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Tuesday, 18 May 2021

Written Answers Nos. 619-639

Data Protection

Questions (619)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

619. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of data breaches suffered by his Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2021. [26100/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established on 2 August 2020. There has been one data breach in total between the date of establishment in 2020 and today’s date. This breach was reported to the Data Protection Commission, who closed the case without further action following informal investigation.

Higher Education Institutions

Questions (620)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

620. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the role that Irish universities play in an organisation (details supplied) which lists universities around Europe as its partner universities. [26111/21]

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Written answers

Irish universities are independent and autonomous statutory bodies established under the Universities Act, 1997 which guarantees the principle of academic freedom and puts in place detailed institutional level governance arrangements for the management, operation, policies and strategy of the relevant institution.

The participation of a higher education institution with this organisation is a matter for the institution, having regard to its internal governance arrangements.

Third Level Admissions

Questions (621)

Kieran O'Donnell

Question:

621. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to address the need for additional university places for the next academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26412/21]

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Written answers

I am aware of the high number of CAO applications this year, and officials from my Department are engaging regularly with representatives from the higher education sector in relation to the 2021/22 academic year and demand for places.

€18 million has been provided in Budget 2021 which will build additional capacity in the system and address demographic growth pressures. This is in addition to additional places commencing in 2021, funded through the Human Capital Initiative Pillar 2, which will be on undergraduate courses in areas of identified skills needs.

Nonetheless, there will be fluctuations in CAO points this year, as there are every year, which will depend on the volume of applications, the number of applicants who meet the entry requirements, the number of places available and the grades received by applicants. The CAO process applications for undergraduate courses on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions.  Decisions on admissions are made by the HEIs who then instruct the CAO to make offers to successful candidates. As such, neither I nor my Department have a role in the operation of the CAO.

My Department is however monitoring the situation as it develops and my officials are working with the HEA and the Higher Education Institutions to identify where there is scope for additional places to be provided. All bodies involved will continue to work to ensure the availability of a full range of options for applicants in 2021 and in future years.

In addition to higher education, there is a range of options available in further education and training and apprenticeships. These options can serve both as an alternate pathway to a chosen career or an alternate pathway into higher education. For students who are not successful in gaining an offer for their course of choice in the first instance, there are alternate routes available to them to reach their preferred option.

Third Level Examinations

Questions (622)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

622. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if third level students will be provided with an option to sit all summer 2021 examinations online due to the current Covid-19 pandemic; the additional safety measures that have been put in place for third level students who will sit examinations in person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26416/21]

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Written answers

Throughout Level 5, higher education remained almost entirely online, with exceptions made where on-site presence is necessary for practical and time-critical work. It is anticipated that the remainder of the 2020/21 academic year will also continue predominantly online. Reflecting the scale and diversity of third-level provision and using their discretion higher education institutions will continue to determine where onsite presence is required.

It would therefore be expected that the majority of end of year assessments will take place online, except in cases where the assessment involves elements which cannot be facilitated remotely. Ultimately it is a matter for the higher education institutions to determine which assessment activities will take place in-person, in line with their autonomy. The safety measures put in place are also a matter for the institutions themselves, taking account of the public health situation nationally and locally.

Student Universal Support Ireland

Questions (623)

Marian Harkin

Question:

623. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the process in place to recoup payments made in error by SUSI; if there is flexibility in regard to the timeframe for appealing decisions in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26480/21]

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Written answers

The complex nature of the student grant scheme means that there is a risk that some students receive grant payments for which they are not eligible, including for reasons beyond the direct control of SUSI.

To mitigate the risk of overpayments, SUSI implements procedural and system-based controls within its application assessment and grant payment operations. A highly developed quality assurance programme is implemented within the assessment process and a focused programme of independent post-assessment reviews are also performed across targeted risk areas.

The critical objective for SUSI is to identify and rectify errors on a timely basis before a grant is awarded and thus before any overpayment can arise. Issues identified from quality and post-assessment reviews are fed back into the assessment process through feedback and training on a current basis.

