Tuesday, 12 Jul 2022

Written Answers Nos. 736-750

An Garda Síochána

Questions (736)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

736. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 599 of 17 May 2022, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to answer same [37371/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably this was not available within the time available. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Court Judgments

Questions (737)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

737. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons convicted of coercive control to date in 2022. [37372/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware. management 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: [e-mail].

To be of assistance, I have referred the Deputy's query to the Court Service.

Prison Service

Questions (738)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

738. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the estimated full-year cost of recruiting four additional whole-term equivalent senior psychologist posts and six staff grade psychologist posts for the Irish Prison Service. [37373/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The role of the Psychology Service in the Irish Prison Service is to deliver, develop and manage an integrated mental health and criminogenic need assessment and treatment service for people in custody, in line with service plans and objectives, and within established professional standards, guidelines and policy.

I am informed that the Prison Service currently employ various psychologist grades, including;

- Head of Psychological Services,

- Principal Psychologist Manager,

- Senior Psychologists (Grade I),

- Staff Grade Psychologists (Grade II), and

- Assistant Psychologists - an unqualified grade currently employed on a 1 year fixed term contract which is to increase to a two year contract basis only (for the new cohort commencing in August 2022) .

I am further informed that at present, as per the most recent PPC payscales of 01 February 2022*, the estimated full year cost of recruiting four additional whole-term equivalent Senior Psychologist posts and six Staff Grade Psychologist posts for the Prison Service is as outlined in the table below:

Grade of Psychologist	Number	Total
Psychologist Grade 1 (Senior Grade)	4	€397,985.43
Psychologist In The Prison Service (Staff Grade)	6	€374,980.31
Total		€772,965.75

*The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Under Budget 2022 an additional €2.4m was secured for the Irish Prison Service for healthcare funding. This included just over €1 million for psychologists and specialist mental health nurses in prisons. I can advise the Deputy the on 12th July 2022 the Irish Prison Service advertised both nationally and in the UK for two senior psychologists and fifteen staff grade psychologists.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (739)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

739. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of drivers who paid a fixed charge penalty notice for speeding in each Garda division within the statutory payment timeframe in 2021 and to-date in 2022, in tabular form [37374/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As 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 the management of the Fixed Charge Processing System. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of instances where a fixed charge notice was issued for the offence of speeding and was subsequently paid within the statutory 28 day payment timeframe, in 2021 and at 30 June 2022, the latest date for which figures are available.

It remains an option for a person to not pay a fixed charge notice and to proceed to Court, where they can offer a defence for the initial offence to a Judge who will decide on their case. As the Deputy can appreciate the Judiciary are independent in their functions under the Constitution and the law.

DIVISION	2021	2022*
Cavan/Monaghan	3667	1768
Clare	3815	1672
Cork City	9508	3856
Cork North	4889	2726
Cork West	3273	1631
D.M.R. Eastern	3204	1722
D.M.R. North Central	2231	755
D.M.R. Northern	7035	2808
D.M.R. South Central	1929	806
D.M.R. Southern	2811	1336
D.M.R. Western	6397	2559
Donegal	2775	1384
Galway	8032	3879
Kerry	3191	1368
Kildare	11623	3680
Kilkenny/Carlow	4691	1434
Laois/Offaly	6720	2243
Limerick	6799	3155
Louth	3427	1306
Mayo	2521	1093
Meath	5258	2088
Roscommon/Longford	2497	742
Sligo/Leitrim	2429	624
Tipperary	6140	3402
Waterford	4600	2001
Westmeath	4046	2072
Wexford	3805	1292
Wicklow	7942	1846
TOTAL	135255	55248

*Figures for 2022 include all speeding fixed charge notices paid within the statutory timeframe up to and including 30/06/2022. A number of fixed charge notices issued in 2022 are still within the active interval for payment.

Additional Information

Figures are based on incidents which occurred from 01/01/2021 to 30/06/2022, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the FCPS system as was available on 07/07/2022 and is liable to change.

