Written Answers Nos. 1364-1382
1364. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of an application for citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied); when the application can be expected to advance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18119/21]
View answerAn application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 22 September 2020. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. The nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
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 at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, 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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
1365. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of letters that have been issued and are being issued each month to those in direct provision in tabular form. [18131/21]
View answer1366. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of first instance interviews for asylum seekers that have been postponed from March 2020 to date; the number that are scheduled for 2021; the number of additional interviews that are scheduled monthly to clear the backlog; the number of cases that are assigned to each interviewer; the timeframe given to complete each case; the number that received their first interview in 2020, by month; and the number of interviews with applicants outside of Dublin that have been held by month from March 2020 to date. [18132/21]
View answer1367. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the accelerated procedures that have been put in place for those seeking asylum given the considerable backlog. [18133/21]
View answer1368. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the nature of the non-cooperation measures in relation to those seeking asylum. [18134/21]
View answer1369. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the way in which the return of questionnaires have been speeded up in relation to those seeking asylum [18135/21]
View answer1370. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if an applicant seeking asylum who wants a speedy interview is placed on a remote interview list; if so, the length of the list; the length of the waiting time for this list; and the way in which applications are made. [18136/21]
View answer1371. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the way in which the €1.7 million additional funding allocated to improving the processing waiting times is being spent in relation to persons seeking asylum. [18137/21]
View answer1492. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice the number of the first instance international protection interviews that were postponed from March 2020 to date; the number of interviews scheduled for April 2021; the number of additional interviews scheduled each month to clear the backlog; the number of cases assigned to each interviewer; the timeframe given to complete each case; the number of applicants that have had their first interview in 2020; the number of interviews that have been held with applicants outside Dublin; the accelerated procedures that have been put in place; the definition of non-cooperation measures; if an applicant who wants a speedy interview will be included on a remote interview list; the length of time waiting for persons on the remote interview list; the way the additional €1.7 million allocated to improving the processing waiting times is spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20498/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1365 to 1371, inclusive, and 1492 together.
The International Protection Office (IPO) of the Immigration Service of my Department is absolutely committed to ensuring that all applicants have an equal opportunity to present their case, while adhering to measures to ensure the safety of all participants. Staff in the IPO have worked both onsite and remotely throughout the pandemic to ensure the protection process continues to operate.
In general, the scheduling of interviews by the IPO is done in accordance with the prioritisation policy agreed with the UNHCR and published on the IPO website www.ipo.gov.ie. This prioritisation, provided for under section 73 of the International Protection Act 2015, is subject to the need for fairness and efficiency in dealing with applications for international protection. Scheduling of cases will primarily be done on the basis of the date of application (oldest cases first).
Unfortunately, the Covid-19 public health measures required to ensure the safety of applicants, legal representatives and staff have resulted in additional logistical challenges that can slow down the scheduling process. The IPO continues to explore new ways of working but it must operate within legal and logistical constraints, with the health and safety of all involved as an absolute priority. In-person contact and support, which remains an indispensable part of the process also presents the greatest challenges during Covid-19.The IPO continues to work to ensure that those who had their interviews postponed are rescheduled as soon as possible.
Substantive protection interviews under section 35 of the 2015 Act were first suspended in line with public health requirements on 13 March 2020. They resumed, in lower numbers than before due to public health measures, on 20 July and continued until 21 October when they were again suspended in line with public health measures. Interviews resumed for the period 2 December until 18 December 2020, at which point they were once again suspended. There have been no interviews to date in 2021.
The IPO continues to maintain an interview schedule, to enable as rapid a resumption as possible once public health measures allow this to happen. Currently there are in the region of 500 applicants on that draft schedule. There will, inevitably, be a period between the date that the IPO is informed that interviews can resume and the first interviews taking place in the interests of fairness to allow applicants and their legal representatives to prepare for the interview.
According to IPO records, just under 2,700 section 35 interviews were scheduled during 2020 of which just over 1,100 proceeded. Just over 1,000 interviews were postponed due to Covid-19. This figure includes applicants who, unfortunately, had interviews postponed more than once as the situation evolved over the course of the year. The comparable figure for 2019 is approximately 4,500 interviews scheduled of which 3,200 proceeded.