SUSI has a formal overpayments policy and implements repayment approaches that are sensitive to students’ means and circumstances.

With regard to the specific application, I have been advised by officials in SUSI that following a post-assessment quality review carried out by SUSI on 3rd November 2020 it was determined that the student was not eligible to receive a maintenance grant.

As the student did not appeal the decision within 60 days his application SUSI advised him on the 29th January 2021 advising that he was liable to repay the overpayment in accordance with Section 24 of the Student Support Act 2011.

SUSI has no discretion to vary or modify the criteria laid down within the provisions of the Student Grant Scheme and its governing  legislation.

Social Media

Questions (624)

Holly Cairns

Question:

624. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the percentage of posts made on each of his departmental social media accounts and platforms that were exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2021, inclusive; the percentage of posts made on each of his departmental social media accounts and platforms that featured bilingual translations in Irish and English between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2021, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26582/21]

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Written answers

My Department's Corporate Services are largely shared with the Department of Education and our Irish language policy currently operates under the Department of Education and Skills Language Scheme 2020 - 2023, made under Section 15 of the Official Languages Act 2003. This document sets out what Irish language services should be based on. That is  i) the underlying level of demand for specific services in the Irish language ii) the importance of a proactive approach to the provision of such services as required, and  iii) the resources, including human and financial resources, and the capacity of the Department to develop or access the necessary language capability.

It is a requirement of the Official Languages Act that documents setting out public policy proposals, annual reports, statements of strategy, and matters considered to be of major public importance, are communicated by Government Departments in both Irish and English and this is current practice. 

My Department has not, to date, posted any social media content in Irish.

In accordance with regulations made pursuant to the provisions of section 9(1) of the Official Languages Act 2003, the Department will continue to comply with its statutory obligations.

Departmental Funding

Questions (625, 626, 627)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

625. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount the NGO and charity sector receive in funding from his Department per annum. [26624/21]

View answer

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

626. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a record will be provided of the annual funding received by the NGO and charity sector from his Department in each of the years 2000 to 2020. [26644/21]

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Peadar Tóibín

Question:

627. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the funding allocated to each NGO and charity in each of the years 2010 to 2020 by his Department. [26657/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 625 to 627, inclusive, together.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed in summer 2020. The funding allocated to my Department, as set down in the annual Estimates, is used to meet costs associated with the provision of further and higher education, labour market initiatives including skills, and Irish research and development.  The allocation is provided both directly and through my Department’s aegis bodies to fund: i) the salaries and pensions of public sector workers in the higher education, further education and research sectors, ii) the day to day running costs and capital investment needs of higher and further education institutions, iii) Irish research including through Science Foundation Ireland, iv) skills and labour market initiatives through SOLAS and the National Training Fund, v) the general administration costs of my Department, etc. Funding is also allocated for a range of programmes and initiatives.

In the course of its work my Department makes a significant number of payments. Such payments are made to individuals and organisations both by way of grants and also for the provision of goods and services to it. Some of the recipients of this funding may be non-governmental organisations or charities, however as that label is not necessarily assigned to payees it is not possible to provide an accurate and complete list of such recipients. If the Deputy wishes to provide me with the names of specific non-governmental organisations or charities I will arrange to have the level of funding, if any, paid to them provided to him without delay.

In conclusion, I would point out that the annual Revised Estimates for Public Services and the Appropriation Accounts published for my Department’s Vote provides information regarding expenditure and receipts that may be of further assistance to the Deputy.

Question No. 626 answered with Question No. 625.
Question No. 627 answered with Question No. 625.

Health Services

Questions (628)

Mark Ward

Question:

628. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice the status of the establishment of a high level taskforce in relation to mental health and addiction challenges for persons interacting with the criminal justice system; the details of same; when it will be rolled out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26282/21]

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Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, the establishment of the Taskforce is a key goal within the Justice Plan 2021.

