Written Answers Nos. 258-277
258. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will be assigned a place on a community employment scheme arising from a successful interview and formal notification that they had been successful. [20715/23]
View answerThe aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and long-term unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their local communities on a temporary fixed term basis. The programme aims to improve a person’s opportunities to return to employment.
Those who are unemployed and in receipt of an eligible payment for 12 months or more may be eligible to participate on CE.
The individual concerned attended for interview with a sponsor, but as part of the eligibility verification process it was found that he was not in receipt of a qualifying payment for 12 months or more and therefore he is currently ineligible currently to participate in CE.
The individual concerned will be 12 months in receipt of a qualifying payment on the 02/09/2023 and will be eligible to part take in CE from this date assuming he continues to meet the qualifying criteria.
My officials have spoken to the sponsor concerned and they would encourage the individual to reapply for a CE position with them when he is eligible.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
259. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on her Department’s review report in respect of the expansion of the free travel scheme to people with epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20755/23]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2023 is €95 million.
It is important to note that, in general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is a secondary benefit linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit. As many illnesses or physical conditions have an impact ranging from mild to severe, entitlement to these social welfare schemes is not provided on the basis of a diagnosis but on the basis of the impact of that diagnosis on the individual concerned and in the case of Disability and Carer's Allowance to an assessment of their means. In this way, resources can be targeted to people in most need.
I am aware of an ongoing campaign by Epilepsy Ireland. I fully recognise the issues and difficulties that can arise due to a person being diagnosed with epilepsy and who is unable to drive as a result of their condition.
I have met with representatives of Epilepsy Ireland to discuss its proposal in detail and following the meeting I asked my Department officials to examine the issues raised in relation to access to the Free Travel scheme.
As previously advised to the Deputy, I am awaiting a report from my officials on the issues raised by Epilepsy Ireland. I expect to receive the report shortly and will carefully consider its contents and any recommendations that it may contain.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
260. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for carer's allowance on behalf of a person (details supplied). [20763/23]
View answerCarers Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for Carers Allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 2 August 2022.
Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a Deciding Officer on 3 August 2022.
As the person concerned failed to supply the information requested, the claim was disallowed and the person concerned was notified on 23 January 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of the right of review and appeal.
Following a review of the decision above, Carers Allowance (CA) was awarded to the person concerned on 28 April 2023, with effect from 26 May 2022 and the first payment will issue to their nominated bank account on 11 May 2023.
Arrears for the period 26 May 2022 to 10 May 2023 will issue shortly.
The person concerned was notified on 28 April 2022 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
261. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is being asked to repay a welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20854/23]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
According to the Department’s records, the person concerned was out of the State for the periods from 8 March 2019 to 2 June 2019, 8 June 2019 to 10 October 2019 and 17 December 2019 to 26 December 2019.
It was decided that they had no entitlement to DA for the periods from 27 March 2019 to 4 June 2019, 12 June 2019 to 15 October 2019 and 18 December 2019 to 31 December 2019 as the person in question, was out of the State. An overpayment of DA was assessed against this individual for these periods.
They were notified in writing of this decision and of their right to request a review and/or to appeal the decision on 23 January 2020. The person concerned has been repaying this debt through weekly deductions from his Disability Allowance payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
262. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the measures his Department is putting in place to assist those seeking international protection from Sudan, considering the current political conflict. [20400/23]
View answer263. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if he will allow Sudanese nationals and non-EU nationals currently at risk or in danger in Sudan under the current political conflict, who have family members that are Irish citizens, to have access to apply immediately for reunification to enter Ireland. [20401/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 263 together.
I am aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Sudan and I can assure the Deputy that all current immigration avenues remain open for new applications, including visa and family reunification applications. The Department of Justice will process any new applications received speedily and sympathetically. The Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs are also working closely with all EU member states to ensure a coherent EU response to events in Sudan.
Processing of international protection applications in Ireland from Sudanese nationals is already prioritised by the International Protection Office, in accordance with the approach to prioritisation of cases agreed with UNHCR Ireland. The examination of an application takes full account of whether a person will be in danger if not provided with an international protection status or a permission to remain here.