Prison Service

Questions (740)

Réada Cronin

Question:

740. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice if her Department will examine the number of phone lines and operators that are available in each prison for booking phone calls (details supplied); the number of prisoners who are eligible for visits in each facility; if the PPSN card is deemed suitable identification for a visit; if not, the reasons for same; the reason that family parcels with essential items cannot be accepted on the day of a visit subject to the usual checks; if her Department will consider the effect of these barriers and delays given the impact on children of prisoners who feel they too are being punished; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37525/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I wish to inform the Deputy that from Monday 11 July 2022 all prisoners are entitled to receive two physical family visits per month, physical visits are limited to five persons with a maximum of three adult visitors. Prisoners may also avail of up to four video visits or a combination of both per month.

Each prison has a dedicated telephone line for the public to make contact and book a visit appointment, these phone lines are manned during visiting hours. There is also an option for families to request a visit through the online request system, this is accessible through the Irish Prison Service website – visit a prison – request video call.

The Irish Prison Service have informed me that they recently received a small number of complaints from the public in relation to technical issues regarding the online service and steps have been taken to address these.

Access to physical visits will continue to be monitored by the National Infection Control Team and Prison Management. Information regarding visits is available on the Irish Prison Service website, www.irishprisons.ie. and social media platforms for families and friends.

The Public Services Card is an accepted form of identification in use at Limerick, Midlands and Wheatfield Prisons. Arrangements are being made to facilitate its use across all prisons by year end.

The Prison Service are committed to the provision of safe, secure and humane custody for people who are sent to prison in this State. Covid-19 in a prison setting presents significant challenges for prison management in terms of controlling the spread of the virus amongst staff and prisoners.

While the Irish Prison Service is continuing to re-open and unwind Covid-19 measures, there are still some restrictions in place given the environment of a prison and the vulnerability of some of the people within our prisons. Currently the Irish Prison Service are not accepting prisoner property during visits.

I can assure the Deputy that any remaining restrictions are kept under review by the Irish prison Service in light of the level of risk posed to prisons.

Visa Applications

Questions (741)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

741. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice when a long-stay visa of a person (details supplied) to visit Ireland with their spouse in October 2022 to see family will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37560/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The person referred to by the Deputy created an online Long Stay Join Family visa application on 24 June 2022.

As it appears that the person referred to intends to travel to Ireland on a short visit and does not intend to stay long term, they may wish to contact their local Embassy or Honorary Consulate, and request that their visa application be withdrawn, and to submit a new Short Stay 'C' Visa application.

The current processing times for Short Stay 'C' visas of this type, are approximately 8 weeks from the date documentation is received in the relevant Visa Office.

Should they wish to continue with their current Long-Stay Join Family application, it should be noted that the processing of these family reunification visa applications may take between six and 12 months to determine from the date documentation is received in the relevant Visa 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 ([e-mail]), 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.

Departmental Staff

Questions (742)

Alan Dillon

Question:

742. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Justice the reason that additional support workers were not approved to support the extension of services in County Mayo for early intervention and family under the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 that had very similar referral numbers and crime statistics to the midlands who received up to three additional family support and early intervention workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37563/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

Justice Plan 2022 commits to the implementation of the Government’s Youth Justice Plan, which includes preventing offending behaviour from occurring and diverting children and young adults who commit a crime away from further offending and involvement with the criminal justice system.

The Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community-based projects that offer vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme.

There are currently 105 YDPs across the State and the Youth Justice Strategy commits to expanding the network to provide cover to every child/young person who needs to access their services.

Youth Justice services were allocated an additional €6.7 million in funding for 2022. I announced on 22 June that over 50 YDPs would benefit from this additional funding to:

- Extend the boundaries of some YDPs to increase geographical coverage, as provided for in the Youth Justice Strategy,

- Increase funding to engage with the harder to reach cohort of referrals,

- Provide additional early intervention supports,

- Provide family supports to the relatives of those young people engaged with the YDPs,

- Further develop the Solas initiative in Dublin.

