Written Answers Nos. 716-735
716. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Justice if support will be provided for a person (details supplied) to obtain their Irish residence permit given the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36972/22]
View answerThe application from the person referred to by the Deputy was returned requesting further information. In order to provide the information requested, the applicant is required to log onto their online portal account and provide the documents requested.
Applications that are resubmitted after a request for further information are expedited so as not to disadvantage the customer. Therefore, it is recommended that the applicant provide the documents requested as soon as possible.
Once the requested documents are received, and if the application is approved, the applicant can expect to receive their new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card within the following 10 working days.
717. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the reason that the re-entry visa programme for minors under the age of 16 years currently residing in Ireland has been suspended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37020/22]
View answerNon-EEA nationals residing long term in the State must register once they reach 16 years of age. Prior to this, they are classified as a dependent on their parent's permission. A re-entry visa was therefore required for children under 16 if travelling on a passport issued by a visa required country.
The re-entry visa requirements for children under 16 have been suspended with immediate effect and until further notice. Processing of these applications requires customers to submit their passports. There is an extremely high demand from customers wishing to travel during the summer months. Suspending the re-entry visa requirements for children under 16 allowed my Department to minimise or avoid potential disruption to customers and their summer travel plans should any delays in processing occur.
Children under 16 who are currently residing in the State and who wish to re-enter the State, must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian who holds an in date immigration permission to reside in the State. The adult accompanying the child must also provide appropriate documentation to prove they are the legal parent or guardian of the child in question.
People travelling may rely on the published notice on my Department's immigration website at:
www.irishimmigration.ie/suspension-of-re-entry-visa-requirements-for-children-under-the-age-of-16-years/.
718. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of immigration officers currently employed at each port of entry; the number who are employed full time and part time, respectively in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37021/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, every State has a duty to protect its borders and to refuse entry to people not entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise of State sovereignty, which is necessary to protect the security of the State and to prevent illegal immigration. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights.
The Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department has responsibility for front-line immigration duties at Dublin Airport only. As of 5 July 2022, the staff deployed to the BMU are outlined in the table below:
|
Back Office |
12 |
|
Immigration Control Supervisor |
17 |
|
Immigration Control Officer |
127 |
|
Temporary Clerical Officer |
8 |
|
Totals |
164 |
Other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). I have sought the information requested from the Garda Commissioner regarding the other ports of entry to the State, and I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
719. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the steps that are being taken by her Department to implement its equality, diversity and inclusion strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37025/22]
View answerThe Department launched its first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy in March 2022. The Strategy aims to strengthen the Department’s capabilities to promote equality, embrace diversity and foster inclusion, not only in our daily interactions and activities as colleagues, but also in the design and delivery of the services that we provide to the public.
To this end, the EDI Strategy prioritises three areas of focus for strategic impact:
- achieve better policy outcomes and improve the accessibility and quality of our services;
- support the development of a skilled and diverse workforce which is reflective of the diversity within our population / country;
- build and embed a workplace culture which facilitates, supports and encourages contributions from all
Each of these strategic outcomes are underpinned by a number of actions which the Department will implement over the life of the EDI Strategy. These actions will be integrated into our business plans including adding appropriate indicators and monitored along with other organisation goals and strategic priorities.
For example, as part of our objective to support the development of a skilled and diverse workforce, training on a range of EDI related areas such as disability awareness, intercultural relations, managing inclusivity will be rolled out and embedded in training programmes and induction. Staff in customer facing roles will also receive training on communication barriers and hidden disabilities through the JAM card initiative.
The Department’s EDI and Public Sector Duty Committee meet three times a year to monitor the implementation of this EDI Strategy. The monitoring process also involves establishing a mechanism to engage with colleagues with lived experience to ensure we are our living up to the aspirations communicated in the Strategy. Over the lifetime of the strategy, there will also be ongoing engagement with relevant external groups and stakeholders. The EDI and PSD Committee will set a timeline for consultation with colleagues with lived experience and external parties at the next meeting, which is due to be held in September 2022.
720. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice if she will meet with a representative body (details supplied) given the review that was carried out in July 2018 by the Director of Public Prosecutions and her Department in relation to the work undertaken by criminal barristers and its conclusion that was communicated to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that the flexibilities in work practices undertaken by criminal barristers were akin to the flexibilities in work practices by public sector employees and State solicitors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37034/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for FEMPI fee restoration rests with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I understand that the reversal of cuts is under consideration in that Department. I also wish to reassure you that my Department has been engaging with all relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to resolve this matter.