Furthermore, under the the International Protection Act 2015, Sudanese nationals can apply for family reunification under the International Protection Act 2015 if they have been granted a declaration as a Convention Refugee, are a beneficiary of Subsidiary Protection or if they have been granted Programme Refugee status.
264. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on the programme for Government commitment to review the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20410/23]
View answerThe Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purpose of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments, and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). Well-functioning OMCs are key to maintaining and sustaining higher-density residential developments, such as apartments.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment by Government 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.
Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland is the Government’s housing plan to 2030. It includes support for effective management and oversight of multi-unit developments, by legislating for necessary changes.
The Housing for All plan provides for Regulations to be made:
• under section 18, subsection 17 of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 (‘the MUDs Act’) to ensure that OMCs are financially sustainable; and
• under section 18, subsection 19 of the MUDs Act, to ensure that OMCs provide for expenditure of a non-recurring nature (i.e. ‘sinking fund’ expenditure)
Subsection 17 of section 18 of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 provides that the Minister may make regulations prescribing the class or classes of items of expenditure which may be the subject of annual service charges; the procedures to be followed in setting such charges; the matters to be taken into account in the setting of such charges; and arrangements for the levying and payment of such charges.
Subsection 9 of section 19 of the MUD Act provides that the Minister may make regulations in relation to sinking funds, prescribing the class(es) of expenditure that may be incurred by a sinking fund, the procedures to be followed in setting contributions to it, the matters to be taken into account in setting such contributions, and the thresholds of expenditure which would necessitate approval by the members of the OMC.
In regard to both the review of the Act and the making of regulations, my Department works in close co-operation with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and is guided by it in relation to overall housing policy. My Department is engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage in relation to the review and the drafting of the Regulations concerned.
265. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on the status of an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20214/23]
View answerThe application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 08 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.
The processing times of applications will 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 (AGS). Applications where there is an existing deportation order will 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 email 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 email service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
266. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice if the proposed legislation for the regulation of the gambling industry contains provision for holding companies to account in the event that they make unsolicited contact with previous patrons who experienced problem gambling; if so, what that provision is; and, if not, if a route for resolution for these occurrences will be considered in light of the traumatic impact they have on individuals. [20216/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 was published on 2 December 2022. The Bill sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new, independent statutory body – Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland – and for a robust regulatory and licensing regime to regulate gambling in-person and online, and for the regulation of gambling advertising, websites and apps.
The Bill completed Second Stage in the Dáil on Tuesday, 6 December 2022 and my Department is currently preparing amendments to the Bill for Committee Stage which is expected to take place in the coming months.
Section 44 of the Bill provides for the establishment and operation of the National Gambling Exclusion Register. The Register will allow persons to register with the Authority to exclude themselves from gambling online with licensees. A person may exclude themselves from specific gambling activities, with specific licensees, or with all licensees for a specific or indefinite period of time. During their exclusionary period, a person shall be prevented from participating in gambling as per the specified terms of their exclusion, access to their account will be prohibited and any moneys held by a licensee must be refunded to that person within 7 days of entry on the Register.
Section 45 of the Bill prohibits licensees from –
• allowing a person on the Register to gamble
• accepting a payment for gambling from a person on the Register, or
• communicating with a person on the Register in a manner that would encourage that person to gamble or that promotes gambling
A licensee that breaches such a prohibition shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to up to 5 years imprisonment, a fine, or to both.
The Bill also contains restrictions on the advertisement of gambling activities. Aside from a 5:30 am to 9pm ban on advertising on television, radio or an on-demand audio-visual media service, it also prohibits persons from advertising, or causing another person to advertise, a relevant gambling activity on an on-demand audio-visual media service or by any other means of electronic communication (including on a video-sharing platform, a social media website, by telephone, text message or email) to another person, unless that person has consented to such advertising.
267. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice whether he has consulted with county registrars in respect of the proposed amendment to section 35 of the Court Officers Act 1936 which is currently contained in section 96 of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20218/23]
View answerThe Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022, introduces important legislative reforms across a number of areas. It is part of a suite of measures the Department of Justice continues to introduce to improve access to justice and modernise the Courts system.
