Wednesday, 20 Sep 2023

Written Answers Nos. 661-680

Departmental Data

Questions (661)

Richard Bruton

Question:

661. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated number of people eligible for the free fuel scheme after the implementation of the changes made earlier this year. [40719/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Fuel Allowance is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other longer-term social welfare dependent households with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs; it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two instalment payments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.

In Budget 2023, Government announced the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance Scheme. The changes introduced were:

• from January 2023, the introduction of a new means threshold for people aged 70 years and over, of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple;

• in addition, for applicants aged 70 or over, the amount of capital (savings and investments) disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance was increased from €20,000 to €50,000. (Savings over €50,000 are assessed on a proportionate basis only); and,

• from January 2023, Disablement Benefit and Half-rate Carer’s Allowance payments were disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes. Disablement Benefit also no longer debars a household from receiving the Fuel Allowance payment.

At the beginning of the 2022/23 Fuel Allowance season in September 2022, there were over 369,000 recipients of Fuel Allowance. By the end of the Fuel Allowance season in April 2023, the total number of households supported had increased to over 404,000. It should be noted that the number of qualified households continuously fluctuates, as recipients join and exit the scheme as their circumstances change.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Data

Questions (662)

Richard Bruton

Question:

662. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the conditions in which an Irish social welfare pensioner can receive the household benefit package; the additional means-tested access available to those who do not have an Irish social welfare pension; the number of those in receipt of Irish social welfare pensions who also receive the household benefit package; the number who do not; and the number of persons who do not have an Irish social welfare pension who receive the package. [40720/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Household Benefits Package helps towards the costs of electricity or gas bills. It also includes a television licence. Only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household, and the person must reside full time in Ireland.

For those aged 70 or over, it is not means tested and they do not need to be getting a qualifying payment. If a person is aged between 66 and 70, they may still get the package if they meet the necessary conditions.

Qualifying payments between age 66 and 70

- State Pension (Contributory)

- State Pension (Non-contributory)

- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension

- Deserted Wife's Benefit

- Carer's Allowance

- A Garda Widow's Ordinary Pension from the Department of Justice

- A Social Security Pension/Benefit covered by EU laws or from a country Ireland has a Social Security Agreement with

- Incapacity Supplement (for at least 12 months) with Disablement Benefit

If a person is aged between 66 and 70 and is not getting a qualifying payment, then they must satisfy a means test. Other persons under the age of 66 may also qualify for Household Benefits in certain circumstances (for example, if they are in receipt of a disability-related payment).

The records of the Department show the totals recipients for each scheme and indicate the recipients of the Household Benefits Package by scheme, as outlined in the following table. As stated previously, only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household.

Primary Scheme	Total Recipients during Quarter 2 2023	Household Benefits recipients by scheme at end Quarter 2 2023*
Blind Pension	1,007	402
Carer's Allowance	96,071	41,028
Deserted Wife's Benefit	4,458	2,262
Disability Allowance	162,075	60,093
Disablement Benefit	14,728	4,252
Invalidity Pension	57,575	17,889
State Pension Contributory	498,681	237,773
State Pension Non-Contributory	100,238	52,355
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension	127,199	74,429
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension	1,133	152
No Primary Scheme	N/A	33,418

* Where a recipient is in receipt of more than one qualifying scheme (for example, half-rate Carer's Allowance and another qualifying scheme), this will be reflected in the totals for each scheme.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (663)

Richard Bruton

Question:

663. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the conditions in which a telephone allowance is paid. [40725/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Telephone Support Allowance is a weekly payment for people who live alone and are already in receipt of certain other social welfare payments. It assists with the cost of communications and home security solutions.

The Telephone Support Allowance is an extra €2.50 per week, which is equivalent to €130 annually.

The allowance is paid automatically to people who are in receipt of one of the qualifying primary payments listed below and both the Increase for Living Alone and the Fuel Allowance. There is no application form.

Qualifying Payments

- State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-contributory)- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension- Invalidity Pension- Disability Allowance- Blind Pension- Incapacity Supplement- Deserted Wife's Benefit- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension under the Occupational Injuries Scheme

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Data

Questions (664)

Richard Bruton

Question:

664. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has reviewed the level of claims for exceptional needs being made to her Department; the number of claims and the average payment under the main categories of payment; and if she is considering changes in the guidelines applying to any of the categories in view of the sort of needs being presented. [40726/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.

Statistics are prepared and published on a quarterly basis for Additional Needs Payments. Table 1 shows the number of Additional Needs Payments awarded by category in 2023 (to end of June).

The payment amount, which can have a wide range value, will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed, therefore an average payment amount may not be representative of the trend in payments.

