, supported by over 3,000 Garda staff and these numbers are continuing to grow. Taken together, this increase in the number of Garda members and staff is delivering a significant increase in operational policing hours nationwide.
581. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the budget allocation to Forensic Science Ireland in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [16757/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that Forensic Science Ireland (FSI), an office of my Department, is the State's forensic analysis service and works closely with An Garda Síochána in the investigation of crime and presentation of evidence at criminal trials.
FSI forms a crucial component of the State's criminal justice system and meets a clearly established public need by contributing to the detection of criminal offences and the apprehension and identification of the perpetrators of crime.
As set out in the FSI Strategic Plan 2019-2022, available at www.forensicscience.ie, demand for FSI services continues to grow, and I am pleased that Budget 2020 provided an allocation of almost €40m for the development of new laboratory facilities at the Science Campus in Backweston.
Please find the information requested in regard to the budget allocation to the FSI set out below:
|
2018 (€m) |
2019 (€m) |
2020 (€m) |
|
|
Pay |
7.231 |
8.850 |
11.974 |
|
Non-Pay |
2.865 |
3.365 |
5.466 |
|
Capital |
3.012 |
18.570 |
39.551 |
|
Deferred Capital |
0.741 |
0.942 |
- |
582. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who have received specialist training to interview children as witnesses, victims or suspects in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form. [16758/20]
View answerUnder the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the allocation and distribution of resources including the recruitment and training of Garda members and members of the Garda Reserve is entirely a matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I have no responsibility in this matter. I am assured however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of Gardaí who received Specialist Interview Training to interview children as witnesses, victims or suspects in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 is as follows:
|
Year |
Specialist Interviewing Module 1 – No. of Gardaí Trained |
|
2018 |
24 |
|
2019 |
40 |
|
2020 to-date |
12 |
This training is delivered over a two-year period and these participants are at various points of this training. I am informed that, due to COVID-19, training has been suspended.
583. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the works envisioned as being carried out under the capital expenditure budget for the Courts Service in the revised estimates; and if the division between renovation or extension works and new builds for courthouses will be included. [16762/20]
View answerUnder 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.
A number of major courthouse projects have been included in the Government's National Development Plan 2018-2027 and the overall vision in Project Ireland 2040. These include:
- A major Family Law and Children's Court Complex on a site adjacent to the Four Courts at Hammond Lane in Dublin;
- Further new or refurbished courthouses in regional cities and county towns where facilities remain substandard (including Galway City, Wicklow Town, Portlaoise, Tralee and Roscommon);
- Construction of standard county town type court facilities at a number of locations in County Dublin and also in North Kildare, Bray and Navan;
- Regional Family Law Centres;
- Further provincial locations such as An Clochan Liath (Dungloe) to serve as the Gaeltacht court for the region, and Tuam; and
- A nationwide condition survey of all court buildings in the estate will be undertaken to determine their condition and identify works required in relation to any issues identified and meet ongoing maintenance requirements.
The precise allocation and timing of additional funding over the entire ten year period remains to be fully determined. The delivery of the Hammond Lane Family Law project is a priority for Courts Service.
At present the annual Courts Service capital budget is €4.88m. In 2020, an additional €10m was allocated primarily for the purpose of settling the final account (€8.9m ex VAT) on the recently completed €158m Courts PPP Bundle project which delivered new or refurbished courthouses at Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Letterkenny, Mullingar and Drogheda.
A breakdown of the proposed expenditure of the €4.88m is as follows:
- €1m – repayment of a loan inherited from Cork City Council relating to the refurbishment of Washington Street Courthouse.
- €1m – lease costs for various leased courthouses nationwide.
- €1m – site acquisitions in Portlaoise and Tralee for NDP projects.
- €1.2m – various minor upgrades around Dublin/Four Courts campus.
The balance is for various small projects or items of expenditure that may arise during the course of the year.
584. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of providing in-cell sanitation or other arrangements to cease the practice of slopping out to each prisoner within Portlaoise prison. [16763/20]
View answerThe provision of safe and secure custody and dignity of care to those individuals in the penal system in Ireland is a priority area for the Department and the Irish Prison Service (IPS).
The IPS commits in its capital strategy plan 2016-2021 to a prison estate that provides safe, secure and humane custody, that upholds the dignity of all users, and that reflects and supports a modern and progressive penal policy. It identifies as a priority the full elimination of the practice referred to as ‘slopping out’, through provision of in-cell sanitation throughout the prison estate.
Very significant progress has already been made, to the extent that the practice has now been virtually eliminated in Irish prisons: in-cell sanitation is now in place for 99% of prisoners in Irish prisons.
Some of the relevant works completed to date include the installation of in-cell sanitation at Mountjoy Prison and the opening of a new prison in Cork in 2016. The construction of new facilities in Limerick has also commenced.
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that a feasibility study on the options to improve cellular accommodation including the provision of in-cell sanitation at E block, Portlaoise Prison, is being prepared. I understand that the other cell blocks at Portlaoise already have in-cell sanitation in place.
I am informed that it is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the cost involved in provision of in-cell sanitation for the E block at Portlaoise at this time, pending the completion of the feasibility study and the preparation of a scope of works on the work to be undertaken, completion of necessary engineering surveys, which are required for the preparation of an estimate of costs. The Deputy may however be interested to know that I am informed by the IPS that it is hoped an invitation to tender for necessary works will be issued to the market in the first quarter of 2021, subject to funding.
When completed, this work and the redevelopment of Limerick Prison, which is currently in progress, will see the full elimination of slopping in the prison estate. The Deputy may be interested to know that the total budget for the overall Limerick project is €71.5million. I understand that the contract for the construction of these works was awarded in February 2019 and that the project is currently scheduled for completion in the last quarter of 2021.
585. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the costing estimates that have been carried out with respect to the implementation of the optional protocol of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. [16765/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government reiterates the commitment to ratification of the Optional Protocol after the first reporting cycle.
The Government remains focused on addressing the remaining legislative measures to be taken in Ireland to give full effect to the Convention, the submission of the CRPD Initial State Report, and the development of an implementation plan to coordinate implementation of the UNCRPD. However, no specific costing estimates have been completed specifically in respect of the Optional Protocol of the UNCRPD.
586. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Clyne report will be received (details supplied); when the report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16771/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that an inquiry under Section 42 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 is being carried out by former Judge Patrick Clyne into the Garda Síochána investigation following the death of Mr Patrick Nugent in 1984.
Judge Clyne was due to complete the Inquiry by 28 February 2020. However, due to factors including the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health measures, he informed my Department that he will not be in a position to finalise this work until July.
On 16 June 2020, the then Minister for Justice and Equality approved an extension for the Nugent Inquiry to 31 July 2020. My Department wrote to the Nugent family shortly afterwards to inform them of this extension. Following receipt of the report, it is my intention to consult the Attorney General with a view to providing the report to the Nugent family and publishing a copy on my Department's website.
587. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if licences when due for renewal will be issued free of charge for community facilities that run bingo and social dancing in view of the fact that they have not been used for a number of months and will not be used for an extended period of time due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16799/20]
View answerThe statutory provisions concerning the licensing of premises for the purposes of public dancing are set out in the Public Dance Halls Act 1935 as well as sections 2 to 10 and 21 of the Licensing (Combating Drug Abuse) Act 1997 in so far as they relate to public dancing licenses. The primary purpose of these statutory provisions is to ensure the welfare and safety of persons while present at events on the premises.
Applications for renewal of existing licences are made to the annual licensing district court. Fees relating to renewal of licences in the courts are prescribed by law. Fees for applications to the District Court are prescribed by S.I. 22 of 2014. There is no provision in S.I. 22 of 2014 for waiver of these fees by the Courts Service and the Minister has no current plans to review the matter.
588. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the value of contracts awarded to a company (details supplied) and its subsidiaries by her Department and each body and local authority under her remit from 1 January 2016 to 14 July 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16845/20]
View answerIt has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy within the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy to provide this information as soon as it is available.
|
Vendor Name |
2016 |
2017 |
2018* |
2019* |
2020* |
Total |
|
CAMPBELL CATERING LTD |
2,640,576 |
1,431 |
9,600 |
266 |
2,651,873 |
|
|
ARAMARK/CAMPBELL CATERING LTD |
5,575,076 |
3,864,654 |
9,439,730 |
|||
|
ARAMARK WORKPLACE SOLNS |
5,010 |
5,010 |
||||
|
ARAMARK PROPERTY SERVICES LTD |
800 |
47 |
847 |
|||
|
Total |
5,580,086 |
6,506,030 |
1,431 |
9,647 |
266 |
12,097,460 |
589. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the Parole Act 2019 will be commenced; and if an application for parole has been made by a person (details supplied). [16851/20]
View answerThe Parole Act 2019 provides for the establishment of an independent, statutory Parole Board, which will make decisions in relation to parole for all eligible prisoners.
The Deputy will be aware that under the 2019 Act, prisoners serving a life sentence will be eligible to be considered only after they have served 12 years of that sentence.
Prisoners who have applied under the old system but have not yet been granted parole will be eligible to be considered, once they meet the criteria set out in the Parole Act, by the new Board, in accordance with the provisions of that Act. It is, however, important to note that, in practice and over the past 10 years, the average sentence served by a life sentence prisoner before being released on parole has been approximately 19 years.
I am committed to seeing the new Parole Board up and running and soon as is practically possible and the Programme for Government commits to ensuring full implementation of the Parole Act 2019.
There are a number of practical steps required before it will be possible to commence the Act and establish the Parole Board, for example selection of Board members, the appointment of a Chief Executive and staff, putting in place the funding for the new Board, and various other matters, including premises for the new enlarged organisation etc. These measures will require the provision of additional funding in Budget 2021. A Project Board has been established in my Department to carry out the necessary work and ensure that all necessary arrangements are made. Pending establishment of the new Board, the existing expert Parole Board is continuing with its work.
Finally, and as the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot comment on the case of any particular prisoner including the specific case referred to.
590. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the planned timeline for delivering vulnerability assessments, full right to access employment, the ability to apply for driver licences and bank accounts for persons resident in direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16935/20]
View answerLast year, Dr Catherine Day was asked to bring together an expert group with representation from asylum seekers and NGOs to examine best practice in other European States in the provision of services to international protection applicants, to examine likely longer term trends and to set out recommendations and solutions. Any new system for the provision of accommodation and additional supports to international protection applicants will be informed by the Report of this Expert Group. The Group is examining both the reception system for accommodating applicants and the system for processing applications, and is expected to make recommendations for changes in both areas.
A briefing paper on the work of the group, prepared by the Chairperson to inform programme for government talks, was recently circulated to members of both Houses of the Oireachtas by the previous Minister and its interim recommendations cover many of these issues. The work of the group is advancing at pace and their report is expected by the end of September. The intention as stated in the Programme for Government is to publish a White Paper by the end of this year, informed by the recommendations of the Expert Group, which will set out how a replacement to the Direct Provision system will be structured and the steps to achieving it. It will be a matter for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, to progress the matter following the transfer of this function to his Department.
In the meantime, on foot of a request from my predecessor, work is continuing on progressing a number of issues identified by Dr Day in her briefing note.
There are ongoing discussions between officials in my Department and the HSE to allow for the introduction of vulnerability assessments for applicants for international protection by the end of the year.
A review of labour market access has recently been carried out by my Department which I intend to submit to Government for consideration in the near future.
The issuing of driving licences and learner permits to international protection applicants is currently being considered by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in consultation with my Department. While there are a number of complex legal and administrative issues to be resolved, work is ongoing in this regard.
In relation to the ability of applicants for international protection to open bank accounts, senior officials of my Department have recently discussed the matter with the representatives of the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (DPFI) to see how the issue can be progressed.
