Written Answers Nos. 631-650
631. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if the original certificate of naturalisation will be reissued in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9136/22]
View answerThe certificate of naturalisation for the person referred to by the Deputy was sent by my Department by registered post on 14 July 2021 to the address held on file. Tracking records indicate that it was delivered on 15 July 2021 at 10.30am.
My Department has advised the person concerned to contact An Post to query the issue. If their follow up with An Post proves unsuccessful, they will need to report the missing certificate of naturalisation to An Garda Síochána and provide my Department with a report.
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.
632. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the timeline for the Interdepartmental Review of the Atypical Work Permit Scheme for Non-European Economic Area (Non-EEA) Fishers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9138/22]
View answerA review of the Atypical Working Scheme for non-EEA fishers is being carried out by officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and my own Department.
As part of the review, stakeholders involved, or with an interest, in the scheme, including relevant Government Departments and agencies, employer groups, solicitors representing applicants, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and others were invited to make submissions by 2 February 2022. A number of submissions have been received and are being assessed by the Review Group who are preparing their report on that basis.
The review remains ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of March.
633. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of identified victims of human trafficking in the State in 2021; the purpose of their trafficking, that is, for labour exploitation and sex work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9139/22]
View answerHuman trafficking is a heinous crime based on deception and exploitation of vulnerable people. Combatting it is, and will continue to be, a priority for this Government.
An Garda Síochána has committed significant resources to the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking in Ireland. A specialised Garda Unit, the Human Trafficking Investigation and Co-ordination Unit (HTICU), has been in place since 2009 to conduct investigations into human trafficking. It also provides advice, support and where necessary, operational assistance to investigations at district level. An Garda Síochána is also active in relation to trafficking gangs through work targeting organised crime - targeting their finances, their use of the internet and by working closely with other jurisdictions.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of identified victims of human trafficking in the State in 2021 and the reason for their trafficking.
|
Category |
Total |
Female |
Male |
Children |
|
Sex trafficking |
25 |
24 |
1 |
0 |
|
Forced labour |
19 |
4 |
15 |
0 |
|
Forced criminality |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Unspecified exploitation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
44 |
28 |
16 |
0 |
I can assure the Deputy that this Government is serious about preventing and prosecuting for human trafficking, and committed to supporting those that are victims of it. We are confident that the victim-centred policy approach we are taking will encourage more victims to come forward and access supports and that this will, in turn, strengthen prosecutions and convictions.
Last year Government approved proposals to revise the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to make it easier for victims of trafficking to come forward, be identified and access advice, accommodation and support.
The revised NRM will provide for all agencies, both State and civil society, to co-operate, share information about potential victims, identify those victims and facilitate their access to advice, accommodation and support.
The new approach acknowledges various state bodies and NGOs have a role in identifying victims of human trafficking and referring them to the NRM.
We want to be sure that every victim of trafficking is identified and helped so 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.
In addition, the development of a new National Action Plan on human trafficking is taking place. A consultant has produced a short and focussed analysis of the current position in relation to human trafficking in Ireland. The analysis includes a research review, a synopsis of the extent of trafficking in Ireland and a summary of issues to address.
The Department of Justice is now engaged with a working group to draft the new National Action Plan high-level goals and outcomes.
634. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice if a person (details supplied) is entitled to continue to work from home due to their circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9188/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, consultations on the Civil Service Blended Working framework are at final stages. The proposed framework sets out a number of core principles to apply to blended working across the Civil Service post-COVID, embracing opportunities for blended working arrangements, to build a more dynamic, agile and responsive Civil Service, while sustaining strong standards of performance and high levels of productivity.
Similar to our colleagues across the Civil Service, the Department of Justice is developing its own blended working policy and once agreed, we will start to embed a Blended Working policy for the Department which we will review regularly and adapt as we charter our way to develop new ways of working which will increase flexibility, support the diverse needs of our workforce, improve health and wellbeing and enhance work-life balance.
In light of the most recent Government announcement on January 21, a phased return to offices for those staff who have been working from home began on Monday 7 February, 2022.
I hope the Deputy will appreciate that my Department cannot comment on individual cases.
635. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice if a tendering competition was carried out for the design and supply of the new operational uniform for An Garda Síochána; if so, the details of the successful tenderer; the breakdown of the cost of the outsourced work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9195/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.
I can confirm that there was a tender process for the contract to provide the new Garda Uniforms. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the contract was awarded to James Boylan Safety Ltd.
I have sought further information from An Garda Síochána with regard to the Deputy's further questions but did not receive it in time. I will write to the Deputy with the information when I have received it.
636. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the changes made by the Irish Prison Service since 2010 to ensure full compliance with the Bangkok Rules; and when a review was last carried out to ensure this was the case.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9213/22]
View answerWhile the Bangkok Rules, adopted by the United Nations in 2010, are the first international instrument to provide guidelines on responding to the gender specific needs of women in the criminal justice system, the Irish Prison Service has long been conscious of the particular needs of women in the prison system. The IPS recognises women as a particularly vulnerable group with very different needs to male offenders and is working constantly to address those needs, including by reference to the Bangkok Rules.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Dóchas Centre is the principal location for the accommodation of female prisoners in the State. The ethos under which Dóchas operates is that the women live together in a community-style setting, accommodated in houses rather than cell block. The regime focuses on training and rehabilitation, including access to mental health services, psychology service and addiction counsellors.
My officials in the Irish Prison Service report that communal dining is available to women prisoners in certain areas in Limerick Prison but that prisoners are permitted to dine in by themselves or with their cell mate. In the Dóchas Centre the women are accommodated in houses rather than cell blocks and most prefer to dine in their houses and rather than communally.
The new specially designed accommodation block for women offenders in Limerick, which will replace the use of the female wing at that prisons, is expected to be completed and become operational in the latter half of this year. The design of the new facility is centred on the principle of rehabilitation and normalisation, reflecting contemporary design standards. A mix of accommodation units is being provided based around an external courtyard setting and the development will provide accommodation for 50 female prisoners.
I understand that staff working with women in prison are provided with specialist training and in February 2020 the Prison Service introduced a new tailored programme for staff to address the special needs of women prisoners. To enhance the rehabilitative opportunities, a new programme called the Outlook Programme, which is a step down unit for women offenders, was opened in 2019 in partnership with the Probation Service. The project is managed by Focus Ireland and the vision of the programme is to promote the rehabilitation and re-integration of women leaving prison, in particular those who have accommodation needs requiring support in the community.
Privacy is afforded to all prisoners for various activities, where appropriate, including phone calls and contact with their children. The Prison Service is acutely aware of the importance of assisting prisoners to maintain close contact with their children while in custody. The Deputy will be aware that in order to protect the prison population from the risk of Covid-19, a number of infection control measures were introduced throughout 2020 and 2021. Regrettably, this included the suspension of physical visits to prisoners for extended periods of time.
The Deputy will be aware that following a short two week suspension physical visits recommenced in all prisons on Monday 24 January and prisoners are entitled to receive one physical visit per fortnight. In addition, from 14 February the number of persons permitted to visit a prisoner increased to three persons, of whom two may be a child (under 18 years of age). Visits will continue to be subject to infection control measures including the wearing of face masks.
The Prison Service introduced a new video visit system to ensure that prisoners could continue to have visual contact with their families throughout this time.
Limerick Prison has a Tusla approved and award winning visitors area and the Prison Service work closely with care workers, the courts and Tusla to provide access visits where appropriate.
637. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the two-month visa process in relation to vulnerable Ukrainian family members of Irish citizens to travel to Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9301/22]
View answerMy Department is currently working to ensure that it can assist Irish citizens and their family members in Ukraine speedily and with flexibility. While Ukrainian nationals are not visa exempt to enter Ireland, I can assure the Deputy that, given the current circumstances, all visa applications will be dealt with as quickly and as humanely as possible.
This approach will include visa applications for non EEA family members of Irish citizens, which will be processed swiftly.
Officials in my Department are working with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs on an ongoing basis on this issue.
638. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the actions being undertaken by An Garda Síochána to tackle crystal methamphetamine. [9407/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, tackling drug dealing and organised criminal activity is a key priority for the Government and for An Garda Síochána. Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including operational decisions and the deployment of resources to address drug crime. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.
Methylamphetamine is a controlled drug as per the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 to 2015. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the usage of Methylamphetamine in Ireland at this time is quite low, resulting in a low volume of seizures. In line with the National Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2017 - 2025, Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery, An Garda Síochána, along with its partner agency, the Revenue Commissioners Customs Service, continues to target Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) involved in the illegal import, export, and sale and supply of controlled drugs, including Methylamphetamine, in this jurisdiction.
Under Action 3.2.36 of the National Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2017 - 2025, An Garda Síochána and Revenue Commissioners Customs Service are the lead agencies on an action relevant to monitoring drug markets, new drug markets, and both the surface and dark web. I am advised that An Garda Síochána are represented on the Early Warning and Emerging Trends Sub Committee, which advises government on new psychoactive substances, emerging trends and practices and the consequences of such drug use. This group is led by the Department of Health in association with the European Monitoring Centre for Drug and Drugs Addiction (EMCDDA).