The guidelines issued to staff administering the scheme assist them in the decision making process and ensure consistency of service. However, they do not affect the discretion available to officers in issuing an additional needs payment to assist an individual or household in any particular hardship situation which may arise.

I wish to assure the Deputy that the scheme is kept under review to ensure that it continues to support those most in need of assistance.

Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Table 1 - The number of Additional Needs Payments awarded by category in 2023 (to end of June).

Category	Number of payments
Bills	1,971
Child Related	1,047
Clothing	18,664
Funeral	1,581
General	10,386
Housing	10,492
Illness	529
Other (Supplement)	240
Urgent Needs Payment	265
Grand Total	45,175

Departmental Data

Questions (665, 666)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

665. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of speed checkpoints on Irish roads in each of the past ten years in each county in the State. [39481/23]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

666. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of drink and drug driving check points in Irish roads in each of the past ten years in each county in the State. [39482/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 665 and 666 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, which includes the enforcement of road traffic legislation and the recording of information on Garda IT systems. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that, as per the Garda Síochána Analysis Service (GSAS), checkpoints are recorded on PULSE, but there is no specific incident type for speed checkpoints and this information is not available as a result.

To be of assistance to the Deputy, GSAS have provided the below, which is a yearly breakdown per Garda division of the number of instances in which a party was issued with a Fixed Charge Notice for the offences of speeding.

These figures include both intercept (Garda member) and non-intercept (mobile safety camera van) detections.

FCPN by Division

*Figures are based on incidents which occurred from 1 January 2014 to 12 September 2023, inclusive.

All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the FCPS system as was available on 13 September 2023 and is liable to change.

In addition, the table below provides a yearly breakdown per Garda division of the number of Mandatory Intoxication Testing (MIT) Checkpoints carried out from 2014 to date in 2023.

MIT Checkpoints

Figures are based on incidents which occurred from 1 January 2014 to 31 August 2023, inclusive.

All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the PULSE system as was available on 5 September 2023 and is liable to change.

Question No. 666 answered with Question No. 665.

Departmental Data

Questions (667)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

667. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of prosecutions for excess speed, drink driving, drug driving and dangerous driving on Irish roads in each of the past ten years in each county in the State. [39483/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, prosecutions are a matter for the Director of Prosecutions, who is fully independent in her functions under Section 2(5) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended).

As Minister I have no role in the operations, functions, governance or oversight of the Office of the DPP and am unable to provide any information or statistics relating to the Director's work as a result.

Additionally, management of the courts, along with related operational matters and logistical functions, are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and through the separation of powers in the Constitution.

The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: [e-mail].

To be of assistance I have referred the Deputy's question to the Courts Service for reply.

Departmental Data

Questions (668, 710)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

668. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who have been employed in the roads policing unit in each county in each of the past ten years. [39485/23]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

710. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda members in each roads policing unit, by Garda division, in 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40463/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 710 together.

The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. This commitment is demonstrated by the unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion to the Garda Vote this year, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment and investment in new equipment and new vehicles.

This level of funding provides for a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming years, supporting the recruitment of up to 1,000 Gardaí and 400 additional Garda staff this year, with new recruits to enter the Garda College approximately every 11 weeks.

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am however assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continued review, in line with crime and population trends, to ensure their optimum use.

To be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that at the end of August 2023, the latest date for when figures are available, there were 659 Garda members, which includes 588 Gardaí and 65 Sergeants and 6 Inspectors, assigned to roads policing duty nationwide.

The following table sets out the number of Garda members assigned to roads policing duty by Division from the end of December 2014 up to the end of December 2022, and at the end of August 2023. This information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be subject to change.

Roads Policing by division

In the interest of transparency, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers, including a breakdown by Garda station and Garda rank, are published on gov.ie and are updated regularly by my Department from information provided by An Garda Síochána. The statistics can be accessed using the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/

Please note that this information is operational and may be subject to change.

Visa Applications

Questions (669)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

669. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice when the visa applications for the family of a person (details supplied) are expected to be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39533/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 13 August 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Hanoi office on the 16 August 2023. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 25 August 2023 where it awaits examination and processing.

Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This policy document may be accessed at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf

This Policy Document contains a stated business target that visa applications for family reunification for immediate family members of Irish citizens and Category A sponsors, such as Critical Skills Employment Permit Holders, should be dealt with within 6 months of application.

However, it must be made clear that these are business targets for the immigration service. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.

It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of the Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.

The applicant will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.

Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday:

www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility ([e-mail]), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Penalty Points System

Questions (670)

Michael Ring

Question:

670. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice to confirm if penalty points for speeding have been applied in specific circumstances (details supplied) in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39560/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will contact the Deputy again when this is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 670 of 20 September 2023 where you asked: “If penalty points for speeding have been applied in specific circumstances in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied):

Have the drivers/owners of Ministerial Cars/State Cars had penalty points imposed on them for driving over the speed limit while in the official vehicles? Has any fixed-charge notices for speeding, detected by camera, issued to the registered owners of these vehicles”?

As you will recall, I sought the information from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand. The delay in responding is regretted.

As you may be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister I have no role in such matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that Ministerial cars are registered to An Garda Síochána and are driven by Garda personnel.

I am informed that if a Ministerial car is detected by a speed camera in excess of the speed limit a Fixed Charge Notice (FCN) will issue to the Fleet Manager in Garda Headquarters. All Garda vehicles that are detected speeding by safety cameras will receive a FCN addressed to the Fleet Manager.

The driver of the Ministerial vehicle/Garda vehicle will be identified and a report will be provided by the member who was driving the vehicle. This will be forwarded to Garda Management in charge of the Ministerial Pool/relevant Garda District.

Garda drivers can apply for an exemption under Section 87 of the Road Traffic Act when they are using a vehicle in the course of their duties.

There is a robust governance protocol in place to manage any applications under Section 87 of the Road Traffic Act. This is administered by the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau and is overseen by an independent Judicial Authority and the Garda Professional Standards Unit. A full file will be prepared on the circumstances of each case and will be referred to the Cancelling Authority for a decision. For applications involving Garda members and Garda vehicles the Cancelling Authority is a member of An Garda Síochána of at least Superintendent Rank. The Cancelling Authority must be of a higher rank than the applicant.

In cases where a Garda driver applies for an exemption under Section 87 of the Road Traffic Act and the exemption is granted no penalty points will accrue against the Garda Driver.

I am further advised that due to way in which records are held, establishing if penalty points for speeding have been applied in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy is not possible as it would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to compile.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (671)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

671. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide details of the total amount paid by the State to a company (details supplied) each year since the start of its most recent contract for its services in monitoring and enforcing speed limits on State roads. [39581/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

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

As the Deputy will be aware, GoSafe is a private company contracted to An Garda Síochána for the provision of services. The safety camera project was established to reduce speed related collisions and therefore save lives. The system is operated by the service provider GoSafe under the direction of An Garda Síochána.

GoSafe has responsibility for ensuring monitoring and survey sessions are conducted in accordance with the schedules, and the provision of survey and monitoring data to An Garda Síochána. GoSafe provide the necessary vehicles, monitoring and survey equipment and operators. GoSafe work closely with An Garda Síochána to improve safety for all road users on Ireland’s road network.

Earlier this month I announced that an additional €1.2 million is to be allocated towards GoSafe, which provides and operates safety cameras in Ireland. This funding will increase monitoring hours by the GoSafe cameras by 20 per cent, or an extra 1,500 hours per month until the end of this year. It will bring the number of GoSafe hours up to 9,000 per month.

The following table provided to me by Garda authorities, updated as of 8 September 2023, outlines the amount of funding paid to GoSafe since the beginning of their current contract with An Garda Síochána.

Financial Year	Total
2017 (Current contract commenced 1/5/17)	8,655,186
2018	14,707,009
2019	14,760,600
2020	14,589,625
2021	14,624,559
2022	14,753,945
2023*	8,920,550
Grand Total	91,011,474

* Figures provided as of 8 September 2023.

Departmental Contracts

Questions (672)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

672. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if there are minimum quotas or targets that operators of a company (details supplied) must meet in terms of recording speeding vehicles; if so, what these quotas are; and the way in which are they determined. [39583/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

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

As the Deputy will be aware, GoSafe is a private company contracted to An Garda Síochána for the provision of services. The safety camera project was established to reduce speed related collisions and therefore save lives. The system is operated by the service provider GoSafe under the direction of An Garda Síochána.GoSafe has responsibility for ensuring monitoring and survey sessions are conducted in accordance with the schedules, and the provision of survey and monitoring data to An Garda Síochána. GoSafe provide the necessary vehicles, monitoring and survey equipment and operators. GoSafe work closely with An Garda Síochána to improve safety for all road users on Ireland’s road network.

I am informed by Garda authorities that there are no quotas in respect of the number of detections required in terms of recording speeding vehicles.

Family Reunification

Questions (673)

Peter Burke

Question:

673. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Justice if her Department will provide more family reunification admission programmes for Syrian refugees and their families who have got Irish citizenship through naturalisation and humanitarian programmes; and if they could sponsor other family members especially elderly parents who wish to join their adult children. [39611/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The responsibility for the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) transferred from my Department to the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth on 14 October 2020.