I and senior officials in my Department are also in regular contact with the Bar Council of Ireland, the most recent meeting between the Bar Council and officials from my Department was in April of this year. I also met with the Bar Council on a number of occasions, most recently in December 2021.
I would like to again reassure the Deputy that the issue of fee restoration is under consideration by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and is being examined further in the context of wider public pay policy and expenditure implications.
721. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Justice the progress of housing policy objective 25 in Housing for All, the review of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011; and when the review will be completed. [37100/22]
View answerObjective 25 under the Government's ‘Housing for All’ Strategy contains 13 sub-objectives. While the majority of these are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), my Department is working with DHLGH and the Housing Agency in relation to Policy Objectives 25.10-25.13.
In particular, my Department has engaged with the Housing Agency in terms of the making of Regulations, as outlined in Objective 25.10 and 25.11, under Sections 18(17) and 19(9) of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 (MUD Act). The statutory powers to make Regulations in this area are for the purpose of advancing the fair and effective operation of owners’ management companies, and for the effective management of the common areas of multi-unit developments. In terms of overall policy on this and related matters, my Department will be guided by DHLGH and its relevant agencies.
Separately, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to conduct a review of the existing management company legislation, to ensure that it is fit for purpose and that it acts in the best interests of residents. This is referring to the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011. My Department will engage with other relevant Departments in relation to taking the appropriate steps to advance this matter.
722. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of part-time and whole-time staff allocated to the Probate Office by month commencing July 2022. [37125/22]
View answerManagement of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas at: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
Probate is an operational matter for the Courts Service. Therefore, I have referred your question to the Courts Service for their direct reply.
723. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a breakdown of the €363 million committed to the five-year period of the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence by Department and year. [37126/22]
View answer724. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the amount of the €363 million budgetary allocation committed to the five-year period of the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence that has already been committed to existing current and capital expenditure. [37127/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 723 and 724 together.
As the Deputy is aware, I recently published Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV).
The goal of our third national strategy is clear: zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin it.
Reflecting the Government’s commitment to make this the most ambitious Strategy to date, and in particular to make a real impact on the provision of refuge units and other associated support services, will require additional expenditure.
The overall cost of implementing the entire Strategy is estimated to be in the region of €363m.
I plan to deliver 141 new units of refuge accommodation on a phased basis at a capital cost estimated at €70.5m and running costs of €33m over the lifetime of the strategy.
Other additional running and development costs (e.g. project management and capacity building supports, current costs for provision of step down facilities and safe homes) are estimated to cost some €10m over the five-year life time of the Strategy.
These figures are in addition to Tusla’s 2022 current funding allocation of €30m per annum for refuges, rape crisis centres and associated helpline services. This equates to €150m over the lifetime of the Strategy.
The Strategy will provide enhanced support for victims within trial and other criminal justice processes, victim awareness and trauma-informed training for front-line and other staff and legal professionals, legal aid for victims, national awareness campaigns and other communications campaigns, and an expansion of existing perpetrator programmes to create a national programme of interventions for men who have been violent. These costs will come to some €74m over the lifetime of the Strategy, of which some €51m is already, on the basis of the 2022 allocations, provided for in my Department’s Vote.
The establishment and running costs of the DSGBV Agency are estimated at €3.5m in a full year or some €11.5m in total over the lifetime of the Strategy.
Finally, the Garda Commissioner has advised that the deployment of Body Worn Cameras (BWC) can play a significant role in the management of domestic violence situations and in gathering evidence for subsequent use in prosecutions. Accordingly, an estimate of €14m has been included to cover the cost of procuring and deploying this equipment.
725. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a list of all criminals convicted by the Special Criminal Court since its inception; the sentence term in respect of each criminal; the offence caused by each respective criminal; the dates upon which the criminals were convicted and released and left custody where relevant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37143/22]
View answerThe Special Criminal Court is established pursuant to Part V of the Offences Against the State Act 1939. The Court deals with cases involving the prosecution of terrorist offences, and organised crime.
Unfortunately, the detailed information sought by the Deputy is not maintained by my Department. However, the Courts Service Annual Report, which is publically available, provides statistics, including statistics relating to proceedings before the Special Criminal Court.
726. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider introducing a stamp category or reasonable alternative for asylum seekers' work permits that is, permission to access the labour market in order to provide clarity for employers, further to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if her Department will take additional steps to ensure that the attention of employers is drawn to the fact that such permits entitle asylum seekers to work full time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37165/22]
View answerSince its introduction in June 2018, under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), the labour market access permission issued by my Department has had a very positive impact for international protection applicants and employers alike. Over 8,000 permissions have been granted to date.