I am assured by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána will continue to monitor drug trends in line with the EU Early Warning System and will consider the implications of any new or existing trend in the Irish drug market, including Methylamphetamine.
639. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in respect of a citizenship application by a person (details supplied) in which an additional requirement of Garda vetting is required; the impact this process has had on the application to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9552/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the responsibility to ensure that the correct information required for eVetting is provided to the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) rests with the applicant.
Having to complete a second eVetting application will result in minimal delay with regard to the overall processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation and the void eVetting application will have no negative impact on the the application.
The person concerned can track the progress of their eVetting application at National Vetting Bureau (garda.ie)
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.
640. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Justice the status of an application for a transfer by a person (details supplied) under the 1983 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons; and if she will expedite the application. [9556/22]
View answerI am advised by officials in the Irish Prison Service that correspondence was received on behalf of the person referred to, for a transfer to a prison in this jurisdiction, under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.
In accordance with the Convention, the collation of documents in respect of all applications must be prepared by the sentencing state and issued to the appropriate receiving state.
On foot of a request from officials in the Irish Prison Service to the sentencing state authorities, the necessary paperwork pursuant to such applications was subsequently received by email on Monday 21 February.
My officials have begun processing the application in accordance with the provisions of the Acts. The Deputy will appreciate that applications of this nature are complex and require legal advice, but I can advise the Deputy that all applications are progressed as quickly as is possible. Furthermore, each application received is dealt with on it's own merits.
All such requests are decided upon following the collation of a number of reports from various agencies setting out the consequences of such a transfer. The consent of all three parties in the process is required prior to any transfer, i.e. the sentencing state, the receiving state and the sentenced person.
The Deputy should be aware that the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons does not confer an automatic right on any prisoner to be transferred nor does it confer an obligation on any state to comply with a transfer request.
641. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice the amount that her Department has paid for advertising, features and so on in a magazine (details supplied). [9579/22]
View answer650. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice if her Department has won any award from a publication (details supplied); if so, when this award was won; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9837/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 641 and 650 together.
In relation to the amount spent on advertising and features I can confirm the Department of Justice placed advertisements to the value of €1,875 in 2020, and €1,906 in 2021 in Public Sector Magazine.
In 2020 Public Sector Magazine awarded the Department of Justice the Campaign Of The Year Award for work combatting sexual harassment with the No Excuses campaign.
In 2021 the Department was awarded the Excellence In Services To The Community Award for work to help victims and vulnerable witnesses in sexual violence cases by the same publication.
I can also inform the Deputy that my Department has since clarified its policy that paid advertising should only be undertaken for the purpose of providing public information or raising awareness of a matter of public concern.
642. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice when she received the section 31(2) report submitted to her Department by the Chief Inspector of Prisons on the Mountjoy Women’s Prison, Dóchas Centre; when she plans to publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9611/22]
View answerThe Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory body, independent in how it carries out its work, set up under the Prisons Act 2007. The Inspector's key role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons.
The Inspector was asked to carry out an investigation into matters arising in the Dóchas Centre, under section 31(2) of the Prisons Act. The Inspector submitted this report to the Minister on the 15 February 2022 and it is currently being examined by my officials.
643. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the total number of uninsured motorists apprehended by An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9638/22]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
28,747 |
27,664 |
25,308 |
25,085 |
19,192 |
644. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the total number of fines issued to uninsured motorists per year in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9639/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics. The CSO also continues to work with An Garda Síochána to address quality issues in the underlying sources used to compile the statistics.
For the Deputy's information, statistics regarding the total number of fines issued to uninsured motorists are publicly available at the following link:
www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-rcd/recordedcrimedetection2020/fixedpaymentoffences/
To be of assistance, the following table outlines the number of Fixed Payment offences issued by An Garda Síochána for no insurance in the years 2017 - 2020. I am advised by the CSO that figures for 2021 are not yet available and are usually published in the fourth quarter of each year.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
|
7312 |
7606 |
7071 |
6791 |
645. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the total number convictions issued to uninsured motorists in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9640/22]
View answerThe number of penalty points issued to uninsured motorists in each of the years 2017 to 2021 is provided in the table below.