The first meeting of the High Level Taskforce on Mental Health and addiction challenges of persons interacting with the criminal justice system took place via video conference on Wednesday 28th April 2021. The Taskforce is chaired by Kathleen Lynch, former Minister of State with responsibility for primary care, Mental Health and Disability. The inaugural meeting was attended by Minister of State at the Department of Justice, James Browne TD, and Ministers of State at the Department of Health, Mary Butler TD and Frank Feighan TD.

The meeting was also attended by high level officials from the Department of Justice, the Probation Service, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, the Department of Health and the HSE, the Central Mental Hospital, the Department of Housing and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The focus of this meeting was to examine the Terms of Reference, with particular focus on the current status of the overview of the Interdepartmental Group’s (IDG) recommendations and to plan for moving forward with this work. A copy of both reports from the IDG are available on the website of the Department of Justice.

The second meeting of the Taskforce is scheduled for Wednesday 19th May. It is envisaged a high level implementation plan will be published by the Taskforce by the end of the year.

International Protection

Questions (629)

Holly Cairns

Question:

629. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if it is still the case that a refugee may not hold a national passport; the reason her Department requires refugees who apply for naturalisation to submit an affidavit stating the reason that they cannot supply a national passport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25511/21]

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Written answers

All applicants for international protection must surrender their passports to the International Protection Office at the time of making their application. Applicants who are refused international protection have their passports returned to them at the time of refusal and people who are granted subsidiary protection have their passports returned at the time they are granted such  protection.

Passports are not returned to those who have been given a refugee status declaration. People granted refugee status under section 55 of the International Protection Act 2015, are entitled to a 1951 UN Convention travel document, sometimes referred to as a refugee travel document, which is used in lieu of a passport to travel from and into the State.

Use by a refugee of a passport issued by her or his country of origin can be construed as continuing to avail of the protection of that country, thereby undermining the grounds on which refugee status was granted, and can potentially provide a basis for revocation of that status. Therefore, the passport is retained and, as I have indicated, refugees are entitled to a travel document for travel to or from the State.

In exceptional circumstances, a person can have their passport returned on a temporary basis if there is a demonstrable and well-founded reason for such return. For example, if it is required by a State or other organisation for the purpose of identity verification as a condition of service. Refugees must undertake to use them only for the purpose declared and to return them when the business for which they were required has been transacted.

The identity of all applicants for a certificate of naturalisation is of paramount importance and significant checks are carried out to ensure that there are no incidents of identity fraud.

If a refugee applying for naturalisation cannot produce their national passport, they are required to provide a full explanation stating the reasons the documentation cannot be provided. The Citizenship Division of the Immigration Services of my Department will consider the explanation given and, if satisfied it is for reasons genuinely beyond the applicant's control, will request a sworn affidavit.

Visa Applications

Questions (630)

Gerald Nash

Question:

630. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on a visa application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25546/21]

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Written answers

Following a full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused. A letter issued to the applicant on 9 December 2020, outlining the reasons for this refusal. An appeal was lodged to the relevant Visa Office on 29 January 2021, and it is currently awaiting examination. 

In order to be fair to all applicants, appeals for applications of this type are processed in the order in which they are received. While every effort is made to process these applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume of appeals received, their complexity, the possible need for the visa office to seek further information in relation to certain appeals and the resources available to process them.

All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on the website of the Immigration Service of my Department. When making an appeal, the applicant should take into account the reasons for refusal listed in the refusal letter. The appeal should include any further information or additional documentation they wish to have considered, and should be sent for the attention of the Visa Appeals Officer, in the relevant Visa Office, where the matter will be considered afresh.

Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the webpage for the relevant Office.  

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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Antisocial Behaviour

Questions (631)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

631. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice if she will request the Garda authorities to examine working with officials in the Department of Education in order to try and address antisocial behaviour as the country reopens after the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25589/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including operational decisions on the deployment of resources to tackle crime. 

I am very conscious of how anti-social behaviour affects the quality of life for local communities. Preventing children getting involved in criminality, as well as diverting children away from it when they have already become involved, is a key priority for both my Department and for the Government as whole. My Department's Justice Plan 2021 contains a number of commitments with regard to tackling anti-social behaviour.  

