Written Answers Nos. 71-90
71. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of the recent criticisms by two organisations (details supplied) of the human rights abuses inherent in the Offences Against the State Acts and Special Criminal Court; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34030/23]
View answerI am aware that a number of organisations including those referred to by the Deputy have raised concerns from a human rights perspective in relation to the Offences Against the State Acts and the operation of the Special Criminal Court.
As the Deputy will be aware, I published the majority and the minority reports of the Independent Expert Review Group appointed to examine all aspects of the Acts on 21 June last, following their consideration by Government.
Ireland’s obligations in relation to constitutional and ECHR rights and international law were among the matters that the Review Group was required to take into account alongside the threat posed by domestic and international terrorism and organised crime, and the duty to deliver a fair and effective criminal justice system to ensure the protection of communities and the security of the State.
It is clear from its reports that the Review Group approached its task with rigour, consulting widely including with organisations with a dedicated human-rights focus. Equally, as is illustrated by the divergence between the Review Group members on what should replace the Acts, particularly in relation to a Special Criminal Court, belief evidence and proscription, these are matters on which individual experts may hold different views. Where precisely the balance should lie as between on the one hand, implementing measures to counter the threats posed by paramilitary and organised crime groups, and on the other, respecting human rights and the rule of law is a complex matter and one that we, in common with other democratic states constantly grapple with.
It is important to say that anyone tried before the Special Criminal Court has the full range of procedural protections available to them, including appeals to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
I believe that the Offences Against the State Acts have stood the test of time for 80 years and it is important that we take the time to consider carefully how best to proceed. Given the importance of the Acts as the State's primary counter-terrorism legislation over many decades, any proposals for reform must be thoroughly considered and approached with the utmost care. It is, therefore, important that we take the time to consider how best to proceed. With this in mind, my Department has sought the views of relevant Government Departments, the Garda Commissioner, the Office of the DPP, the Courts Service and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission on the reports. The outputs from this consultative process will inform the preparation of a substantive response to the Review which I am committed to bringing to Government in due course.
72. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Justice her views on the increasing civilianisation of Garda staffing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34028/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to increasing Garda staff to 4,000.
The purpose of this policy is, in part, to allow for the redeployment of highly skilled professional Gardaí from administrative to front-line policing roles. As far as possible, Garda members should be assigned to posts requiring police powers or experience. Indeed since 2015, almost 900 Garda members have been freed up from back office duties to front line policing because of civilianisation.
Garda staff are an integral part of our police service and they are involved in the provision of a wide range of administrative, professional and technical services. As well as providing clerical support and financial management functions in Garda stations and offices across the country, civilian staff carry out a range of specialised support roles.
Accounting for about 18% of the overall Garda workforce, there are currently 3,127 full-time Garda staff undertaking administrative and technical duties within An Garda Síochána an increase of more than 50% since 2015.
Budget 2023 provides for over 400 Garda staff and up to 1,000 new Garda trainees to be recruited this year. These extra staff will allow for a further freeing up of Gardaí for frontline duties, and enhance the capacity of the organisation through the recruitment of staff to specialist and other positions to support the investigation of crime and the management and development of the organisation.
The importance of Garda staff as a key part of An Garda Síochána was fully recognised by the Commission on the Future of Policing. The continued implementation of the Commission’s recommendations is transforming how policing services are delivered in Ireland and will deliver a professional, modern and effective police service that is well-managed, efficient and cost effective.
Most importantly, local front-line policing will be placed at the core of our police service, ensuring that Gardaí are more visible in communities. In delivering on this, civilianisation is one of the priority projects being progressed by An Garda Síochána in line with targets set out under ‘A Policing Service for the Future’.
74. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice the number of community policing teams and the number of gardaí in each team in counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo and Longford. [33979/23]
View answerCommunity policing is fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and currently being rolled out under 'A Policing Service for Our Future', the Government's implementation plan for the Commission's recommendations.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the distribution and stationing of Garda members throughout the State, including to specialist units within the organisation. As Minister, I have no role in these independent, operational functions.
I am assured that the Garda Commissioner keeps the allocation of resources under continued review to ensure their optimum use. This takes into account factors including crime trends, operational strategies and local population figures.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that a member of An Garda Síochána can be deemed to be a ‘Community Garda’ where that member is allocated to a Community Policing Team (CPT) and is responsible and accountable for applying a problem–solving approach to appropriate crime and policing quality of life issues in a specified geographic area through partnership and engagement.