Section 96 provides for an amendment which outlines the circumstances in which a county registrar will cease to hold office and the circumstances in which Government may remove a county registrar from office. It also outlines the process for giving notice and an opportunity for a county registrar to respond before a decision is made.
This amendment, which was subject to legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General, seeks to ensure that a sufficiently clear, robust and fair legal process is in place for the removal of a county registrar from office and is in-line with similar modernised provisions for quasi-judicial roles.
Officials within my department engaged with the Courts Service and the County Registrars Association about this amendment on a number of occasions.
268. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide a breakdown of the amount of criminal legal aid that has been paid out to solicitors in respect of their assignment to a client by the most paid (details supplied); and the amount paid to each of the top ten recipients in fees, by each solicitor and-or company name that received the fees in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [20249/23]
View answerI can inform the Deputy, that Criminal legal services are provided by private solicitors who have notified the relevant Court of their availability to undertake criminal legal aid work. The courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid on application by the defence in court. My Department has no role in the granting of legal aid or in the appointment of solicitors to a case. The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 gives expression to the Constitutional right that free legal aid must be granted, in certain circumstances, for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings.
As per Regulation 4 of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Regulations 1965 (S. I. No. 12 of 1965), each County Registrar maintains a list of tax compliant solicitors who are willing to act in that county for those to whom certificates for free legal aid are granted.
My Department is responsible for the payment of fees and expenses to the legal practitioners.
The total amount of fees paid to solicitors for the years requested are laid out in Table 1 and the top 10 recipient firms are listed in Table 2
Table 1: Fees paid to solicitors for criminal legal aid work
|
Amount Paid |
|
|
Year |
€ |
|
2020 |
34,217,662 |
|
2021 |
40,280,587 |
|
2022 |
41,474,735 |
|
2023 (to end of March) |
10,737,053 |
Table 2: Fees paid to Top 10 Solicitors
|
SOLICITOR |
|
|
2020 |
€ |
|
MICHAEL HENNESSY |
638,843.02 |
|
TONY COLLIER |
468,623.60 |
|
JOHN M. QUINN |
460,871.08 |
|
MICHAEL FRENCH |
447,237.37 |
|
JOHN O'DOHERTY |
423,098.16 |
|
AONGHUS MC CARTHY |
414,203.85 |
|
SARAH RYAN |
391,153.51 |
|
YVONNE BAMBURY |
382,238.75 |
|
TRACY HORAN SOLR |
367,922.47 |
|
KENNETH CUNNINGHAM |
359,400.24 |
|
|
|
|
2021 |
€ |
|
JOHN M. QUINN |
746,012.70 |
|
MICHAEL HENNESSY |
683,602.88 |
|
AONGHUS MC CARTHY |
591,304.65 |
|
TRACY HORAN SOLR |
474,700.00 |
|
FRANK A. BUTTIMER |
467,171.73 |
|
KENNETH CUNNINGHAM |
448,687.95 |
|
SANDRA FRAYNE |
445,174.65 |
|
YVONNE BAMBURY. |
430,492.95 |
|
RONALD J. LYNAM |
424,851.30 |
|
JOHN O'DOHERTY |
415,695.38 |
|
|
|
|
2022 |
€ |
|
JOHN M. QUINN |
€664,247.77 |
|
MICHAEL HENNESSY |
€652,736.64 |
|
WAYNE KENNY |
€626,510.56 |
|
AONGHUS MC CARTHY |
€602,162.73 |
|
KENNETH CUNNINGHAM |
€545,556.10 |
|
CAHIR O HIGGINS |
€502,238.54 |
|
YVONNE BAMBURY. |
€502,238.54 |
|
JOHN O'DOHERTY |
€457,775.11 |
|
SARAH RYAN |
€435,603.53 |
|
FRANK A. BUTTIMER |
€435,476.78 |
|
|
|
The breakdown of the top ten earning solicitors is not available for 2023.
269. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide a breakdown of the amounts paid to private practitioners by year in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form, indicating the amount paid to each of the top ten recipients of fees, by the practitioner name and fees in those years (details supplied). [20250/23]
View answerThe Legal Aid Board (the Board) provides legal advice and aid under the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996-2021. The Board, which is statutorily independent, delivers these services through directly employed solicitors in its network of law centres around the country and private solicitors from its private practitioner panels.
The Board has established a number of solicitor panels for different case types. Solicitors in private practice agree to be members of those panels and are paid fees per case depending on the terms and conditions of each panel.
Schedules A-E set out in tabular format the ten firms of solicitors who have, in total over the period 1st January 2021 to 25th April 2023, been paid the highest total amount of fees in respect of each panel, and with a breakdown of that amount into fees paid during 2021, 2022, and from 1st January to 25thApril 2023. Please note that the Assisted Decision Making Panel was established on 26th April 2023 and therefore no payments were made in respect of this Panel during the period concerned.
Schedule A – Ten highest earning payees under the District Court Family Law Solicitors Panel
|
Private Practitioners – District Court Private Family Law |
2021 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Sandra McAleer |
268,020 |
|
John A O'Leary & Co. Solicitors |
50,056 |
|
John Battles & Co |
44,959 |
|
KOD Lyons Solicitors |
39,109 |
|
Kevin Tunney & Co |
37,206 |
|
Flanagan Lavery Solicitors |
33,333 |
|
Morrissey & Co. Solicitors |
31,487 |
|
Diane Hallahan |
30,668 |
|
Thomasina Connell & Co |
28,012 |
|
Gerard J. Meehan & Co. Solicitors |
25,542 |
|
Private Practitioners – District Court Private Family Law |
2022 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Sandra McAleer |
289,887 |
|
John Battles & Co |
56,475 |
|
Gerard J. Meehan & Co. Solicitors |
46,992 |
|
Kevin Tunney & Co |
45,435 |
|
Thomasina Connell & Co |
44,382 |
|
KOD Lyons Solicitors |
41,317 |
|
Flanagan Lavery Solicitors |
39,485 |
|
John A O'Leary & Co. Solicitors |
36,668 |
|
Shannons Solicitors |
36,466 |
|
Sweeney McGann Solicitors |
30,744 |
|
Private Practitioners – District Court Private Family Law |
To End Feb. 2023 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Sandra McAleer |
55,006 |
|
John A O'Leary & Co. Solicitors |
10,418 |
|
Johnston Solicitors |
7,501 |
|
John Battles & Co |
7,086 |
|
Morrissey Minchin Solicitors |
6,877 |
|
Denis J Keane Solicitor |
6,357 |
|
Shannons Solicitors |
6,044 |
|
P Tiernan & Co |
5,941 |
|
Buckley Law Solicitors |
5,937 |
|
Flanagan Lavery Solicitors |
5,731 |
Schedule B – Ten highest earning payees under the Abhaile Solicitors Panel
|
Abhaile |
|
|
Private Practitioner Consultation Solicitor |
2021 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Catherine Allison & Co |
8,733 |
|
Louisa C. McKeon & Company Solicitors |
8,610 |
|
Alan McGee & Co Solicitors |
7,995 |
|
Kayanne Horgan Solicitors |
6,664 |
|
Anthony Joyce & Co |
4,603 |
|
Emma Coffey Solicitors |
3,978 |
|
McMahon O'Brien Tynan Solicitors |
3,378 |
|
Stafford & Company Solicitors |
3,075 |
|
Browne Legal Solicitors |
2,763 |
|
Byrne & O'Sullivan Solicitors |
2,153 |
|
Abhaile |
|
|
Private Practitioner Consultation Solicitor |