Of this €6.7million, approximately €780,000 has been set aside to establish a limited number of new YDPs this year to cover geographical areas which cannot be covered sufficiently through the expansion of existing YDPs and it is anticipated that details will be announced in respect of those new YDPs as soon as possible.

The Projects are funded through my Department. However, as the Deputy will appreciate, the funding needs of individual YDPs differ based on a range of criteria, such as the geographical area in which the Project operates, the number of referrals to the YDP and the number of the 'hard to reach' cohort of these referrals, amongst others.

My Department offers funding appropriate to the needs of each YDP as determined by standard budgetary processes. Funding fluctuates based upon the YDPs' determination of their needs against the available budget for Youth Justice services annually.

I should also point out that those projects whose applications were not successful in this round have been informed that their applications are on file. Applications will be kept under review as the year progresses in the context of overall expenditure trends on the Youth Justice subhead.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (743, 757)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

743. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the average processing time for citizenship applications in Ireland at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37595/22]

Chris Andrews

Question:

757. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice the steps that are being taken to reduce the processing time for an Irish citizenship application from the current 23-month timeframe to the 6 to 9 months which his Department previously stated was its objective. [38054/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 743 and 757 together.

I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it and my Department continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and during all levels of public health restrictions. The division currently receives almost 1200 applications per month.

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.

In addition, the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones case and the necessary health restrictions arising from the pandemic, has unfortunately resulted in the processing time for standard applications increasing. The processing time for applications in 2021 was 24 months. It currently stands at 19 months for decisions issued in 2022, an almost 21% decrease.

Last year, my Department made 11,512 citizenship decisions, which is the highest level since 2015. For the first six months of 2022, 8149 citizenship decisions have been made with 7,193 certificates of naturalisation issued. This includes 1,005 minor applications who have also been issued with a decision on their application, in comparison to 868 in total for minors during 2021.

The citizenship application process is reviewed on an ongoing basis to continually improve customer service quality. Feedback from applicants is taken on board and, as a result, a much more simplified, customer-focused and streamlined mechanism for applicants to provide their proofs of residence has recently been introduced. A scorecard was introduced to help applicants to complete their applications with greater certainty than before. A review of this is currently being undertaken and an updated version is due to be published in the coming weeks.

To further speed up the processing of applications, a number of digitisation measures have also been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, to improve service to our customers and reduce waiting times.

Since the beginning of this year, new applicants for citizenship no longer have to submit their original passport with their application. Instead, they can provide a full colour copy of their entire passport, including the front and back covers. This change in practice is welcomed by our customers and is also freeing up valuable staff time that up to now has been engaged in returning passports to applicants.

My Department hosted the first in-person citizenship ceremony since the pandemic on 20 June 2022 with 950 people receiving their certificate of naturalisation. Further ceremonies are planned for December, in Killarney.

Fines Administration

Questions (744)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

744. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of cancelled fixed penalty notices by category including the offence in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 in tabular form. [37673/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 744 of 12 July 2022 where you asked for: “The number of cancelled fixed penalty notices by category including the offence in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 in tabular form.”

As you will recall, I had sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.

As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the management of the Fixed Charge Processing System. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the total number of Fixed Charge Notices that were issued in the years 2020, 2021 and up to 30 June 2022; and the number cancelled (status of ‘terminated’) in the same period.

FCN	2020	2021	Up to 30 June 2022	Grand Total
Issued	337374	328265	153870	819539
Terminated	11224	10384	4151	25759
% Terminated	3.32%	3.16%	2.69%	3.14%

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table in the attached Appendix sets out the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued by offence group for the years 2020, 2021 and up to 30 June 2022; and the number of fixed charge notices that were cancelled (status of ‘terminated’) in the same period.