The table below provides the breakdown by month of interviews that took place in 2020:
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Total |
|
259 |
296 |
118 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
42 |
92 |
116 |
63 |
0 |
130 |
1116 |
The number of interviews held outside Dublin broken down by month and location is provided in the table below:
|
Month |
Cork |
Sligo |
Galway |
|
Jan |
16 |
8 |
0 |
|
Feb |
16 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mar |
0 |
7 |
0 |
|
Apr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
May |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
June |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
July |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Aug |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sept |
8 |
0 |
0 |
|
Oct |
16 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nov |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dec |
17 |
0 |
2 |
|
Totals |
73 |
15 |
2 |
The IPO successfully piloted interviews by video conference in 2019 and is now working to expand that programme with a view to making interviews by video conference a significant element of IPO operations.
The IPO writes to applicants on various aspects of their protection applications, and all applicants are written to about their interviews and the recommendation arising from consideration of their application. These letters are not recorded in such a way as to facilitate giving a total number of letters issued from the IPO in any given period of time.
Not all applicants are accommodated in the direct provision system and the IPO does not differentiate between groups in this respect, therefore the number of letters that issued to applicants accommodated in direct provision is also not available.
The IPO has been working on a revised IPO 2 international protection questionnaire, which will be shorter and more user friendly. It is planned to commence use of this questionnaire shortly. In light of the current public health restrictions, the IPO is accepting current IPO 2 Questionnaires which have been electronically completed by the applicant or their legal representative provided they have been signed by the applicant.
Section 27 of the International Protection Act 2015, places a duty on applicants to cooperate with the process. The IPO will write to applicants who are not cooperating with the process at their last known address giving them the opportunity to cooperate. The IPO copies this letter to their legal representative where known. In the event an applicant does not respond, i.e., continues not cooperating with the process, the IPO will proceed to make a recommendation on their application based on the information available to it. The IPO will notify the applicant and their legal representative of this recommendation which, if negative, can be appealed to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT). An applicant can contact the IPO at any point to resume cooperating with the process, provided this is done prior to a recommendation issuing on their international protection application.
In October 2020, I announced that an additional €1.75m had been allocated for asylum processing in 2021 for the efficient functioning of the international protection system, which will help us to further improve processing times for applications.
The additional budget was assigned in 2021, which includes the €1.75m referenced above and the split was as follows: €1m was assigned to pay expenditure for Immigration Services/IPO and €0.75m was assigned to IPAT.
My Department is committed to implementing the key recommendations in the Expert Advisory Group Report to reduce processing times of both first instance decisions and appeals to 6 months respectively, as outlined in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Protection Support Service.
Work is underway in my Department towards identifying mechanisms which will assist with working towards improved processing times, including an end-to-end review of processes to guide enhanced processing times. When this first phase of work is complete it will inform how this additional funding will be further apportioned between the IPO and the IPAT.
1372. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current and or expected position in respect of residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18159/21]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy applied for a right of residency in the State, accompanied by a right to work, based on their parentage of an Irish born minor citizen child.
The application is on hold pending the outcome of a review of a related case. As soon as the case is finalised, the Immigration Service of my Department will be in contact with the person concerned to further address their application.
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 (INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie) 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 from my Department is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
1373. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the additional resources that will be allocated to the visa application offices nationally to ensure any backlog of applications will be processed as quickly as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18164/21]
View answer1389. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Justice the steps she is taking to meet the backlog of registration for first time Garda national immigration bureau applicants; if she will consider increasing capacity to deal with the backlog in Dublin by giving functions to larger Garda stations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18460/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1373 and 1389 together.
Due to the public health restrictions currently in place under Level 5 of the Government's Framework for Restrictive Measures in Response to Covid-19, the Registration Office in Burgh Quay has been closed since 23 December 2020, until further notice.
To ensure that people do not fall out of permission during the Covid-19 pandemic, seven automatic extensions of immigration permissions have been provided, the most recent to 20 September 2021. The renewal of permission is on the same basis as the existing permission and the same conditions attach.
The requirement to register an immigration permission in person, for those living in Dublin, will not arise until the Registration Office reopens in line with the Government’s Roadmap. First time registrations require the taking of biometric information (fingerprints) so it is not possible to do these registrations online.
When the Registration Office in Burgh Quay can safely reopen, consideration will be given to all options to deal with any pent up demand that exists, such as weekend opening. Staff within the Immigration Service can also be temporarily reassigned to those areas with the greatest need at any given time. However, any measures put in place will be in line with public health guidelines, as the safety of staff and customers alike are of paramount importance.
Customers residing in Dublin, who had appointments cancelled for a first-time registration and who provided a valid email address when making their appointment, will be contacted by the Immigration Service of my Department and given a new appointment date.