In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, I have established a special expert forum on antisocial behaviour, which is considering the effectiveness of existing legislation and looking at proposing new ways forward, including new powers for An Garda Síochána and additional interventions to support parenting of offenders. A subgroup of this Forum has already examined the issue of misuse of scramblers and quadbikes and this work has informed the development of a new scheme aimed at tackling this issue in local areas.

On 15 April last, I launched the new Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 with Minister McEntee. Youth crime, including anti-social behaviour, can have a major impact on our communities and poses significant challenges for An Garda Síochána, as well as other Justice agencies. The factors which underlie youth crime have significant implications across a range of policy and service provisions, including Child and Family Services, Health, Education and local authority functions.   

This new Strategy will respond collaboratively to the situation of vulnerable children and young

people, with a strong focus on diverting them away from offending, and building supports to provide prevention and early intervention, family support and diversion from crime, through to court processes and facilities, supervision of offenders, detention and reintegration and support post release.

The Strategy will seek to increase the range and quality of supports available to support positive personal development and behavioural change to lead to positive outcomes for the young people involved and their families.

This will be achieved through strengthening and enhancing the supports provided through the existing network of 105 Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) around the country. The geographical coverage of the service will be expanded so that, within two years, it is available to every child in the State who could benefit from it. In particular, GYDP services will be enhanced to provide:

- early intervention and engagement with more challenging children and young people whose needs may be too complex for the existing GYDP services;

- family support;

- engagement with younger children (8-11 years); and

- support to schools in relation to the retention of young people with challenging behaviour in the education system.

While Garda Youth Diversion Projects primarily receive referrals from An Garda Síochána, they may receive referrals from other sources including schools, parents or self-referrals.

Naturalisation Applications

Questions (632)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

632. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the change of a status application from stamp 3 to stamp 4 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25606/21]

View answer

Written answers

The person referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for a Change of Status to a Stamp 4 permission, which was received on 6 October 2020. A letter issued to the person concerned, dated 27 April 2021, advising that their application had been refused. The reason for refusal was outlined in their refusal letter.

It is open to the person concerned to submit a new application when they meet the criteria for a Stamp 4 permission.

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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Naturalisation Applications

Questions (633)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

633. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); when the application will be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25607/21]

View answer

Written answers

An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 8 July 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.

I recognise the crucial role healthcare workers are continuing to play in responding to the threat of COVID-19. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. Their exceptional commitment has been particularly clear throughout the pandemic, during which they have played a vital part in preventing the spread of COVID-19. 

All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with legislation. There are no provisions to apply different criteria depending on the category of employment of the applicant. All applicants are required to meet minimum periods of reckonable residence and standard checks are carried out as part of the overall process to maintain its integrity.

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. However, 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.

Visa Agreements

Questions (634, 673, 674, 675, 679)

Neale Richmond

Question:

634. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice when the short stay visa waiver programme will be recommenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25618/21]

View answer

Seán Sherlock

Question:

673. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice if her Department will permit a person (details supplied) to re-enter the State to attend work. [26380/21]

View answer

Seán Sherlock

Question:

674. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice when her Department will resume processing entry visa applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26381/21]

View answer

Seán Sherlock

Question:

675. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice when her Department plans to resume the processing of certain priority and emergency visa applications for chefs or food workers in addition to the limited exemptions currently in place for transit workers, journalists and medical workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26382/21]

View answer

Brendan Howlin

Question:

679. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice when the recently amended visa requirements for visitors previously visa exempt and the restrictions imposed on the making of visa applications other than priority, emergency applications will be reversed; if visa applications from family members of Irish residents including spouses, partners and dependent children are currently being accepted and processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26423/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 634, 673 to 675, inclusive, and 679 together.

The Government and public health advice is clear, everybody should avoid non-essential travel completely. The travel restrictions are part of the Government’s efforts to interrupt the transmission of COVID-19 and they are designed to support our current public health restrictions on movement, including into and out of Ireland.