This permission gives eligible applicants the opportunity to work and helps them to integrate into Irish society while providing for themselves and their families outside of the State’s directly provided services and supports. It also helps people to plan and prepare for their future in Ireland if they receive a positive decision on their application for international protection.
The Regulations provide access to both employment and self-employment for any applicant who has not received a first instance decision within six months of making their international protection application, provided that this situation cannot be attributed, or attributed in part, to the applicant.
Labour market access permission is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and may be renewed until a final decision is made on the person's international protection application. The LMA8 Information booklet provides a summary of the Labour Market Access process for employers. The Labour Market Access Unit of my Department recommends that employers familiarise themselves with the terms and conditions of the permission before employing permission holders. The booklet can be accessed on my Department's immigration website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/form-LMA8.pdf.
An applicant’s legal permission to temporarily reside in the State is provided for under the International Protection Act 2015. People who make an application under the Act are given a temporary residence card (TRC or blue card) which is proof of their permission to reside in the State. The TRC can be renewed and only becomes invalid when a person's permission to enter and reside in the State (Ireland) as a protection applicant, ceases to be valid.
There are no plans by my Department to make any changes regarding the legal basis for an applicant’s permission to reside in the State under the International Protection Act 2015.
The Deputy may also be aware that where the Ministerial Decisions Unit of my Department grants an international protection status or a grant of permission to remain to an applicant they are then entitled to immediately register an immigration permission on a Stamp 4 basis which allows a person to seek employment without the requirement to hold an employment permit and is renewable.
Finally, I can confirm for the Deputy that my Department is currently conducting a qualitative study of the experiences of international protection applicants in accessing the labour market, which is due to be completed by Q3 2022.
727. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of decisions issued by the International Protection Office in the past 12 months under headings (details supplied) in tabular form. [37253/22]
View answer728. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of affirmed decisions by the International Protection Appeals Tribunal; and the number of recommendations that have been set aside in the past 12 months. [37254/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 727 and 728 together.
For those who are in the international protection process, our objective is to have decisions made on their applications, including the permission to remain consideration, as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security.
The table below sets out the figures requested by the Deputy (for the 12 month period to the end of June 2022).
|
First instance recommendations to grant refugee status |
1,437 |
|
First instance recommendations to grant subsidiary protection |
74 |
|
First instance recommendations to grant Permission to Remain |
1,879 |
|
First instance refusals of refugee status, subsidiary protection and permission to remain |
536 |
|
First instance recommendation in respect of withdrawals |
200 |
The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) is a statutorily independent body and exercises a quasi-judicial function under the International Protection Act 2015.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Tribunal has provided the data sought by the Deputy in the table below, which covers the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
|
Appeal Type |
Granted (Set Aside) |
Refused (Affirmed) |
Grant Total |
|
Accelerated IP Appeal |
71 |
247 |
318 |
|
Dublin III |
8 |
18 |
26 |
|
Inadmissible Appeal |
5 |
3 |
8 |
|
SP Appeal - Legacy |
7 |
2 |
9 |
|
Subsequent Appeal |
8 |
18 |
26 |
|
Substantive IP Appeal |
384 |
513 |
897 |
|
Substantive IP Appeal Asylum only |
26 |
6 |
32 |
|
Substantive IP Appeal SP only |
3 |
2 |
5 |
|
Total |
512 |
809 |
1321 |
I can assure the Deputy that my Department continues to work to improve the international protection process and to reduce processing times, in line with the recommendations made by the Expert Advisory Group, led by Dr. Catherine Day, and the commitments in the Government's White Paper. However, the substantially higher number of applications currently being received will present a significant challenge in achieving this.
An end-to-end review of relevant international protection processes by a multi-disciplinary team from my Department has been completed and published. New measures and procedures will continue to be put in place to improve efficiencies across all aspects of the protection process.
Since the introduction of new efficiency measures, in the first six months of this year we have been able to increase the number of first instance recommendations and permission to remain decisions being made by the IPO by 56% when compared with the same period pre-Covid in 2019.The total number of first instance recommendations made by the IPO for the first six months of 2022 was 2,656, compared with 3,408 for all of 2019.
My Department will, by October 2022 at the latest, commence a review of progress made in reducing and improving processing times.
729. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice the status of a visa application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37257/22]
View answerThe visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Abuja on 8 February 2021. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 13 April 2021.
Appeals for applications of this type are processed in the order in which they are received, to be fair to all applicants. 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 my Department's immigration website (www.irishimmigration.ie). When making their 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.