2022 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Alan McGee & Co Solicitors |
21,525.00 |
|
Molloy Murphy |
16,297.50 |
|
Anthony Joyce & Co |
9,532.50 |
|
Catherine Allison & Co |
8,917.50 |
|
Kayanne Horgan Solicitors |
5,227.50 |
|
Nigel D Allen & Co |
4,182.00 |
|
Browne Legal Solicitors |
2,460.00 |
|
Louisa C. McKeon & Company Solicitors |
2,460.00 |
|
Kieran O'Gorman |
2,460.00 |
|
Barrett & Co Solicitors |
2,152.50 |
|
Abhaile |
|
|
Private Practitioner Consultation Solicitor |
To end-Feb. 2023 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Anthony Joyce & Co |
1,538 |
|
Cashin Clancy Solicitors |
923 |
|
Browne Legal Solicitors |
615 |
|
Larkin Tynan Nohilly |
615 |
|
Nigel D Allen & Co |
554 |
|
Barrett & Co Solicitors |
308 |
|
Eamonn Bennett |
308 |
|
Byrne & O'Sullivan Solicitors |
308 |
|
Canny Corbett Solicitors |
308 |
|
Liam R Fitzgerald |
308 |
|
Abhaile |
|
|
Private Practitioner Personal Insolvency Arrangement Review |
2021 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Anthony Joyce & Co |
374,529 |
|
Hanlon & Company Solicitors |
204,077 |
|
Alan McGee & Co Solcitors |
147,376 |
|
Elizabeth Howard & Co Solicitors |
119,202 |
|
Carley & Associates Solicitors |
110,155 |
|
Catherine Allison & Co |
91,284 |
|
Louisa C. McKeon & Company Solicitors |
87,027 |
|
Kayanne Horgan Solicitors |
55,672 |
|
Gibson & Associates Solicitors |
43,076 |
|
Holohan Solicitors |
22,085 |
|
Abhaile |
|
|
Private Practitioner Personal Insolvency Arrangement Review |
2022 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Anthony Joyce & Co |
429,023 |
|
Catherine Allison & Co |
128,652 |
|
Alan McGee & Co Solicitors |
92,336 |
|
Louisa C. McKeon & Company Solicitors |
72,511 |
|
Gibson & Associates Solicitors |
67,847 |
|
Carley & Associates Solicitors |
51,136 |
|
Hanlon & Company Solicitors |
36,980 |
|
Ashtown Gate Solicitors |
35,092 |
|
Kayanne Horgan Solicitors |
27,226 |
|
Brady Kilroy Solicitors |
11,359 |
|
Abhaile |
|
|
Private Practitioner Personal Insolvency Arrangement Review |
To end-Feb. 2023 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Anthony Joyce & Co |
31,210 |
|
Louisa C. McKeon & Company Solicitors |
17,411 |
|
Hanlon & Company Solicitors |
14,723 |
|
Kayanne Horgan Solicitors |
14,139 |
|
Carley & Associates Solicitors |
6,076 |
|
Catherine Allison & Co |
5,258 |
Schedule C – Ten highest earning payees under the International Protection Solicitors Panel
|
International Protection – Private Practitioner District |
2021 |
|
International Protection – Private Practitioner District |
2021 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
James Watters & Company |
100,712 |
|
Siobhan Conlon |
55,401 |
|
Hegarty-Blacklock & Company Solicitors |
46,768 |
|
Burns Kelly Corrigan Solicitors |
45,822 |
|
KOD Lyons Solicitors |
43,347 |
|
Conor O'Briain |
41,867 |
|
Seamus O'Halloran |
36,174 |
|
Mannix & Co Solicitors |
35,011 |
|
Cristina Stamatescu Solicitors |
33,635 |
|
Cyril & Co Solicitors |
30,012 |
|
International Protection – Private Practitioner District |
2022 |
|
International Protection – Private Practitioner District |
2022 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
James Watters & Company |
172,046 |
|
Hegarty-Blacklock & Company Solicitors |
153,947 |
|
Siobhan Conlon |
94,753 |
|
Cyril & Co Solicitors |
88,714 |
|
Trayers & Company Solicitors |
86,223 |
|
Cristina Stamatescu Solicitors |
73,751 |
|
KOD Lyons Solicitors |
70,264 |
|
Ferrys Solicitors |
64,261 |
|
Niall J Walsh |
61,309 |
|
Hugh McCabe Solicitors |
50,344 |
|
International Protection - Private Practitioner District |
To end-Feb. 2023 |