Registrations outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau through the Garda Station network. Information on the contact details for all the registration offices outside Dublin is available at: https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/reopening-of-registration-offices.html.
Further updates will be provided on the Immigration Service website when available at: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/COVID-19-updates-and-announcements.
1374. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice when the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts will be updated to permit the repatriation of Irish prisoners serving sentences in the UK under sentences not recognised in Irish law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18209/21]
View answerIn 2016, relevant Supreme Court judgments raised the issue of how best to adapt and administer under Irish law a foreign sentence that contains features not found in Irish sentences
To address this issue the Government approved the General Scheme of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (Amendment) Bill in 2019 to amend the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts 1995 and 1997.
Legislation to transpose Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA is also being progressed and is on the most recent Government Legislative Programme Priority List for publication. This legislation will address similar issues which could arise in relation to sentence adaptation in respect of sentence transfers between EU Member States.
Officials in my Department are currently working with the Office of the Attorney General with a view to progressing these issues and bringing the necessary legislation to deal with both Member State and non-Member State scenarios before the Oireachtas as soon as practicable.
1375. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt an bhfuil ábhar an iarratais eadóirseachta seolta ar ais chuig an iarratasóir, mar atá luaite ina freagra chugam ar cheist pharlaiminteach uimhir. 1256 den 24ú Márta 2021, an mbeidh ar an iarratasóir iarratas iomlán nua a sheoladh isteach arís agus tosú ar an bpróiseas arís ón tús toisc botún a bheith déanta ag a Roinn. [18219/21]
View answer1376. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt an mbeidh moill ar iarratais eadóirseachta daoine (sonraí tugtha) mar thoradh ar earráid riaracháin ag a Roinn, nó an ndéanfaidh sí iarracht a n-iarratas a bhrostú ionas nach gcaitear níos measa leo ná iarratasóirí a roghnaíonn iarratas a sheoltar i mBéarla. [18220/21]
View answer1377. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt cé mhéad iarratas eadóirseachta atá déanta trí Ghaeilge chuig a Roinn. [18221/21]
View answer1402. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt an bhfuil sí sásta go bhfuil mí sa bhreis curtha leis an moill 6 mhí ar phroiséas eadóirseachta beirte toisc leithscéal nach féidir duine cuí a fháil chun an t-aistriúchán Gaeilge ar an bhfoirm iarratais a leagadh amach ar na leathanaigh i gceart go dtí an tseachtain roimh an 26 Aibreán 2021; an nglacann sí leis go bhfuil a Roinn freagrach as éagóir a dhéanamh ar phobal na Gaeilge i gcomparáid le pobal an Bhéarla; agus cén gníomh atá sí chun a dhéanamh chun an cás seo a chur ina cheart agus na hiarratais a dheifriú. [18786/21]
View answer1403. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Dlí agus Cirt cén fáth nach féidir le haon duine sa Roinn téacs aistrithe d’iarratas eadóirseachta a leagan amach i bhfoirm iarratais go dtí an tseachtain roimh an 26 Aibreán 2021; agus cén fáth ar gá fanacht ar sin chun an t-eolas atá á lorg sa bhfoirm a chur faoi bhráid na Roinne. [18788/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1375 to 1377, inclusive, 1402 and 1403 together.
Tá an Roinn lántiomanta do sheirbhísí a sholáthar i nGaeilge agus le cúpla mí anuas chuaigh beirt oifigeach a bhfuil Gaeilge acu istech sa Rannán Saoránachta, chun roinnt róil a athlíonadh, lean sé seo ar imeacht na sealbhóirí roimhe seo ar scor.
Déantar na foirmeacha iarratais agus na treoirlínte gaolmhara a nuashonrú go rialta chun athruithe reachtaíochta agus beartas a chur san áireamh. Cuid riachtanach den phróiseas seo is ea athbhreithniú ar leagnacha Gaeilge dár bhfoirmeacha iarratais. Is fíor gur tháinig roinnt deacrachtaí formáidithe chun cinn le leaganacha Gaeilge de roinnt doiciméad, go háirithe an Dearbhú Reachtúil, ach tá dearbhú tugtha dom ag m’oifigigh go bhfuil an t-ábhar idir lámha agus go ndéanfar é a nuashonrú ar an suíomh gréasáin i gceann cúpla lá.