Full consideration will be given to the appeals received on behalf of the applicants, however the onus is on applicants to satisfy the Visa Officer that visas should be granted. 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.
730. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice if her Department and bodies under the aegis of her Department have engaged the services of two organisations (details supplied) at any point from 1 January 2020 to date; the costs associated with or incurred by the provision of services from these organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37287/22]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that my Department has engaged the services of Carr Communications Ltd. The associated costs relate primarily to training and are set out in the table below:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2020 |
€6,329 |
|
2021 |
€11,621 |
|
2022 (to date) |
€2,498 |
I can confirm that My Department has not engaged the services of the company Kinzen Ltd. during the time period provided.
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the agencies, bodies and offices under the remit of my Department and the information received is provided in the following sections.
Courts Service
I am advised by the Courts Service that no payments have been made by their organisation to Kinzen Ltd.
I understand the Courts Service has engaged Carr Communications Ltd. for the provision of staff training and that the cost of this in total was €400, with one payment of €200 made in 2021 and one payment of €200 made in 2022.
Data Protection Commission
I am advised by the Data Protection Commission that no payments have been made by their organisation to Kinzen Ltd.
I am advised that the following table provides the costs relating to engagement by the Data Protection Commission with Carr Communications Ltd. since January 2020:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2020 |
€0 |
|
2021 |
€362 |
|
2022 (to date) |
€1,400 |
An Garda Síochána
I am advised by the Garda Authorities that An Garda Síochána has not engaged the services of Carr Communications Ltd. or Kinzen Ltd. during the timeframe in question.
Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
I am advised by officials in the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) that it has engaged the services of Carr Communications Ltd. for various training courses on drawdown from the relevant DPER Framework. I am informed the relevant costs associated are provided in the following table:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2020 |
€0 |
|
2021 |
€905 |
|
2022 (to date) |
€324 |
Legal Aid Board
I am advised by the Legal Aid Board that there has not been engagement by their organisation with Kinzen Ltd.
Costs relating to engagement with Carr Communications Ltd. Are provided in the following table:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2020 |
€3841.20 |
|
2021 |
€5104 |
|
2022 (to date) |
€4202 |
The Irish Prison Service
I am advised that the Irish Prison Service (IPS) has made no payments to the company Kinzen Ltd.
I am also advised that the IPS have engaged the services of Carr Communications Ltd. and that €4,400 was paid to Carr Communications Ltd. by the IPS during the period in question.
The Policing Authority
I am advised by the Policing Authority that they have made no payments to the company Kinzen Ltd. during the timeframe in question.
I am also informed that the Policing Authority have engaged Carr Communications Ltd. and that a breakdown of associated costs is provided in the following table:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2020 |
€62 |
|
2021 |
€162 |
|
2022 (to-date) |
€0 |
The Probation Service
I am advised that the Probation Service engaged the services of Carr Communications Ltd. in September 2022 to provide media skills training, and that this resulted in one payment of €1,750.
The Private Security Authority
I am advised that the Private Security Authority (PSA) have engaged Carr Communications Ltd. A breakdown of associated costs is provided in the following table:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2020 |
€1,400 |
|
2021 |
€900 |
|
2022 (to date) |
€0 |
I am advised that the PSA has not engaged with Kinzen Ltd.
731. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the amounts that have been spent by the Legal Aid Board to personal insolvency practitioners, solicitors and barristers under the personal insolvency arrangement review legal aid service in 2021 and to date in 2022; the details of these payments; the companies that received same; the amount that was received by each company. [37320/22]
View answer732. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the amounts that have been accrued but are as yet unpaid by the Legal Aid Board to personal insolvency practitioners, solicitors and barristers under the personal insolvency arrangement review legal aid service since its inception, from 2016 to date in 2022; the details of these liabilities; and the companies to whom they are owed. [37321/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 731 and 732 together.
The Government is committed to providing assistance to people who may be in danger of losing their home.
In October 2016, the then Minister for Justice and Equality launched Abhaile, the Government’s free mortgage arrears support service. Abhaile is jointly coordinated and funded by my Department and the Department of Social Protection, under a Joint Steering Board and a Joint Working Group, which include the implementing bodies. The Service’s implementing bodies are the Citizens Information Board (which includes the Money Advice and Budgeting Service), the Insolvency Service of Ireland, the Legal Aid Board and the Courts Service.
The goal of Abhaile is to meet the Government’s commitment to keeping people in their own homes. In providing legal aid for personal insolvency court reviews as part of Abhaile, the Government seeks to keep as many people in their homes as possible. Legal aid includes the services of a solicitor from the Legal Aid Board’s Abhaile Solicitors Panel and payment to the personal insolvency practitioner in respect of expenses that occur in making the section 115A application. Prior to 1 March 2019, the services of Junior Counsel were funded in all s115A applications. Since that date, the services of Counsel may be sought on a case by case basis, as is the case in other civil legal aid matters.
