Written Answers Nos. 1-20
5. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who arrived into the State through Dublin Airport without valid documentation to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25425/23]
View answerImmigration officials conduct passport checks, and run operations as required, to ensure passengers arriving in the State are properly documented in accordance with Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights.
Valid travel documentation is required by carriers for boarding a flight to Ireland. However, some passengers arrive at passport control without documents.
Immigration Officials are actively engaging with airport authorities and airlines at a senior level to underscore the importance of passengers possessing correct documentation and to provide support in helping them to reduce the number of passengers boarding flights without the correct documentation.
The Border Management Unit and the GNIB are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have such documentation when boarding. Border Management Unit officials are available 24/7 to assist airlines with queries they have in relation to immigration matters.
The number of people in 2023, to the end of April, that arrived at Dublin Airport and were refused leave to land on the basis of no documentation is 1,010, and those refused for being in possession of false documentation is 281. This represents an approximately 40% reduction in arrivals with no documents when compared to the final 4 months of 2022. The number of people refused leave to land for being in possession of a false document has fallen by approximately 17%.
If a person cannot produce a valid passport, or other equivalent document, then the Immigration Officer will arrange for the person to be referred to the Garda National Immigration Bureau for return on the next practicable flight. If a person indicates or is identified as being in need of international protection they are admitted to the international protection process in line with our international human rights and legal obligations. The vast majority of those who arrived into the State undocumented applied for international protection.
Significant investment in human resources and other modernisation initiatives is underway with a view to reducing processing times for international protection applicants, ensuring that those in need of protection receive that status without undue delay, while those that do not qualify are advised of this in good time. These measures include accelerate procedures for international protection applicants from safe countries of origin, which have had the effect of reducing processing times to under three months at first instance for such applicants. My Department will continue to take all steps to ensure that all applicants are dealt with as quickly as possible and in accordance with all relevant legal and human rights standards.
15. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Justice his views on the long waiting time for citizenship applications to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25309/23]
View answerI am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to all of those who apply for it. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs.
Last year, in 2022, there were 13,613 Certificates of Naturalisation issued to successful applicants, which includes 1,719 in respect of minors. Overall, this represents a 39% increase on the number of certificates issued for 2021, which was 9,780.
The backlogs currently being experienced are an unfortunate legacy of the pandemic when staff could only attend the office in a limited capacity. The paper based nature of the current application process meant it was very difficult to process files during that time. This, in addition to the fact Citizenship Division continued to accept applications during COVID means that a significant backlog has developed. Currently an application for Citizenship takes around 19 months to complete.
My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have already been introduced to increase efficiency in the process. The end result of this 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 to reduce waiting times for everyone.
One such digitisation measure streamlines how e-vetting is initiated, on foot of which Citizenship Division has this week written to some 13,000 outstanding applicants inviting them to commence Garda vetting as part of their application.
While my Department works to improve processing times, and so as enhance communication with applicants, I am pleased to say that regular quarterly status updates will shortly be provided by Citizenship Division to their customers.
16. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Justice the new measures that have been taken to ensure that communities are safe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25172/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. Since 2015, the Government has increased the budget of An Garda Síochána by approximately €672m, or 46%. Funding has been provided for up to 1,000 new Gardaí this year and we are seeing more Garda recruits enter Templemore every 11 weeks.
An Garda Síochána has a number of operations currently in place to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour throughout the country. Crime trends are analysed on a monthly basis by An Garda Síochána. When specific crime-trends/patterns are identified, local management consider additional measures outside of normal policing responses, including location-specific patrols, intelligence-led operations, and searches and arrests to combat known individuals involved in such crimes.
There are also three Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) being piloted in North Inner City Dublin, Waterford and Longford at present. The aim of these LCSPs is to ensure that local communities and service providers work together to identify the actions needed specific to their local community to ensure it is a safe place to live, work in and visit, through the development of a community safety plan.
Both the Longford and Waterford LCSPs have published their respective plans and the North Inner City Dublin LCSP plan is almost finalised. The intention is to roll out LCSPs nationally through the enactment and commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, which is currently before the Houses.
The Rural Safety Plan 2022-2024, published by Minister of State James Browne, is the result of strong collaboration between all the relevant organisations and brings together the excellent work already underway in relation to rural safety.
The vision of the Rural Safety Plan is for people and communities in rural Ireland to feel safe and be safe in their homes, their places of work, and their local environments.
In 2015, An Garda Síochána launched the highly successful Operation Thor, a nationwide operation established to tackle burglary and prosecute offenders.
Operation Thor actively targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders. Since its inception, burglary has been trending downwards with overall reported burglary in 2022 45% lower than pre-pandemic levels of 2019.
As the Deputy will also be aware, the new Garda Operating Model is being introduced, which will introduce major changes to the structures of An Garda Síochána by providing more front-line Gardaí, increased Garda visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area.
17. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice if he is satisfied that there is an adequate Garda presence in the Cahersiveen area at all times; if he will provide details of the levels of coverage for this district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25311/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. Since 2015, the Government has increased the budget of An Garda Síochána by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment and investment in new equipment and new vehicles.
As the Deputy is aware, as Minister I have no role in operational policing matters and am unable to seek to influence or direct the Commissioner with regards to the deployment of Garda personnel.