|
International Protection - Private Practitioner District |
To end-Feb. 2023 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Ferrys Solicitors |
73,597 |
|
Hegarty-Blacklock & Company Solicitors |
55,830 |
|
Burns Kelly Corrigan Solicitors |
40,529 |
|
James Watters & Company |
34,858 |
|
KOD Lyons Solicitors |
25,941 |
|
Daly Khurshid Solicitors LLP |
24,551 |
|
Niall J Walsh |
17,466 |
|
Daly Lynch Crowe & Morris LLP |
13,739 |
|
Cyril & Co Solicitors |
13,721 |
|
Siobhan Conlon |
13,395 |
Schedule D – Ten highest earning payees under the Circuit Court Judicial Separation and Divorce Solicitors Panel
|
Private Practitioners - Circuit Court |
2021 |
|
Private Practitioners - Circuit Court |
2021 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
John A. Sinnott & Company |
4,663 |
|
Eugene G Smartt & Company |
4,529 |
|
Peter Doyle Solicitors |
4,165 |
|
Dunne Law Solicitors - Siobhan Dunne |
4,165 |
|
Margaret Horan & Co |
4,165 |
|
Rachel O'Toole |
4,165 |
|
John J Quinn & Company |
4,165 |
|
Karen M O' Neill & Co |
2,082 |
|
David J. O'Meara & Son |
520 |
|
Burns Nowlan LLP |
417 |
|
Private Practitioners - Circuit Court |
2022 |
|
Private Practitioners - Circuit Court |
2022 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Colm Burke & Company |
17,023 |
|
Margaret Horan & Co |
16,659 |
|
Rachel O'Toole |
15,119 |
|
Eugene G Smartt & Company |
14,577 |
|
Eamonn Bennett |
10,932 |
|
John A. Sinnott & Company |
9,483 |
|
Conor Bass Solicitors |
8,330 |
|
Thomas Coughlan & Co Solicitors |
8,330 |
|
Margaret MacEvilly |
8,330 |
|
Hegarty & Co. Solicitors |
7,288 |
|
Private Practitioners - Circuit Court |
To end-Feb. 2023 |
|
Private Practitioners - Circuit Court |
To end-Feb. 2023 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Fidelma T Bane |
4,893 |
|
Margaret Horan & Co |
4,165 |
|
Rachel O'Toole |
4,165 |
Schedule E– Ten highest earning payees under the Child Care Pilot Panel & Public Law Child Care Solicitors Panel (combined), 1 st January 2021 – 25 th April 2023
|
Private Practitioners - Childcare Private Practitioners District |
2021 |
|
Private Practitioners - Childcare Private Practitioners District |
2021 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Pól Ó'Murchú |
113,501 |
|
KOD Lyons Solicitors |
57,134 |
|
Jeremiah Breen |
15,437 |
|
David Henry & Co. Solicitors |
10,701 |
|
Murphy Coady & Company |
7,503 |
|
P A Dorrian & Co |
7,442 |
|
Coyle & Co Solicitors |
5,843 |
|
Dunne Law Solicitors - Siobhan Dunne |
5,289 |
|
Gallagher Brennan Solicitors |
3,523 |
|
Daly Lynch Crowe & Morris LLP |
3,260 |
|
Private Practitioners - Childcare Private Practitioner District |
2022 |
|
Private Practitioners - Childcare Private Practitioner District |
2022 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Pól Ó'Murchú |
80,134.50 |
|
KOD Lyons Solicitors |
32,533.50 |
|
McGrath & Associates |
15,190.50 |
|
Gallagher Brennan Solicitors |
12,607.50 |
|
P A Dorrian & Co |
11,562.00 |
|
McIntyre O'Brien |
6,334.50 |
|
McCoy Solicitors |
4,735.50 |
|
Kieran O'Gorman |
4,674.00 |
|
James Watters & Company |
1,968.00 |
|
Stafford Legal Solicitors |
1,783.50 |
|
Private Practitioners - Childcare Private Practioner District |
To end-Feb. 2023 |
|
Private Practitioners - Childcare Private Practioner District |
To end-Feb. 2023 |
|
Supplier |
€ |
|
Pól Ó'Murchú |
6,765 |
|
P A Dorrian & Co |
5,289 |
|
Michael O'Connor Solicitors |
2,153 |
|
Jeremiah Breen |
984 |
Note: The Child Care Pilot Panel came to an end except for the conclusion of existing cases on 1 October 2022 and was replaced by the Public Law Child Care Solicitors Panel.
270. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the process to be followed by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20270/23]
View answerThe person referred to has made a request to have their deportation order revoked, pursuant to the provisions of section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). This request was received on the 9 March 2023 and will be considered as soon as it is possible to do so.
The decision to ensue from the consideration of this request will be that the existing deportation orders will be either ‘affirmed’ or ‘revoked’. Once this decision has been made, it will be notified to the person concerned in writing.
It should be noted that this request is amongst many to be considered at present and, as such, at this point in time, it is not possible to provide a specific indication as to when this case will be finalised. However, the person concerned can be assured that there will be no avoidable delay in having their case brought to finality.
271. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if applications for naturalisation have been submitted in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20272/23]
View answerThere is no record of the applications referred to by the Deputy, being received by my Department. However there is a small batch of applications that are yet to be registered and I am assured that these will be dealt with shortly. If the Deputy wishes to provide the postal tracking reference number and the date of posting of the applications via my Department's Oireachtas mail facility, I will arrange for a further search of the applications on hand and provide a further response to the Deputy.
When an application for a certificate of naturalisation is received by the Citizenship Division of my Department, they are subject to an initial check and examination.
On completion of the initial checks, my Department will assign an application number and issue an acknowledgment to the address given at the time of making the application.
I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it and my Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and during all levels of public health restrictions.
My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have 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.
In early 2023, a registration unit was established within Citizenship Division to ensure applications are registered and acknowledged promptly. In 2022 it took on average seven months for this part of the process to be completed. Under the new system it has been reduced to a matter of weeks.
These measures are designed to give certainty to customers that their applications have been received and have begun to be processed. However, I can assure you that all naturalisation applications will be processed based upon the date that they are received and not based on when they are registered. Applications for naturalisation are dealt with in chronological order.
272. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if a regulatory impact analysis will be conducted on the sale of alcohol Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20276/23]
View answerIt is current practice to complete a regulatory impact assessment as legislation is being prepared. Officials in my Department are currently conducting a regulatory impact analysis on the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 which will be published in due course.
273. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if he is considering carrying out a public health assessment on the sale of alcohol Bill 2022, as recommended by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice in its pre-legislative scrutiny report of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20277/23]
View answerThe Department of Justice has engaged in an extensive consultation process with representative bodies in the licensed trade, businesses, public health bodies and advocacy groups, consumers and communities in relation to the proposed legislation in question. A public consultation, including an online survey and a request for submissions, ran from November 2021 until January 2022. More than 5,000 responses were received, including many responses from various health bodies.
In addition, a webinar and panel discussion event was held on 10th March 2022. The consultation process demonstrated that there is a strong demand for reform and modernisation of the law in this area. We are making sure the reform of this legislation takes account of, and is informed by, this engagement.
As part of the overall process, the Department of Justice continues to engage with the Department of Health on the development of the Bill and will fully consider its assessment of the health implications.
274. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide a schedule of meetings he and his predecessors have had with the chief constable of the PSNI and ministerial equivalent in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 [20282/23]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that there is excellent ongoing cross-Border co-operation with counterparts in Northern Ireland on relevant justice matters. There has been regular contact between my predecessors as Minster for Justice and the Minister for Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive.
There is also excellent ongoing cross border co-operation between our respective Departments on a range of issues as well as between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other agencies with their counterparts. Notwithstanding the current absence of a functioning Executive, my officials continue to work closely with officials in the Northern Ireland Department of Justice to progress matters of mutual interest.
The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in tabular form below.