The decision to temporarily cease accepting new visa/preclearance applications, with the exception of Priority or Emergency applications, applies to all countries and has been in place since 29 January 2021. The situation will be reviewed in consultation with the relevant authorities as part of the consideration of matters relating to international travel more generally by Government. The Department’s Immigration Service intends to resume accepting non-priority applications when possible. The short stay visa waiver programme was also suspended in July 2020, and its reintroduction will depend on when the restrictions on short stay visas are lifted.

Priority/Emergency cases currently include the following:

- Workers or self-employed persons exercising critical occupations including healthcare workers, frontier and posted workers as well as seasonal workers as referred to in the Guidelines concerning the exercise of the free movement of workers during the COVID-19 outbreak;

- transport workers or transport service providers, including drivers of freight vehicles carrying goods for use in the territory as well as those merely transiting;

- patients travelling for imperative medical reasons;

- pupils, students and trainees who travel abroad on a daily basis and Third-country nationals travelling for the purpose of 3rd level study;

- persons travelling for imperative family or business reasons;

- diplomats, staff of international organisations and people invited by international organisations whose physical presence is required for the well-functioning of these organisations, military personnel and police officers, and humanitarian aid workers and civil protection personnel in the exercise of their functions;

- passengers in transit;

- seafarers;

- journalists, when performing their duties.

The framework for these restrictive measures is set out in the Government’s Resilience and Recovery: Plan for Living with COVID-19. When making such decisions, the Government considers the expert public health advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to tackle the disease.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (635)

Alan Farrell

Question:

635. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the status of the family court Bill; the infrastructure needed to make the legislation fulfil its potential; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25686/21]

View answer

Written answers

Family law reform is a major element of the Justice Plan 2021. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enact a Family Court Bill to create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structure and provide for court procedures that support a less adversarial resolution of disputes.

In September 2020, the Government approved the drafting of a Family Court Bill along the lines of the General Scheme, which has been published. In the preparation of the General Scheme, account has been taken of the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality on the Reform of the Family Law System, published in October 2019.

The General Scheme of the Family Court Bill has been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting and to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny. It is not possible at this stage to indicate when the Bill is likely to be published or to predict the timeframe for the legislative process with regard to the Bill after its publication. 

Also in September 2020, the Family Justice Oversight Group was established by my Department. This group will agree a high-level vision and key medium and longer-term objectives for the development of a national family justice system in parallel with the establishment of a dedicated Family Court structure as envisaged by the forthcoming Family Court Bill.  The establishment of this Group recognises the need to involve the key state bodies who will need to deliver this substantial reform at the earliest stage in the process. Membership of this group includes officials from my Department as well as representatives from the Courts Service, the Legal Aid Board and officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. In addition, the Chief Justice has nominated three members of the judiciary to the group representing the district, circuit and high courts - all of whom have extensive experience of dealing with family law cases - to contribute on the practical elements of implementing this change.

The overall aim is to change the culture so that the focus of the family justice system meets the complex needs of people who need help with family justice issues.

Human Trafficking

Questions (636)

Mick Barry

Question:

636. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice the progress on the reforms to the national referral mechanism for suspected victims of human trafficking (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25702/21]

View answer

Written answers

On 11 May, the Government approved plans for a revised National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to make it easier for victims of human trafficking to come forward and be supported. I also received approval on that date to draft a general scheme of a Bill to put the new NRM on a statutory footing.

Human trafficking is a particularly cruel crime, based on deception and exploitation of vulnerable people, and it is hidden. Due to its hidden nature, it is very difficult to detect and investigate. This reform should make it easier to reach and protect victims. 

The NRM provides a way for all agencies, both State and civil society, to cooperate, share information about potential victims, identify those victims and facilitate their access to advice, accommodation and support. It is the framework through which States fulfil obligations to protect and promote the human rights of trafficking victims. The proposals I have brought to Government will make it easier for victims to come forward and be officially recognised as victims of human trafficking in order to receive appropriate supports.

It will also make it easier for the State to provide that support and protection in a collaborative way across the range of departments and agencies, and working with key NGOs. I want to stress how important this proposal is, not only in terms of Ireland’s substantive response on how we reach and protect victims of this heinous crime – which is the most important thing – but also on our international reputation.