I am however assured that the Commissioner and his management team keep the distribution of resources under constant review, in light of local policing needs, crime trends and population trends.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that Caherciveen is a full time, 24/7 station operating in order to serve and protect the local communities in South Kerry. As of end of April 2023, 15 Garda members were assigned to the station in Caherciveen, consisting of 13 Gardaí and 2 Sergeants. The station is also supplemented by 1 full time Garda stationed in Portmagee and 1 full time Garda stationed in Waterville.
Caherciveen has four working units ensuring that it is operational 24/7. Members are available to carry out operational policing duties and are supported by Patrol Inspectors who cover the Kerry Division on a 24/7 basis.
The Deputy will be aware that An Garda Síochána don’t police on a station basis, but rather on a Divisional basis and see stations as locations within communities for people to attend, and for resources to be accommodated. Policing for an area will be delivered using all resources in a District/ Community Engagement area and supported by Divisional resources and units.
As of the end of April 2023 there were 340 Garda members assigned to Kerry Division, which represents an increase of over 13% since the end of December 2015.
In addition, there are 52 Garda Staff members assigned. This is an increase of over 50% compared to December 2015. This increase supports the redeployment of Gardaí from administrative to operational policing duties, where their training and policing expertise can be used to best effect.
Coupled with the continued roll-out of the new Operating Model, which has now fully commenced in the Kerry Division, I am confident that the Commissioner will have the resources and plans in place to continue to deliver on An Garda Síochána's mission of Keeping People Safe in Caherciveen.
18. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if he will report on the work to date of the CEO of the Gambling Regulatory Authority. [25221/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes a clear commitment to reform gambling legislation, with a focus on public safety and well-being. The Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 will cover gambling online and in person, and include powers to regulate advertising, gambling websites and apps.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) will be provided with the necessary enforcement powers to enable it to take appropriate and focused action where providers are failing to comply with the provisions of the Authority’s licensing terms, conditions and regulations.
A Programme Board has been established in my Department to ensure that the legislation and the operational preparations are progressed in parallel so that the Authority is in a position to commence operations, on a phased basis, as soon as possible after enactment. Planning is progressing in the expectation that the legislation will be enacted in 2023.
In this regard, I am pleased to say that the CEO Designate of the GRAI was appointed last September and is progressing important preparatory work. Provision of €1.774m has been made in the vote of my Department for 2023 to meet associated costs.
Considerable progress has been made by the CEO Designate on the establishment of the GRAI including:
• Extensive stakeholder engagement with other Gambling Regulators, industry participants, and Gambling Care experts,
• Research on Codes of Practice, based on the Bill, as well as best practice elsewhere, and
• Exploration of options for a Gambler Exclusion scheme, informed by the experience of other countries.
In addition, significant other work streams and continuing and involve putting in place essential ICT infrastructure, as well as designing financial modelling and licensing structures.
19. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Justice the plans in place to increase garda numbers on the streets of rural towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24652/23]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to that. Since 2015, the Government has increased the budget of An Garda Síochána by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment.
The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including recruitment, training and deployment of Gardaí.
The Government has provided funding for up to 1,000 new Gardaí this year and we are seeing more Garda recruits enter Templemore approximately every 11 weeks.
Coupled with further reassignments of Gardaí to operational frontline policing and the continued roll-out of the new Operating Model with its core focus on community policing, I am confident that the Commissioner has resources and plans in place to continue to deliver on An Garda Síochána's mission of Keeping People Safe.
But rural safety is not just about the number of Gardaí.
One very exciting initiative which is underway this week is National Community Engagement Week which is a series of events all over the country.
Over the course of this week hundreds of communities, from all across the country have the opportunity to meet with their local Gardaí and community representatives to discuss matters of importance to them such as rural safety, crime prevention and security.
The initiative is organised by the National Rural Safety Forum, of which my Department is a member. The Forum is the result of strong collaboration between An Garda Síochána, Government Departments, and other relevant organisations, with a shared focus on community safety in rural areas.
Last year, the Forum published the National Rural Safety Plan 2022-2024 which brings together the excellent work already underway in relation to rural safety.
20. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on insurance reform issues which fall under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25107/23]
View answerInsurance reform is a key priority for this Government and is reflected in the Programme for Government, the Government’s Action Plan for Insurance Reform, and in my Justice Plan 2023.
The Government's Action Plan for Insurance Reform sets out 66 actions designed to bring down costs for consumers and business, introduce more competition into the market, prevent fraud and reduce the burden on businesses and community and voluntary organisations.
My Department has responsibility or part responsibility for 34 of the 66 actions contained in the plan. Of those 34 actions, 26 are complete, 6 are on track, 2 are experiencing delays but are making good progress. As they Deputy may be aware, the third progress report on the Action Plan was published in November 2022.
I am pleased to outline some of the key achievements in the Justice sector on Insurance Reform so far as follows:
• Personal Injuries Guidelines were adopted in April 2021 by the Judicial Council to replace the Book of Quantum. The Guidelines help to standardise award levels for many categories of common injuries, particularly soft tissue injuries.
• The Enactment and commencement of the Perjury and Related Offences Act 2021, which has been a key element in my Department’s work on insurance reform, has increased the range of options for investigation, prosecution and penalties on conviction, which can be considered of those making false and misleading claims.
• The Insurance Fraud Coordination Office was established by An Garda Síochána in July 2021
• My Department has completed a review of the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995 and amendments to it are included in the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022. This Bill was passed by the Dáil on 1 March 2023 and is now before the Seanad.
• Following a public consultation, an expert group is being established to set the discount rate in awards for personal injury cases. The Group will commence work in May 2023 and is expected to report to the Minister on the matter later this year.