Minister McEntee
|
Date |
Details |
|
19/10/2022 |
Minister Naomi Long - Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) meeting |
|
02/02/2022 |
Minister Naomi Long - Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) meeting |
|
02/12/2020 |
Meeting of Justice Ministers, Garda Commissioner & Chief Constable Simon Byrne |
|
27/11/2020 |
Minister Naomi Long - Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) meeting |
|
21/07/2020 |
Phone call with Minister Naomi Long |
Minister Humphreys
|
Date |
Details |
|
26/05/2021 |
Minister Naomi Long - Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) meeting |
|
05/05/2021 |
Meeting with Minister Naomi Long |
Minister Flanagan
|
Date |
Details |
|
30/04/2020 |
Phone call with Minister Naomi Long |
|
20/06/2019 |
Meeting with Chief Constable George Hamilton |
275. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of PSNI police officers seconded to An Garda Síochána in the past five years, to date; the number of Garda officers seconded to the PSNI in the same period; and if he will provide the rank of each officer seconded in either direction. [20284/23]
View answerRegrettably, the information sought by the Deputy is still awaited from the Garda authorities. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
|
Year |
AGS to PSNI |
PSNI to AGS |
|
2018 - 2022 |
1 Inspector 4 Sergeants 6 Gardaí 1 EO |
2 Inspector 1 Sergeant 6 Constables 2 ICT grades |
|
Total To Date |
12 |
11 |
276. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the plans to provide for PSNI police officers to transfer into An Garda Síochána on a full-time basis at rank and file, sergeant level and inspector level. [20285/23]
View answerSection 52 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) provides for the direct recruitment, by way of competition, of members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) into An Garda Síochána at certain senior levels, i.e. Superintendent, Chief Superintendent and Assistant Commissioner.
Under the proposed Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, section 50 deals with the appointment of persons to, and the suspension of persons from, ranks below the rank of Chief Superintendent, capturing the ranks of Garda, Sergeant and Inspector referred to by the Deputy.
This section provides that the Garda Commissioner may appoint, in accordance with regulations, persons to any rank below the rank of Chief Superintendent. The broad nature of this provision is intended to facilitate, through regulations, the implementation of a number of recommendations contained in the CoFPI report. These relate to direct entry routes into An Garda Síochána, at appropriate levels, for suitable candidates with experience from outside of the policing sphere or with relevant policing experience in other jurisdictions. In relation to the Deputy’s question, this would include members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
277. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of instances in which An Garda Síochána has made requests to him and-or his predecessors to join PSNI counterparts on operations in Northern Ireland in the past five years to date. [20286/23]
View answerI understand the Deputy's question to relate to cooperation between the An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in policing matters. As the Deputy will be aware there is very close, ongoing cooperation between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI in a range of policing activities. Every day police to police cooperation is operational in nature. The Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management of An Garda Síochána, including operational matters and the deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.
The strong ongoing cooperation between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI is further underpinned by a joint Cross Border Policing Strategy which has as its aims to improve public safety throughout Ireland, to disrupt criminal activity and to enhance the policing capability of both police services on the island. It covers the range of policing activities and contains a series of initiatives in which both police services are actively engaged.
The cross-border Joint Agency Task Force (JATF) was established under the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement to bring a concerted and enhanced effort to tackle cross-jurisdictional organised crime. The Task Force is led by senior officers from An Garda Síochána, Revenue, the PSNI and HM Revenue and Customs. The Criminal Assets Bureau and the National Crime Agency are also involved as needed in operational activity. Officers from An Garda Síochána and the PSNI have highlighted the practical value in the continuing excellent level of co-operation and operational activity between the agencies in tackling drug crime, rural crime, financial crime, trafficking in human beings including children, excise fraud and organised immigration crime.
The JATF reports are produced and published twice yearly. The most recent report was received in December 2022 and covered the period April to September 2022. It highlighted a number of specific joint operational successes in the areas of combatting drug trafficking, people trafficking, rural crime, organised immigration crime, excise fraud and fraud/economic crime.
I am assured by Garda authorities that the long established and close working relationship with the PSNI remains central in enabling the two services to work more effectively together in tackling crime and promoting community safety for all communities on this island.