I am also advised that in some rural areas, the existing personnel will form CPTs. They will have dual functions as first responders and community policing members. Additionally, CPTs will be augmented by Community Support Gardaí who will perform frontline duties and will be assigned a particular Community Policing Area to support dedicated Community Gardaí.
I understand that each Division will have a number of CPTs assigned to it, consisting of an Inspector, Sergeant and Community Policing Gardaí. CPTs will prioritise engagement with communities for the delivery of long-term sustainable solutions to community needs.
It is important to say that these changes are being introduced at a time of record investment in An Garda Síochána. The Government remains committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to keep communities safe, evidenced by the unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion in Budget 2023.
The Deputy will be interested to know that, as of 31 May, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 670 Community Gardaí across the country.
As of the same date, figures in respect of the number of Community Gardaí assigned to Longford/Westmeath, Sligo/Leitrim, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon/Galway East, Roscommon/Longford Divisions are provided in the attached table.
75. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which she continues to provide adequate resources to enable An Garda Síochána to adequately police organised crime, including drug running, trafficking or other similar activities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33972/23]
View answerAt the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime groups, is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and this Government.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of Garda resources, including the assignment of Garda members to a given area or specialised unit.
Similarly, the Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including Garda operations aimed at preventing and countering organised criminal activity, and the enforcement of legislation pertaining to illegal drugs. As Minister, I have no direct role in these operational, policing matters.
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) continues to have significant success in disrupting drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs by organised crime groups. The Bureau's work is supported by Divisional Drugs Units nationwide, and by all Gardaí working in local communities. The Bureau also works in cooperation with international law enforcement partners.
An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in street-level dealing across the country and also focuses on disrupting and dismantling the drug trafficking networks that impact on our communities and prosecuting those involved at every level through Operation Tara. Some recent successes of Operation Tara include the seizure last week of cigarettes with an estimated value of €10 million with a loss to the Exchequer of €7.5 million. Last month, also through Operation Tara, Gardaí arrested a man following the seizure of over €1.5 million in cocaine and cash in Dublin and Meath.
I am sure the Deputy will agree, it is important that communities work together with An Garda Síochána in relation to such behaviour. Reporting by the public of illegal activity, including drug dealing or intimidation, is important to assist in this work and there are a range of channels to do so, including through the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111. I encourage anyone with information in that regard to contact An Garda Síochána in this way.
The Deputy may also wish to know that the Garda Commissioner has tasked an Inspector in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug-related intimidation. There are currently 30 nominated Garda Inspectors appointed to act as liaison officers for the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme, covering each Garda Division.
76. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice to confirm what action she intends on taking in order to alleviate the number of prisoners who are required to sleep on the floor in their cells; in particular to confirm the date when it is proposed to open the new women’s prison in Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34037/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service and my Department are committed to providing safe and secure custody for all people committed to prison while ensuring a safe working environment for staff. Officials in the Irish Prison Service and the Department are continuously working to identify short, medium and longer term proposals to help manage the current capacity issues in our prisons.
As the Deputy will be aware the Irish Prison Service does not have the option of refusing committals and must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts Service. The prison system is under increasing pressure with factors such as ongoing population growth, increasing Garda and Judicial resources, and more frequent Court sittings, all contributing to a rising prison population. It is also the case that COVID-19 impacted the operation of our criminal justice system and we are dealing with that fall-out as the system returns to normal.
Where the number of prisoners exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, the Irish Prison Service make every effort to address the issue through a combination of inter-prison transfers and carefully selecting candidates for Temporary Release.
The Government has provided significant capital funding to the Irish Prison Service to enhance the existing prison infrastructure. These projects have included, adding capacity to the Training Unit in Mountjoy Prison and the commissioning of new male and female prison accommodation in Limerick Prison providing an additional 90 male cell spaces and 22 female cell spaces. The male accommodation is now open and I am pleased to say that the new female wing is due to come into operation later this month.
In order to alleviate the need for people to sleep on mattresses on the floor, the Irish Prison Service has procured a number of bunk beds. The bunk beds will not reduce overcrowding, but will improve the living and sleeping conditions for people in custody. It is intended to progress installation of these bunk beds over the coming months.