Is féidir liom a dhearbhú go ndearnadh teagmháil leis na hiarratasóirí i gceist agus go bhfanann oifigigh i dteagmháil leo maidir le forbairtí. Fuair ??mé dearbhuithe freisin nach gcuirfear aon mhoill ag na hiarratasóirí mar thoradh ar na saincheisteanna a sainaithníodh níos luaithe sa phróiseas iarratais. Is trí Ghaeilge a rinneadh gach cumarsáid leis na hiarratasóirí le déanaí agus is amhlaidh a bheidh amach anseo.
Ní dhiúltóidh mé d’iarratas go deo sa chás go n-úsáidtear an leagan Gaeilge in ionad an leagain Bhéarla ach tá sé fós mar cheanglas sa phróiseas iarratais go n-úsáidtear an leagan is nuashonraithe atá ar fáil den fhoirm. Sa chás go n-úsáideann iarratasóirí foirm atá as dáta, cuirfidh oifigigh sin in iúl dóibh agus díreofar iad chuig an leagan is déanaí.
Tá níos lú ná 5 iarratas ar shaoránacht curtha isteach i nGaeilge.
1378. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice if she will intervene and ensure that the barrier to accessing free legal aid will be removed for all Stardust families involved in the upcoming inquiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18228/21]
View answerThe Government is committed to ensuring that the Stardust inquests will proceed as soon as it is safe to do so, having regard to public health guidelines.
Extensive work has already been undertaken towards this end. Government funding of up to €8m has been allocated for the new inquests to cover a number of areas including legal aid for families. A bespoke courtroom has been built for the purpose of the inquest at the RDS and information technology facilities developed to ensure that family members will also be able to follow the events remotely when not in the courtroom.
I am committed to ensuring that the families receive appropriate support during the inquest, and also to ensuring the best value for Irish taxpayers from the process.
The Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013, made a set of amendments to the Coroners Act 1962, and the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, that enabled legal aid at inquests in certain conditions.
Section 60 of the Coroners Act 1962, (as amended) provides a procedure whereby a family member of the deceased may apply to the coroner for a request to be submitted to the Board in relation to the granting of legal aid. Applications for legal aid have been certified by Dr. Cullinane, and these applications are with the Legal Aid Board.
Officials of my Department reviewed alternative arrangements for funding legal professionals, which were not considered to be the best option in terms of meeting the needs of the families compared to the facility provided by Legal Aid Board.
Ordinarily, applicants through the legal aid system would pay an initial fee and support would be provided on the basis of a means test. This is how the legal aid scheme works for all of the individuals who seek their help, and it is a widely respected system.
The Legal Aid Board notified my Department that some of the Stardust victims’ families would not qualify for legal aid as they exceed the income limits currently in force by the Legal Aid Board, as required by the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995. My Department is actively investigating the position regarding the very small number of families who do not meet the financial eligibility requirements under the Act.
I hope that the inquests will meet the needs of the families involved and expect that all concerned will play their part in ensuring that the inquests can progress without delay.
1379. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice the way in which a person with limited or no decision making capacity can be represented by a person with power of attorney and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18249/21]
View answerUnder the Powers of Attorney Act 1996, an adult who has decision-making capacity may appoint an attorney under an enduring power of attorney to make decisions on his or her behalf in circumstances where the person no longer has decision-making capacity.
The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties. Part 7 of the 2015 Act makes provision for enduring powers of attorney. The Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth has responsibility for matters relating to the commencement or amendment of the 2015 Act.
1380. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the waiting times for first decisions and appeal decisions for applicants for international protection; the number of letters regarding decisions issued each month; the current backlog of numbers as a result of Covid-19 restrictions; the projected time it will take to clear the backlog; the number of interviews taking place each month; the number of first interviews conducted in 2020; the number that were conducted outside of Dublin; the specific measures taken to speed up the process; the number of staff working on this process; her plans to hire additional staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18255/21]
View answerThe International Protection Office (IPO) of the Immigration Service of my Department is absolutely committed to ensuring that all applicants have an equal opportunity to present their case, while adhering to measures to ensure the safety of all participants. Staff in the IPO have worked both onsite and remotely throughout the pandemic to ensure the protection process continues to operate.
In general, the scheduling of interviews by the IPO is done in accordance with the prioritisation policy agreed with the UNHCR and published on the IPO website www.ipo.gov.ie. This prioritisation, provided for under section 73 of the International Protection Act 2015, is subject to the need for fairness and efficiency in dealing with applications for international protection. Scheduling of cases will primarily be done on the basis of the date of application (oldest cases first).