|
Offence |
Year |
Number of Penatly Point Endorsement Notices issued |
Number of Penatly Points Applied |
|
No Insurance (user) |
2017 |
4,082 |
20,410 |
|
No Insurance (user) |
2018 |
4,498 |
22,490 |
|
No Insurance (user) |
2019 |
4,334 |
21,670 |
|
No Insurance (user) |
2020 |
2,420 |
12,100 |
|
No Insurance (user) |
2021 |
3,311 |
16,555 |
646. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the total number of vehicles seized per year by An Garda Síochána after the driver was found to be driving without insurance in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9641/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines a yearly breakdown of the numbers of incidents in which a vehicle was seized under Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act for reason of driving without insurance.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
23,697 |
21,219 |
19,104 |
18,209 |
12,934 |
I am advised that the above figures are based on incidents which occurred from 01/01/2017 to 31/12/2021, inclusive. The Deputy will appreciate that these figures are based upon operational data from the Pulse system as was available on 21/02/2022 and are liable to change.
647. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the total number of uninsured vehicles which have been identified by An Garda Síochána using the automatic number-plate recognition system to date; the total number of fines issued to those motorists; the total number of convictions; the total number of vehicles seized; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9642/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system.
I have contacted the Courts Service and have been provided with the below table, which outlines the number of offences and persons for no insurance where convictions were recorded for the period 2017 – 2021; and the number & value of fines imposed for no insurance for the period 2017 – 2021.
The Deputy will appreciate that the Courts Service can only provide data in relation to where offence codes provided on the system were used by prosecutors. Prosecutors may have used uncoded free text offences and any such offences would not be included in the data provided.
The number of offences and persons convicted for no insurance recorded for the period 2017 – 2021
|
Year |
No of offences where convictions were recorded |
No of persons convicted |
|
Jan - Dec 2017 |
11,948 |
9,957 |
|
Jan - Dec 2018 |
12,663 |
10,502 |
|
Jan - Dec 2019 |
12,636 |
10,256 |
|
Jan - Dec 2020 |
7,493 |
6,283 |
|
Jan - Dec 2021 |
10,144 |
8,408 |
|
Total |
54,884 |
45,406 |
The number and value of fines imposed for no insurance for the period 2017 – 2021
|
Year |
No of fines imposed |
Value of fines imposed |
|
Jan - Dec 2017 |
9,355 |
€3,513,081.00 |
|
Jan - Dec 2018 |
9,862 |
€3,595,160.35 |
|
Jan - Dec 2019 |
9,246 |
€3,421,182.00 |
|
Jan - Dec 2020 |
5,513 |
€1,961,883.00 |
|
Jan - Dec 2021 |
7,547 |
€2,836,492.00 |
|
Total |
41,523 |
€15,327,798.35 |
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy in relation to the total number of uninsured vehicles which have been identified by An Garda Síochána using the automatic number-plate recognition system for the years 2017 up to 2021; and the total number of vehicles seized during the same period from the Garda authorities. I will forward it as soon as the information is to hand.
648. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the average hourly and daily number of uninsured vehicles that are identified by An Garda Síochána through the use of the automatic number-plate recognition system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9643/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am informed the Garda authorities that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) was first introduced by the Garda authorities in 2008 and is used on a daily basis to assist in the prevention and detection of crime on our roads network. I am further informed that the uninsured watch list on the ANPR system has been live since 12 July 2019, and records are available on the ANPR system since that date.
I am advised that since 12 July 2019, an average of 128 uninsured vehicles have been identified by An Garda Síochána per day through the use of ANPR which is approximately 5 per hour over a twenty-four hour period.
The Deputy will appreciate that the values vary greatly depending on the time of day and the day of the week.
The tables below, which have been provided to me by the Garda authorities, set out the average number of uninsured vehicles detected on the ANPR System on both a daily and hourly basis.
Daily breakdown
|
Day |
Daily Average |
|
Monday |
133 |
|
Tuesday |
136 |
|
Wednesday |
140 |
|
Thursday |
139 |
|
Friday |
143 |
|
Saturday |
107 |
|
Sunday |
100 |
Hourly breakdown
This is the breakdown based on an average daily number of identified uninsured vehicles.
|
8am-11am |
11am-2pm |
2pm-5pm |
5pm-8pm |
8pm-8am |
|
22 |
29 |
35 |
23 |
19 |
I am advised that the above figures are based on records from 12/07/2019 to 31/12/2021, inclusive. I am further advised that these figures are based upon operational data from the ANPR System as was available on 18/02/2022 and is liable to change.
649. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice if the recent provision of additional security measures for Ministers included home alarm systems. [9768/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, for policy and security reasons, my Department does not comment on matters of security. Therefore it would not be appropriate to share details of any measures that may be in place with regard to Ministerial security.