In addition, there are plans for 4 short to medium term capital projects at Castlerea Prison, Cloverhill Prison, the Midlands Prison and Mountjoy Prison. These will deliver a minimum of 620 additional spaces. The need to ensure the continued availability of modern prison facilities with adequate capacity is a priority for my Department, and I continue to engage with the Minister for Public Expenditure with a view to progressing an agreed schedule of capital builds.
Alongside efforts to increase prison capacity, my Department is progressing a range of policy options to ensure that the courts have a suitably wide range of appropriate options for dealing with people who have committed minor offences.
The Programme for Government contains a broad range of policies and proposals that represent a coherent approach to enhancing and sustaining a more just and safe society, with a specific commitment to review policy options for prison and penal reform. In respect of delivering on this commitment, the Government approved the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 in August 2022.
This review seeks to find the balance between ensuring that people who commit serious crimes receive a punishment and a period of incarceration proportionate to that crime, while at the same time acknowledging that sometimes community-based sanctions are more appropriate in diverting offenders away from future criminal activity and that they have a role to play in addressing criminality, reducing reoffending and providing protection to the public, while holding the individual accountable.
77. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice in regard to the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act 2022, which has recently come into operation, if she can outline in detail her interactions with the National Security Committee chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of an Taoiseach; the instructions and/or guidance she received from it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33471/23]
View answerThe National Security Committee is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government and comprises relevant senior officials from my Department and the Departments of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Environment, Communications and Climate along with senior representatives from An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. The Committee is concerned with ensuring that the Taoiseach and Government are briefed on cross-cutting national security issues.
As the Deputy will appreciate, t he work of the National Security Committee is, by its very nature, highly confidential and it is the long-standing policy not to discuss it in detail.
I would like to assure the Deputy that, as Minister for Justice, I am briefed regularly by the Garda Commissioner and by my officials on matters relating to the security of the State.
As the Deputy will be aware, I applied to the High Court for an order under section 3A of the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 (as amended by the 2022 Act) which was granted on 26 June 2023.
The order requires service providers to retain data in all of the categories specified in Schedule 2 of the 2011 Act for a period of 12 months from the date of the making of the order. The data concerned is communications meta data and includes subscriber, traffic and location data. However as the Act makes clear, it does not apply to the content of any communications.
As set out in the order (as notified to service providers and publicised in the national media) the Court granted the order on being satisfied on the basis of information provided to it , that a number of serious and genuine, present and foreseeable threats to the security of the State exist such that the order is necessary and proportionate for the purpose of safeguarding that security. The sworn information was based on my assessment of the threat, taking into account the impact of such retention on the fundamental rights of individuals. My assessment was informed by inputs from An Garda Síochána, other relevant security information available to me, and information within my knowledge having regard to my ministerial responsibilities.
As also required by the legislation, the application was made on an ex parte basis and was heard in camera.
I hope the Deputy will appreciate that, the application and proceedings concern sensitive matters - both the nature of the assessed threat and the manner in which the retention of the data - and ultimately, where necessary, access to that data by the competent bodies can assist in combatting that threat. For sound reasons of national security it is not, therefore, possible for me to go into detail on the specific threats grounding the application to the Court.
I would like to assure the Deputy that the Garda Commissioner and other responsible authorities are fully alert to the threats concerned and are taking any necessary and appropriate action to deal with them.
78. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí employed in An Garda Síochána in County Meath; the number of resignations in 2022 and to date in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33975/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all human resource matters. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am however assured by Garda authorities that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continued review to ensure their optimum use. Factors considered include, but are not limited to crime trends, population stats and ongoing operations.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total number of Gardaí employed in An Garda Síochána in County Meath as of 31 May 2023 is 316, which is an increase of 14% since the end of 2015 when there were 277 Gardaí employed in County Meath.
I am also informed that one member resigned in 2022 while 3 members have resigned to date in 2023. Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on gov.ie and are regularly updated by my Department, from information supplied by An Garda Síochána. These statistics can be accessed using the following link:www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/.
79. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if there are specific work permits, processes or procedures for migrant workers in the circus sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34023/23]
View answerImmigration arrangements which enable Irish circuses to engage the services of non-EEA national circus performers have been in place since 2007.
I can advise the Deputy that a review of the immigration arrangements for non-EEA circus performers has been undertaken by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
As part of this process, officials from my Department will undertake further engagement with relevant stakeholders, including the circus industry. I can confirm to the Deputy that the current immigration arrangements will remain in place for 2023 pending the conclusion of that process of engagement.
80. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of applicants for international protection who have applied from Ukraine since the Russian invasion; if applicants who were not in Ukraine at the time of the invasion are accepted into the temporary protection to persons fleeing the war in Ukraine programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25934/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the activation of the EU Temporary Protection Directive is an emergency provision designed to quickly and humanely respond to the mass displacement of Ukrainian people by Russian aggression. Ireland participates in this EU measure, which is given legal effect under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015.
Those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and who meet the criteria set out in the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382) are eligible for this temporary protection, initially for one year and on a renewable basis, as long as the Temporary Protection Directive remains activated.
Applicants must provide some proof of identity and proof of residency in Ukraine prior to 24 February 2022 in order to meet the criteria. This proof can take many forms including evidence of address.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in the State are managed under an entirely separate process to an application for international protection under the International Protection Act 2015.
There is no requirement for Ukrainian nationals who are eligible for temporary protection to seek international protection to receive the support and protection of the State. While a person can, of course, always apply for international protection they cannot benefit from temporary protection at the same time.
A Ukrainian that was not living in the Ukraine prior to the outbreak of war and is therefore not eligible for Temporary Protection can make an application for international protection.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, 86,915 people have been granted Temporary Protection and a total of 500 people have claimed international protection in Ireland having fled Ukraine (this figure includes both Ukrainian citizens and Third Country Nationals who had been living in Ukraine at the outbreak of the war).
I can also assure the Deputy that my Government colleagues and I will continue to work with our EU counterparts on any further EU-wide measures that might be needed to assist those fleeing Ukraine.
*Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
81. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice the status on the review of the culture within An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34001/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all human resource matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in such matters.
As the Deputy will be aware, the findings from the Garda Cultural Audit 2022, highlighted many challenges which An Garda Síochána undertook to analyse and conduct in-depth focus groups to gain further insights on particular areas.
I am advised the Garda Ethics and Culture Bureau have now completed all scheduled focus groups. The fifteen focus groups were held nationwide and comprised of personnel from a range of ranks and grades from each division, section and region.
I understand the qualitative data which was collected at these focus groups is currently being compiled and analysed in conjunction with the quantitative data already collected in the survey and a comprehensive report, detailing all the findings, will issue to senior management in due course.
I also understand that the Garda Ethics and Culture Bureau are examining the feedback forms submitted at the focus groups to assist with developing a roadmap to implement initiatives arising from the Culture Audit.
83. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice how long it is taking to process naturalisation applications for citizenships; if she will present data showing the percentage of successful cases processed within six, seven, eight, nine, ten, 12 months, and longer than 12 months, and similar data for decisions where cases are refused or abandoned; and if she is satisfied with the timescales of the process. [34003/23]
View answerI am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to all of those who apply for it. My Department is aware that delays in processing times are frustrating and disruptive for applicants, and we are working hard to improve the position.
Statistics are not complied or maintained in the manner requested by the Deputy. However, the median processing time for applications now currently stands at 19 months.
In the first six months of this year, Citizenship Division have made 10,346 decisions. These breakdown to 9,899 decisions to grant, 57 refusals, 379 deemed ineligible, 8 withdrawn, and 3 deceased. It is important to clarify that these decisions relate to all Naturalisation applications received and are not isolated to any one period or year of application.
To date in 2023, 6,061 naturalisation certificates have already issued and I can further advise the Deputy that approximately 8,700 of the applications on hand have in fact received a positive decision and are now in the process of making their final payment and/or being scheduled to attend the next citizenship ceremony.
This year 6,061 certificates have been issued to newly certificated Irish nationals, including 1,295 minors.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, 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.
There are ongoing developments and improvements being made to the citizenship application process to help make it more efficient and reduce the amount of time it takes. Significant reforms have been introduced for customers to streamline the number of proofs required to establish their identity and residency as part of the application process. A new scorecard was also introduced to help applicants to complete their applications, and a new eVetting mechanism has been put in place.
My Department has recently written to 13,000 applicants providing electronic links to commence eVetting. When the vetting is complete, and additional information is not awaited from an applicant, the file will be progressed towards naturalisation.
Our expectation is that applicants from across 2021 and 2022 will be amongst those invited to citizenship ceremonies over the course of 2023.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department intends to regularly communicate with all applicants on a quarterly basis into the future, to keep them updated on the status of their application.
84. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the reason a former prison officer (details supplied) has not been recognised for their bravery when they intervened in order to prevent the escape of a prisoner from Portlaoise Prison on 18 May 1988; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33961/23]
View answerThe Irish Prison Service operates a Merit Award Scheme, which recognises acts of bravery, outstanding heroism or merit which have been performed by staff of the Irish Prison Service. There are three levels of award, depending on the degree of bravery, heroism or merit, beyond the normal expectation of the member of staff and taking account their experience and training.
The current Merit Award Scheme has been in place since 2013. Following significant consultation with stakeholders and other agencies, the Irish Prison Service Staff Recognition Policy came into effect on 1 June 2013.
When the policy was introduced, nominations for historical cases were considered, but this window closed from 2017. The current policy accepts nominations for cases less than one year old.
The National Staff Recognition Committee, who reviews recommendations from the Local Staff Recognition Committee, did not receive a nomination for the officer referred to within the allocated timeframe for historical awards.
85. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice what steps her Department is undertaking to reduce violent crime in the State. [33728/23]
View answerTackling violent crime is a priority for the Government, for my Department and for An Garda Síochána. Everyone has a right to feel safe and be safe in their homes and in their locality and I am committed to ensuring that is the case nationwide.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to achieve this. In 2023, over 2 Billion is being invested into An Garda Síochána.
Three innovative Local Community Safety Partnerships are currently being piloted in Dublin's North Inner City, Waterford City and Longford. These are designed to identify and prioritise the issues causing communities to feel unsafe and to address them collaboratively. The development of a Community Safety Plan in each of these areas will ensure that local communities can prioritise those measures which will have the greatest impact in their area. This is supported by the Community Safety Innovation – a fund established by ring-fencing the proceeds of crime and reinvesting back into community safety initiatives.
The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 will bring forward an increase in the maximum penalty available for the offence of assault causing harm from 5 years’ to 10 years’ imprisonment. This will provide the Courts with a more appropriate range of sentences to take account of the range and gravity of the assaults that fall under this offence category. This legislation will also increase the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life imprisonment. This will be a key measure which will ensure that those individuals who direct organised crime can be held fully accountable for their actions.
In addition, body worn cameras are vital in terms of protection of Gardaí and for evidence of the nature of assaults and incidents that they are facing. The legal basis for body worn cameras will be provided for through The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022. Following a Government decision, my Department will draft the general scheme of the Garda Síochána (Digital Management and Facial Recognition Technology) Bill, which will provide that facial recognition technology can be used by the Gardaí to tackle some of the most heinous crimes, including murder, assault causing serious crime, robbery and burglary.
The Anti-Social Behaviour Forum, chaired by Minister of State James Browne, is focused on developing measures to address the factors which give rise to ASB and its impact on community morale and quality of life. Three subgroups of the Forum have been established to consider the specific issues of knife crime, the misuse of scramblers and quadbikes, and responses to Anti-Social Behaviour impacts on housing complexes managed by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
The Anti-Social Behaviour Forum will also carry out a review of the powers available to An Garda Síochána in relation to public order and anti-social behaviour, to include the effectiveness of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.
For the Deputy's information, An Garda Síochána runs a number of initiatives aimed at improving community safety and reducing assaults. These include:
• Crime Prevention Officers across the country who are available to offer safety advice and answer concerns from various members of the community, including young people, at community engagement events, such as the recent National Community Engagement Week.
• Operation Soteria - the national operation that has the aim of preventing assaults occurring, through targeted, timely patrols and engaging with community partners to promote personal safety. This initiative continues and has raised awareness of the consequences of assaults on victims, their families and convicted persons.
• 'Use Your Brain, Not Your Fists' - awareness raising campaign that aims to reduce the number of assaults carried out by males between 18 and 39 years of age. It appeals to young males to think of the consequences for themselves and others of being involved in assaults.
• Operation Limmat is the Dublin Metropolitan Region’s (DMR) assault in public and public order reduction strategy. Operation Limmat promotes a pro-arrest and early-investigation approach to incidents of assault, together with driving high-visibility policing in public places to act as a deterrent to prevent and reduce assaults and public order offences in the DMR.
Let me also say that any attacks on members of An Garda Síochána and other frontline services are totally unacceptable. It is my intention to increase the maximum penalty available for assaulting a peace officer to 12 years through an amendment to the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022.
86. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Justice if she has received a report of the impact of the initiative in crime statistics and in feedback from organisations in the area. [33994/23]
View answerA key element of our policy on building safer and stronger communities is that communities themselves have a crucial role to play. There is no one size fits all approach, because each community has different needs and challenges.
My Department's community safety policy is about people being safe and feeling safe in their own community. This approach goes far beyond the traditional policing response and requires all relevant state bodies and voluntary organisations to work together in a joined-up way, in partnership with the local community, to prioritise and address issues in their own area.
The Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill will place statutory obligations on Departments and other public service bodies to cooperate with each other to improve community safety. It also establishes national structures to provide strategic direction and ensure that collaboration is working, and establishes Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs), which will replace existing Joint Policing Committees.
There are currently three pilot LCSPs, including one in Dublin’s North Inner City, which is finalising a local community safety plan, setting out the key actions to address safety concerns in their community and assigning ownership for these actions. This plan will ensure that communities in the North Inner City can thrive and flourish, through collaborative actions to prevent and deter crime and harmful behaviours.
The Department has also provided funding to the Dublin LCSP through the Community Safety Innovation Fund to develop a Community Safety Warden scheme which will promote a space for recreation in and around Wolfe Tone Park, and an extension to the scheme will include the O’Connell Street area during weekends. The scheme will provide a visible presence that will act both as a deterrent to criminal and anti-social behaviour, and as reassurance to the community.
An Garda Síochána, with input from the Department of Justice and the LCSP pilots, have developed a quarterly data template for the national roll-out of the LCSPs to capture relevant statistics on a quarterly basis to inform the work of the LCSPs and the development and implementation of their Community Safety Plans. The pilot LCSPs are also undergoing an ongoing independent evaluation to ensure that, when established nationally, the LCSPs will be designed and supported to help communities prioritise issues raised by its members as safety concerns. A baseline and mid-term evaluation have been completed and data collection is currently underway for the final evaluation of the pilots, which is due to be completed in Q4 2024.
As I’m sure the Deputy will appreciate , it will take some time to establish a measurable level of impact these partnerships and schemes will have on crime prevention in each area, but the early indicators are positive.
87. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice when additional measures will be introduced to deal with the scourge and damage being inflicted on families and communities throughout this country by persons involved in major drug trafficking and gangland criminality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33997/23]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime groups is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and the Government.
My Department is working on a wide range of measures to tackle organised crime, including:
• the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023, which will make it an offence for an adult to groom a child or young person into criminality;
• the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2023, which will provide for the use of body worn cameras by Gardaí and update the law surrounding the use of CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition in the investigation and prosecution of crime;
• increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to commit murder to life through the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill;
• Continuing the internationally recognised 'Greentown' programme, which seeks to break the links between gangs and children they try to recruit into a life of criminality.
The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for deployment of Garda resources. The Government remains committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to keep communities safe, evidenced by the unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion in Budget 2023. The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) continues to have significant success in disrupting drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs by organised crime groups. The Bureau's work is supported by Divisional Drugs Units nationwide, and by all Gardaí working in local communities. The Bureau also works in cooperation with international law enforcement partners. An Garda Síochána also uses multi-disciplinary approaches to ensure the activities of individuals and groups involved in criminal enterprise are effectively targeted. Such approaches include the use of money-laundering legislation and the powers available to CAB under the proceeds of crime legislation.
An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in street-level dealing across the country and also focuses on disrupting and dismantling the drug trafficking networks that impact on our communities and prosecuting those involved at every level through Operation Tara. Some recent successes of Operation Tara include the seizure last week of cigarettes with an estimated value of €10 Million with a loss to the Exchequer of €7.5 million. Last month, also through Operation Tara, Gardaí arrested a man following the seizure of over €1.5 million in cocaine and cash in Dublin and Meath.
I am sure the Deputy will agree, it is important that communities work together with An Garda Síochána in relation to such behaviour. Reporting by the public of illegal activity, including drug dealing or intimidation, is important to assist in this work and there are a range of channels to do so, including through the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111. I encourage anyone with information in that regard to contact An Garda Síochána in this way.
The Deputy may also wish to know that the Garda Commissioner has tasked an Inspector in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug-related intimidation. There are currently 30 nominated Garda Inspectors appointed to act as liaison officers for the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme, covering each Garda Division.
88. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware that the Irish residence permit costs €300 every year for most non-EU people over the age of 18, but an organisation (details supplied) estimates that the cost to the State of producing and delivering the permit is just €20.44; if she will reduce the cost of these permits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34022/23]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the standard registration fee of €300 payable by an applicant is designed to reflect the effort and cost, over and above the cost of production, involved in processing registrations.
An applicant is exempted from the registration fee if they:
• Have refugee status
• Have subsidiary protection status
• Have leave to remain under Section 49 of the International Protection Act 2015
• Are under 18
• Are resident based on marriage to an Irish citizen
• Are a family member of an EU citizen
The Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, granted following a successful registration, certifies that a person is legally registered with the Irish immigration authorities and provides details of the immigration permission held. In addition where a person has an in-date IRP card, there is no requirement to apply for a re-entry visa when returning to the State after a short period abroad.
The Registration Office of my Department also provides an online renewals portal that speeds up the renewal process and a customer service team that is available to support customers.
The cost of registration has not increased since 2012; however, the fee is kept under ongoing review by my Department.
89. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Justice the actions she will take in response to the unlawful gender-based killing of an Irish woman in Spain; if, given the worryingly high levels of gender-based homicide in Ireland, she will now direct the resources to ensure we begin to reverse this horrific trend; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33957/23]
View answerI would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Kirsty Ward on their tragic loss. I was deeply shocked by her killing, and it is unfortunately another appalling example of a woman’s life being taken violently, and another example of a family left suffering.
An Garda Síochána have been liaising with the family and I hope that they will do all they can do assist at this very difficult time.
While the Deputy will appreciate that as Minister for Justice I cannot comment on the individual circumstances of a particular case, tackling violence against women and Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence has been an absolute priority for me since I was appointed Minister for Justice.
This is reflected in a significant €9m increase in Budget 2023 allocations for DSGBV. Separately, €5.8 million in funding has been allocated to promote and assist the development of specific support services for victims of crime within the criminal justice system, which includes victims of domestic and sexual crime, and in the development of our policy and legislation.
Twelve months ago I published our Zero Tolerance strategy. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept domestic violence or the attitudes which underpin it.
The €363 million strategy is built on four pillars – Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination – and the accompanying implementation plan contains 144 detailed actions to be implemented through new oversight structures.
As I am sure the Deputy is aware, Government also agreed to establish a new statutory agency which will be operation in 2024 and will ensure this priority area continues to receive the expertise and focus needed to drive it forward.
The Deputy may also be aware that the Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews was recently published, and is being examined by my Department.
We will work closely with families in taking forward this work and I will announce further details in the autumn.
The report itself is comprehensive and far reaching, containing a large number of recommendations of varying degrees of complexity.
A number are already being progressed through my Department’s work to tackle domestic abuse and protect victims. Others will require further examination by three new groups that will assist in taking this work forward.
I have also committed to an advisory committee drawn from the families of victims who will work with my Department on the recommendations.
90. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the steps she intends to take to respond the recruitment crisis in An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33955/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to deliver on their goal of ensuring communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. As Minister I engage regularly with the Commissioner to monitor the resources needed to drive Garda recruitment.
As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána. This includes the recruitment and retention of Garda members.
The unprecedented €2 billion plus budget in 2023 is allowing for the continued recruitment of Gardaí and Garda staff and we are seeing Garda recruits enter Templemore every 11 weeks. 92 recruits entered the Training College late November, 135 in February and another 154 in May. Another class will enter the college at the end of July.
Momentum is building in recruitment after the Covid-enforced pause, when the Garda College was closed due to the public health emergency.
An Garda Síochána also recently launched a new recruitment campaign, which closed on 14 April 2023 and in combination with those who have deferred, will provide a stream of candidates for the next and future intakes.
Almost 5,000 people applied to join An Garda Síochána in this campaign. This is in line with the last pre-Covid campaign in 2019, which shows demand to join An Garda Síochána is as strong as ever.
I understand that the first interviews from this year’s competition are due to commence the week of 26 June.The next Garda recruitment competition is expected to take place later this year or early next year, which will further secure a strong pipeline of candidates.In addition, a Garda Reserve Competition is expected in the first quarter of 2024. The Reserve reinforces An Garda Síochána's essential community links, and provides capacity to draw on additional resources to assist in policing.