Unfortunately, the Covid-19 public health measures required to ensure the safety of applicants, legal representatives and staff have resulted in additional logistical challenges that can slow down the scheduling process. The IPO continues to explore new ways of working but it must operate within legal and logistical constraints, with the health and safety of all involved as an absolute priority. In-person contact and support, which remains an indispensable part of the process also presents the greatest challenges during Covid-19.The IPO continues to work to ensure that those who had their interviews postponed are rescheduled as soon as possible.
Substantive protection interviews under section 35 of the 2015 Act were first suspended in line with public health requirements on 13 March 2020. They resumed, in lower numbers than before due to public health measures, on 20 July and continued until 21 October when they were again suspended in line with public health measures. Interviews resumed for the period 2 December until 18 December 2020, at which point they were once again suspended. There have been no interviews to date in 2021.
The IPO continues to maintain an interview schedule, to enable as rapid a resumption as possible once public health measures allow this to happen. Currently there are in the region of 500 applicants on that draft schedule. There will, inevitably, be a period between the date that the IPO is informed that interviews can resume and the first interviews taking place in the interests of fairness to allow applicants and their legal representatives to prepare for the interview.
According to IPO records, just under 2,700 section 35 interviews were scheduled during 2020 of which just over 1,100 proceeded. Just over 1,000 interviews were postponed due to Covid-19. This figure includes applicants who, unfortunately, had interviews postponed more than once as the situation evolved over the course of the year. The comparable figure for 2019 is approximately 4,500 interviews scheduled of which 3,200 proceeded.
The table below provides the breakdown by month of interviews that took place in 2020:
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Total |
|
259 |
296 |
118 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
42 |
92 |
116 |
63 |
0 |
130 |
1116 |
The number of interviews held outside Dublin broken down by month and location is provided in the table below:
|
Month |
Cork |
Sligo |
Galway |
|
Jan |
16 |
8 |
0 |
|
Feb |
16 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mar |
0 |
7 |
0 |
|
Apr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
May |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
June |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
July |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Aug |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sept |
8 |
0 |
0 |
|
Oct |
16 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nov |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dec |
17 |
0 |
2 |
|
Totals |
73 |
15 |
2 |
The IPO successfully piloted interviews by video conference in 2019 and is now working to expand that programme with a view to making interviews by video conference a significant element of IPO operations. The IPO has also been working on a revised IPO 2 international protection questionnaire, which will be shorter and more user friendly. It is planned to commence use of this questionnaire shortly. In light of the current public health restrictions, the IPO is accepting current IPO 2 Questionnaires which have been electronically completed by the applicant or their legal representative provided they have been signed by the applicant.
The median processing times for determinations made by the International Protection Office (IPO) in 2020 for all cases was 17.6 months and for prioritised cases was 12.7 months.
The median processing time for all cases processed to completion in the IPO in Q1 2021 was 22.2 months, and 16.1 months for prioritised cases processed in Q1.
The following table sets out the median Processing Time for Decisions in 2020 from Appeal Accepted Date to Appeal Decision Date:
|
Appeal Type |
Median Processing Time (Weeks) |
|
Accelerated IP Appeal |
35 |
|
Substantive IP Appeal |
34 |
|
Substantive IP Appeal (Asylum only) |
26 |
The median processing time for decisions made by the Ministerial Decisions Unit in 2020 was 1.6 months. The median processing time for cases completed in the Ministerial Decisions Unit in Q1, 2021 was 0.2 months.
While the International Protection Office makes a first instance recommendation, decisions in respect of international protection are made by the Ministerial Decisions Unit.
The table below provides the number of decision letters issued by the Ministerial Decisions Unit in 2020 and to end March in 2021.
|
2020 by month |
Decisions Issued |
2021 by month |
Decisions Issued |
|
January |
311 |
January |
135 |
|
February |
210 |
February |
144 |
|
March |
163 |
March |
103 |
|
April |
4 |
Total |
382 |
|
May |
4 |
||
|
June |
3 |
||
|
July |
195 |
||
|
August |
242 |
||
|
September |
315 |
||
|
October |
424 |
||
|
November |
158 |
||
|
December |
128 |
||
|
Total |
2,157 |
At the end of March 2021, there were 5,130 cases pending at the IPO and 596 cases pending in the Ministerial Decisions Unit.
There were 141.46 staff (full time equivalent figure) working in the IPO at the end of March 2021. The Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process, recommended that the IPO should have a total staffing of 220 civil servants to enable it to deal with an annual caseload of 3,500 applications within the recommended processing timeline of 6 months. In line with the recommendations of the Advisory Group, an end-to-end process review is currently under way. The review will inform resource considerations and actions on process improvements as appropriate.