As you will be aware, Judge Matthew Deery was appointed as the sole Independent Oversight Authority for the Garda FCPS Cancellation Policy by Minister Frances Fitzgerald in January 2015, following a recommendation contained in the Garda Professional Standards Unit (GPSU) report, "Examination of the Procedures, Policy and Decision-Making Processes in relation to Cancellations on the Fixed Charge Processing System of the Road Traffic-related Offences", published by the Minister at the same time.

Minister Heather Humphreys TD, published the fifth and sixth annual reports of the Independent Oversight Authority for the Garda Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS) Cancellation Policy, covering the years 2019 and 2020 on the 20 September 2021.

In finalising his reports, Judge Deery stated that he was satisfied that there has been substantial compliance with the Fixed Charge Processing System Policy and Procedures Manual Fourth Edition.

Judge Deery’s oversight reports reinforce public trust in the process and his important work remains crucial to maintaining independent confidence in the processing system.

Judge Deery's seventh annual report, covering 2021, was recently submitted to my Department and I expect to be in a position to publish it on my Department’s website later in 2022.

Appendix

		2020		2021		Up to 30 June 2022*		Grand Total
Offence Groups	Issued	Term- inated	Issued	Term- inated	Issued	Term- inated	Issued	Term- inated
Bus Lane/Street & Bus/Taxi Parking	5153	115	4788	89	3125	59	13066	263
Clearway/Disabled Bay Parking	3971	255	5098	406	2775	150	11844	811
Crash Helmets	18		24		10		52
Drink-Driving	621		611		314		1546
Driving a Vehicle without Reasonable Consideration	5741	124	6009	120	2470	38	14220	282
Driving on/Across a Footway/Cycle Lane or Median Strip	123		113		53		289
Failure to Yield Right of Way	122		149		55		326
Hirer Parking Offences	989	48	940	30	581	22	2510	100
Mandatory Signs. Reverse & Weight	283		204		46		533
Mobile Phone Offences	24482	358	23846	281	9853	88	58181	727
Motorway Offences	158		167		58		383
Overtaking	511		542		202		1255
Park Sign/Road Markings	15829	502	14272	419	5443	130	35544	1051
Parking – Interfere with Fire/Garda/Ambulance	32		33		11		76
Parking in a Loading Bay or School Entrance	710	26	797	36	370	12	1877	74
Parking within 15 metres	50		59		24		133
Parking within 5 metres	443		393		161		997
Park-Manner/Location	7891	238	9203	297	4619	151	21713	686
Pedal Cycle Offences	1267	92	932	48	526	37	2725	177
Pedestrianised Street/Area	109		89		42		240
Provisional/Novice Driver	12314	440	13701	485	6313	193	32328	1118
Public Order Offences	5734	264	5853	221	3319	97	14906	582
Roadway-Cross Centre Lines	970		992		486		2448
Seatbelt Offences	8784	227	7276	152	3155	42	19215	421
Signal by Driver Garda Warden	287		253		89		629
Speeding	181291	5572	179882	5266	81397	2099	442570	12937
Tax/Ins (No Disc)	42631	2319	37956	2160	21334	873	101921	5352
Traffic Lights-Driving Past	4456	100	3914	49	1973	27	10343	176
Traffic Signs and Road Markings	1786	33	1778	20	999	16	4563	69
Tram Lane/Street & Cycle Lane	554	24	367	13	295	10	1216	47
Tyre Offences	2700	60	2338	46	970	12	6008	118
Vehicle Authorisation Plates	44		53		18		115
Vehicle Certification	6253	307	4863	155	2470	66	13586	528
Vehicle Lighting	1013		709		292		2014
Vehicle Weight	54		61		22		137
Others **							30
Other Offences***		120		91		29		240
Total	337374	11224	328265	10384	153870	4151	819539	25759

* Figures for 2022 cover the period from 01/01/2022 to 30/06/2022

** Issued figures less than 10 have been excluded from the data table and, therefore, the offence groups of Speed Limitation Devices, SPSV Regulations, Railway Level Crossing and Prohibited/Restricted Parking have been combined together into an ‘Others’ group.