Currently, when suspected victims of human trafficking are encountered by, or referred to, An Garda Síochána, they are provided with a wide range of services by both the Government and NGOs through the NRM. It is widely accepted that having the Gardaí as the sole competent authority for the formal recognition of people as victims of human trafficking is not an adequate response. Many victims will not approach the police due to a mistrust of police, but may be more comfortable approaching a different state body, or an NGO.

This new approach acknowledges that, in addition to An Garda Síochána, other state bodies and NGOs have a role in identifying victims of human trafficking and referring them to the National Referral Mechanism. An Garda Síochána are excellent in their role as our competent authority but we know some victims, because of interactions they may have had with law enforcement officials in other jurisdictions, have a perception that police can not be trusted.

We want to be sure that every victim of trafficking is identified and helped so that we can support them. Doing this will also help us gather more information and evidence in order to bring to justice the traffickers who prey on vulnerable people with no regard for the lives and safety of their victims. The new NRM we are proposing to introduce will provide a variety of avenues for victims of trafficking to be identified and find a route to the services we have available.

In addition to An Garda Síochána, it is being proposed that the following agencies will become competent authorities for the identification of victims of human trafficking:

- Department of Justice Immigration Services

- Department of Social Protection

- The HSE

- Tusla

- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

- International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS)

These agencies each already have interaction with potential victims of human trafficking. The agencies will together form a National Referral Mechanism Operational Committee, which will make decisions on entry of victims into the NRM. In addition, some NGOs will be designated as ‘trusted partners’ and will also be able to refer victims to the NRM, which creates an alternative and trusted pathway to enter the NRM, aside from through interaction with State agencies.

There is considerable detailed work to be done yet to get the revised NRM up-and-running and the Department of Justice is committed to working through all the detail in a collaborative spirit with Departments, agencies and with the key NGO partners.   

These proposals follow the recent announcement by Minister McEntee of an initiative to expunge previous convictions for ‘sale of sex’, or prostitution offences, and are a significant step in recognising and responding to the needs of victims of sex trafficking, and those forced to provide sexual services.

The Department is also working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Ireland on a Cultural Mediation project.  The project will build the capacity of State professionals who work with/for migrants, to identify and address the needs of (potential) victims of gender based violence and trafficking more effectively and to provide culturally sensitive support to them. It will also allow victims of gender based violence and trafficking better access to information and effectively engage with support and referral services and will promote a culturally sensitive approach to victims, through the use of cultural mediators.

Sustainable Development Goals

Questions (637, 638)

Holly Cairns

Question:

637. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the progress made to include reference in all new statements of strategy to all sustainable development goal targets for which her Department has lead responsibility as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25753/21]

View answer

Holly Cairns

Question:

638. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the specific sustainable development goal targets her Department is responsible for implementing; the progress made in implementing those targets since 26 April 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25771/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 637 and 638 together.

The information requested by the Deputy on the specific sustainable development goal targets of my Department is outlined in the following document.

Goal Targets

Question No. 638 answered with Question No. 637.

Social Media

Questions (639, 640)

Holly Cairns

Question:

639. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if she has engaged a third party company to date in 2021 to conduct online and-or social media monitoring and-or provide reports on social media coverage of her Department; if so, the cost of same; and the name of the social media platforms being monitored. [25789/21]

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Holly Cairns

Question:

640. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if officials in her Department are tasked with conducting online and social media monitoring and completing reports on social media coverage of her Department and her ministerial activities; if so, the number of staff involved; the respective grades of each; the estimated working hours committed to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25807/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 639 and 640 together.

Officials in the press office of my Department actively review the Department's social media channels to identify emerging issues, but no officials are tasked with conducting systematic online and social media monitoring, and no reports in relation to social media coverage of my Department and my Ministerial activities are compiled.

My Department has not engaged any third-party company to date in 2021 to conduct online and or social media monitoring and or provide reports on social media coverage of my Department.

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