In October 2020, I announced that an additional €1.75m had been allocated for asylum processing in 2021 for the efficient functioning of the international protection system, which will help us to further improve processing times for applications.
1381. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the changes she has made to the internal process in her Department for the appointment of judges since she came to office. [18279/21]
View answerAs I have set out in my Justice Plan 2021, it has been my key priority to reform how our courts operate and the judicial system to ensure that a progressive strategic approach is taken to the appointment, deployment and training of judges. I have identified and driven a suite of significant reforms in this area since becoming Minister for Justice.
All of the processes for filling judicial vacancies have been reviewed, and revised as appropriate, over the last few months, and will continue to be subject to regular review within my Department, and by the other Bodies currently involved in judicial appointments. Additional guidance material has also been prepared for the various stakeholders involved, including the public.
The Government has established a process for the nomination of a person to be appointed as Chief Justice by the President. A non-statutory Advisory Committee has been set up to invite and consider expressions of interest in the position of Chief Justice and to make recommendations for consideration by the Government.
To provide additional assurance, the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) is now actively involved in the independent Judicial Appointments Advisory Board process recommending suitable candidates from those who have expressed an interest in judicial office but who are not currently serving members of the judiciary.
Some of the key strategic developments in relation to the judiciary that have been progressed since I have come to office include:
- To reform the process of selecting and recommending judges, a Judicial Appointments Commission Bill is being prepared, which is due for publication during this Dáil term.
- To ensure that the justice sector is more reflective of modern Irish society, I have taken steps to improve the diversity of the judiciary and the professions which provide the pipeline of future judges, through encouraging a broad pool of applicants for the new patents of precedence process, which now enables solicitors as well as barristers to become Senior Counsel. Work is also being undertaken with the LSRA on opening up legal education and training.
- To provide independent evidence and international comparators to inform judicial appointments, I have established an inter-agency Judicial Planning Committee with an independent Chair to consider the numbers and types of judges that will be required over the next five years, including emerging needs in the context of Covid and which will consider judicial requirements in terms of numbers, specialisms and processes. I have requested that the OECD would inform this work by undertaking an independent review of the data available, having regard to international norms, to further develop our understanding of what is required on an objective basis. This is the first time such work has been undertaken here.
- I have agreed at Government this week that the cap on the number of High Court judges would be increased to address new issues arising, including Covid pressures, new arrangements for information sharing on criminality with the EU, and to ensure that the Strategic Infrastructure and Development issues are progressed in good time.
- To support a new vision for the delivery of family justice and the judiciary required to support that vision, the first stage of consultations have been completed as part of the family justice project. I will shortly launch the next phase - a public consultation, which will inform the process, including the issue of specialist judges.
- I have provided additional resources to support the work of the Judicial Council in developing judicial skills, an area identified as being of particular importance in the recommendations of the O’Malley report on the experience of victims for example which was published in August 2020 and the Review of the Administration of Civil Justice which is currently being actively implemented.
The strength and independence of the judiciary has been one of the successes of our State. The radical nature of the changes that I have progressed since taking office will ensure that the best people are attracted, selected, trained and deployed, supporting the quality of justice that our citizens expect and deserve, as well as further enhancing the standing of our judicial system at home and abroad.
1382. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Justice the number of fixed penalty charge notices issued for illegal parking of vehicles in each of the years 2015 to 2020. [18306/21]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, a wide variety of parking offences are dealt with by way of Fixed Charge Notice. I am informed by Garda authorities that a non-exhaustive summary of such offences would be, as follows:
Parking or entering bus lanes (or streets) and taxi stands
Public Service vehicles exceeding allowed parking times
Heavy Goods Vehicles exceeded allowed parking weights
Parking or Stopping on or too close to a clearway, loading bay, trading area, disabled bay, road junction or pedestrianised area
Obstructing Fire, Garda or Ambulance stations
Obstructing a school entrance
Contravening road parking lines
Contravening parking signs
Parking on a footway, grass margin or median strip
Parking outside the limits of a parking bay
Parking in a manner that obstructs or endangers traffic
I am informed by An Garda Síochána that the yearly breakdown of issued Fixed Charge Notices is as follows:
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
34,857 |
31,196 |
32,695 |
39,178 |
38,759 |
35,098 |
I am advised that these figures are based on incidents which occurred from 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2020, inclusive. I am further informed that this information is based upon operational data from the FCPS systems as was available on 12 April 2021, and is liable to change.