*** Terminated figures less than ten have been excluded from the tables and, therefore, a number of offence groups have been combined together into an ‘Other Offences’ group. These are offence groups Drink-Driving, Driving on/Across a Footway/Cycle Lane or Median Strip, Failure to Yield Right of Way, Mandatory Signs. Reverse & Weight, Motorway Offences, Overtaking, Parking – Interfere with Fire/Garda/Ambulance, Parking within 5 or 15 metres, Pedestrianised Area/Street, Railway Level Crossing, Signal by Driver Garda Warden, Vehicle Authorisation Plates, Vehicle Lighting and Vehicle Weight.

Additional Information

Figures are based on incidents which occurred from 01/01/2020 to 30/06/2022, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the FCPS system as was available on 19/07/2022 and is liable to change.

Visa Applications

Questions (745)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

745. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice the average processing times for work visa applications every month since June 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37724/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

In order to work in Ireland, a non-EEA national, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit, which is granted by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).

Once they have been granted an employment permit from DETE, visa required nationals must apply for a “D” long stay employment visa. The granting of an employment permit by DETE is not the sole determining factor as to whether a visa will subsequently be granted by my Department. These are two very distinct application processes with different checks and procedures in place in each respective Department.

The processing times for visa decisions are published on the visa pages of each Visa Office and the relevant Embassy website. Applicants are advised to allow at least eight weeks for the processing of an employment visa and, in the vast majority of cases, the processing times are well within that timeframe.

As these applications are usually processed within a very short timeframe, statistics are not maintained by my Department in the manner requested by the Deputy. Currently, the average time taken to process an employment visa received in my Department's Visa Offices in Dublin and overseas is three weeks.

The central concern in deciding on visa applications, as with all visa services worldwide, is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting the country's vital national interests by maintaining an effective immigration regime while at the same time facilitating travel for those who meet the criteria. Each visa application is therefore decided on its own merits taking all factors into account.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (746)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

746. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice the numbers of Garda patrol cars, patrol vans, motorcycles, bicycles and other vehicles, in the Cork Garda divisions to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37725/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Deputy will be aware that, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

Budget 2022 provides in excess of an unprecedented €2 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which I am informed that €12m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet, which will mean more high visibility policing in our towns and cities.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the information in the tables below set out the number of vehicles assigned to Cork City, Cork North and Cork West Divisions at 31 January 2022 up to 30 June 2022, the latest date for which figures are available.

30-Jun-22	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4x4	*Others	Total
CORK CITY	103	21	10	2	7	143
CORK NORTH	47	11	3	0	0	61
CORK WEST	56	12	2	2	2	74

31-May-22	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4 x 4	*Others	Total
CORK CITY	104	21	10	2	7	144
CORK NORTH	49	11	3	0	0	63
CORK WEST	56	12	2	2	2	74

29-Apr-22	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4 x 4	*Others	Total
CORK CITY	101	22	10	2	7	142
CORK NORTH	49	10	3	0	0	62
CORK WEST	55	11	2	2	2	72

31-Mar-22	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4 x 4	*Others	Total
CORK CITY	102	22	10	2	7	143
CORK NORTH	49	10	3	0	0	62
CORK WEST	55	11	2	2	2	72

31-Jan-22	Cars	Vans	Motorcycles	4 x 4	*Others	Total
CORK CITY	100	23	10	2	7	142
CORK NORTH	49	11	3	0	0	63
CORK WEST	57	10	2	2	2	73

*The category 'others' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles

The Deputy may also wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána publish information on Garda fleet, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown, on their website at:

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html.