The Deputy will be aware that in 2021, the Oireachtas enacted the Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Act 2021, which I brought forward with the aim of ensuring access to the PIA review process by those whose debts occurred after 1 January 2015 and, in particular, those whose debts may have arisen as a result of the restrictions necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Schedule A in the attached document sets out in tabular format the amounts spent by the Legal Aid Board on solicitors, barristers and personal insolvency practitioners for applications under the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 in 2021 and in the year 2022 up until 30 June 2022.
Schedule B in the attached document sets out in tabular format the amount paid by the Legal Aid Board to each individual solicitor, barrister and personal insolvency practitioner for applications under the Personal Insolvency Act 2012 in 2021 and in the year 2022 up until 30 June 2022.
Schedule C in the attached document sets out in tabular format the total amounts incurred but not yet paid by the Legal Aid Board in connection with solicitors, barristers and personal insolvency practitioners for applications under the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, as at 30 June 2022.
The Legal Aid Board informs me that it has recently changed its procedures to obtain the name of the solicitor/Counsel from the PIP at the outset of the case. However, this information has been recorded only for relatively recently started cases and not for historical cases and, therefore, the Board is unable to provide this information on an individualised basis.
733. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the current status of the sale of alcohol Bill; when this Bill will move to the next stage. [37368/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to modernising our licensing laws and application processes, and my Justice Plan 2022 commits to publishing and enacting new laws to update and modernise licensing laws.I am delivering on that commitment by preparing Heads of a General Scheme of a Sale of Alcohol Bill.The objective of the proposed Bill is to repeal the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2018, the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2008, and the Public Dance Hall Act 1935, and to replace them with updated and streamlined provisions more suited to the 21st century.Codifying alcohol licensing law into a single Act will make it more accessible and user-friendly for the licensed trade, courts, Gardaí and the public.
The creation of new categories of intoxicating liquor licences in order to meet the needs of new areas of activity in the hospitality sector is under consideration.
Any changes in alcohol licensing laws must be balanced with the need for regulation in the public interest, in particular, public health and public order. Reforms will be developed with a supportive approach to businesses, and the interests of public health, consumers and communities will be central to implementation.
Last November, I launched a wide-ranging consultation to seek the views of the public on the modernisation of Ireland’s licensing laws. The consultation, which ran until 21 January this year, looked at how best to update the existing laws governing the sale and regulation of alcohol in Ireland. Members of the public, academics, sectoral groups, and representative organisations were invited to complete an online survey and/or make a written submission to my Department.
There was a high level of response to the consultation, with in excess of 5,000 responses received. My Department is now reviewing these responses to ensure the reform of the legislation takes account of and is informed by this engagement.
The Deputy may also be aware that, on 10 March, I hosted a consultation webinar and panel discussion event on the reform of the alcohol licensing laws to give an opportunity for further discussion of the issues of concern to stakeholders.
That webinar can be viewed on my Department’s YouTube channel via the following link: youtube/0tMtKzd_9jA.
It is intended to progress this legislation in the months ahead. Submissions from stakeholders will of course be carefully considered in the context of publication of the forthcoming Bill. Details of the proposed reform will be included in the General Scheme when published.
734. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of companies that applied for the contract for the provision of Garda public order equipment but were unsuccessful at the last tender process; and when the next tender process for this equipment will be put out to tender. [37369/22]
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, including the purchase of public order equipment. As Minister, I have no direct role in the matter.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that there were two lots as part of the last Public Order Equipment tender process. As per the Contract Award Notice there were four tenders received in total, with three of these applying for each lot. Two of these tenders were unsuccessful in either lot.
I am further advised that it is envisaged that there will be a new tender process in Quarter 4 of 2022.
735. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of public order offences reported to the gardaí in the K division in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [37370/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no direct role.
The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of unique incidents in the Public Order category reported in the Blanchardstown District between 1 January 2020 and 6 July 2022, grouped by year reported. I am advised by the Garda authorities that ‘K’ refers to a Garda District (Blanchardstown) which is part of the Western Division of the Dublin region.
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022* |
|
|
Total |
956 |
833 |
447 |
* Reported 1st January to 6th July 2022
I am advised that the above figures are based on the reported date and were collated based on operational PULSE data as of 7 July 2022. I am further advised that crime counting rules have been applied to reflect all recorded incidents.