Road Traffic Offences

Questions (747)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

747. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice the number of mandatory intoxicant testing checkpoints nationally during 2021 and 2022 to date; the number of motorists that have tested positive for drugs at these checkpoints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37726/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

The below table, provided to me by the Garda authorities, is a yearly breakdown of the number of Mandatory Intoxication Testing Checkpoints carried out in 2021 and 2022 to date.

2021	* 2022
43,312	25,298

* Figures are based on incidents which occurred from 01/01/2022 to 30/06/2022

Furthermore, below is a yearly breakdown of the number of roadside positive drug tests at Mandatory Intoxication Testing Checkpoints carried out in 2021 and 2022 to date.

2021	* 2022
476	235

* Figures are based on incidents which occurred from 01/01/2022 to 30/06/2022

All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the Pulse system as was available on 04/07/2022 and is liable to change.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (748)

Seán Haughey

Question:

748. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Justice if she will introduce legislation to reform the laws governing the issuing of police certificates to allow them to be used for all employment purposes abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37837/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

For the Deputy's information, Police Certificates are issued on a non-statutory basis. The issuance of Police Certificates is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. Under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. As Minister for Justice, I have no role in relation to these operational matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that Police Certificates are issued by Garda Superintendents responsible for the District where the applicant resides or has previously resided.Police Certificates are issued for the following purposes;

1. Foreign Consular Authorities / Foreign Visas (e.g. applications, naturalisation and/or other immigration matters).

2. Establishing or registering a business in another EU Member State.

3. Employment in the EU Institutions.

4. Development/Humanitarian/Aid Workers deployed overseas on behalf of a Registered Non-Governmental Organisation with supporting documentation issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and/or any other Statutory Agency related to the activity concerned.

5. Irish Citizens participating and/or engaging in an accredited academic programme on a full-time basis for a minimum period of one academic year with a recognised Third-Level Educational Institution (in the Host State) outside of this jurisdiction.

The certificate is valid for 12 months, states the person's name, address, date of birth and also includes information about whether or not they have a criminal record in respect of this jurisdiction.

I can confirm that there are no plans to place Police Certificates on a statutory footing.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (749)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

749. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of instances in 2021 and to date in 2022 in which members of An Garda Síochána acted in their official capacity outside the State; the protocol or procedure that the Garda Commissioner must adhere to with the Minister in respect of allowing members of An Garda Síochána to accompany an Taoiseach and Ministers on travel episodes outside of this State. [37896/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have contacted the Garda authorities to request the information sought by the Deputy. Regrettably this was not available within the time available. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

As you will recall, Minister McEntee had sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand. The delay in responding is regretted. As you will be 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. This includes the manner in which Garda resources are deployed. As Minister, I have no role in the matter.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána is responsible for the protection of members of the Government. I am further informed that when necessary, the Garda authorities liaise with relevant Government Departments with the aim of mitigating any potential risks.

I am further advised that protection arrangements around foreign travel in respect of the Taoiseach is a matter of national security, and as you will appreciate it is not possible to comment on specifics of protection arrangements as a result. Member(s) of An Garda Síochána accompany the Taoiseach on all foreign official travel, however, other Government Ministers are not accompanied unless protection is required following a threat and/or risk assessment.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that information relating to all instances where Garda members left the State on official business is not readily available. I have been advised that it would require a disproportionate amount of time and Garda resources to complete the work. Consequently I am unable to provide the precise number of incidences as requested.

Immigration Status

Questions (750)

David Cullinane

Question:

750. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Justice if she will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37899/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The person referred to by the Deputy has applied to the scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants.

Their application was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 1 March 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue.

In order to be fair to all applicants, applications are processed in order of the date on which they are received. Processing times may vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether it is a single or family application, the supporting documentation and the vetting process with An Garda Síochána. Applications where there is an existing deportation order in place will also require additional processing.

Each application received is assessed individually in accordance with the published criteria, available on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Undocumented-Policy-Scheme-January-2022.pdf.

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 [e-mail], 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.