Before transferring to the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth, the Irish Humanitarian Admission Programme (IHAP) was administered through my Department and ran from May 2018 until March 2019.

The IHAP programme allowed holders of an international protection status in Ireland, (i.e. refugees with Convention or Programme Refugee status), holders of Subsidiary Protection grants, and Irish citizens to make a proposal to bring to the State their family members who are nationals of one of the top ten major source countries of refugees as identified by the UNHCR Annual Global Trends Report.

Almost 820 persons were given permission to reside in the State under the IHAP of which 241 Syrians were granted permission to reside in the State. An additional 119 Syrian beneficiaries were approved under the 2014 Syrian Humanitarian Admissions programme (SHAP).

The rights to family reunification for refugees is as set out in the International Protection Act 2015. Where a person does not meet the criteria as set out in the 2015 Act it is open to refugees and any other person legally resident in the State to make an application for family reunification as provided for in the Non EEA Policy Document on Family Reunification.

Further information on this process can be found on my Department's ISD website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/

Visa Applications

Questions (674)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

674. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice when a visa application for the mother of a person (details supplied) will be assessed with a view to granting the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39642/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I can advise the Deputy that the application number provided is not a valid visa application number. Based on the information supplied, it has unfortunately not been possible to locate the application for the person referred to.

If more information can be provided by the Deputy my Department would be happy to re-examine the request.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility ([e-mail]), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited

Foreign Policy

Questions (675, 676, 677)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

675. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice if she was aware that prior to the publication of the EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) in June 2023, Spanish authorities would categorise the Catalan independence movement as an ethno-nationalist and separatist terrorist group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39653/23]

Thomas Pringle

Question:

676. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice if she is in agreement with Europol's categorisation of the non-violent Catalan independence movement as an ethno-nationalist and separatist terrorist group, in the EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) in June 2023 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39654/23]

Thomas Pringle

Question:

677. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice what oversight procedures and protocols the EU council of Justice Ministers has in place to ensure the veracity of the qualitative and quantitative data provided by member states on which reports such as the EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) are based (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39655/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 675 to 677, inclusive, together.

Europol’s annual European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) provides an overview of the terrorism landscape in the EU in a given year and contributes to efforts to counter what continues to be a significant threat to the security of Member States.

As the 2023 Report referred to by the Deputy notes, the TE-SAT is prepared by experts at Europol and is based on information provided and verified by Member States and by Europol’s partners. As further noted, while the Report's primary focus is terrorism, specific violent extremist acts and activities, where relevant and available and as reported by Member States, are also presented for contextualisation and to provide a more comprehensive picture of the terrorism situation. More generally the Report reflects on wider developments that have affected the EU terrorism landscape, or may affect it in the future.

In terms of oversight, as set out in the Report, the TE-SAT is produced by Europol in consultation with the TE-SAT Advisory Board which is made up of representatives of the past, present and future Presidencies of the Council of the EU (the ‘troika’), along with permanent members: representatives from France and Spain, the EU Commission (DG HOME), the EU Intelligence and Situation Centre (EU INTCEN), the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), the office of the EU Counter Terrorism Coordinator (EU CTC), and Europol.

I was not aware of the contents of the Report prior to it being published in June.

The Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to seek to evaluate the material in the Report as it relates to the internal situation in another Member State.

Question No. 676 answered with Question No. 675.

Question No. 677 answered with Question No. 675.

EU Directives

Questions (678)

Holly Cairns

Question:

678. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice to detail the preparations being undertaken by her Department in advance of the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882); the guidance that is being issued by her Department to organisations and businesses in advance of the enactment of the directive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39672/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I welcome the European Accessibility Act (EEA) (Directive (EU) 2019/882) which will assist in improving the availability of accessible products and services particularly benefiting persons with disabilities and older persons. It will require manufacturers, importers, retailers and service providers to ensure that certain new products and services produced and provided by them after 28 June 2025 are accessible in line with its provisions. The Act should also assist in addressing some of the barriers that can be experienced in accessing transport and education services, and in relation to employment.

I welcome the work being advanced by my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to transpose the Act/Directive into Irish law as a significant positive step in progressing inclusion and participation in Irish society, in particular of persons with disabilities. The Act/Directive will indeed benefit everyone through a universal or design for all approach.

My Department is committed to working to improve the accessibility of services for persons with disabilities and seeking to ensure that goods and services procured by it, and agencies under its aegis, are accessible in line with the provisions of the Disability Act 2005 and the National Disability Authority’s Code of Practice for accessible public information and services.

All governance agreements made by my Department outline the obligation for public bodies to include the Public Sector Duty in their strategic planning process. This duty obliges public bodies to have regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity of public sector staff and service users.

My Department has also included a requirement in all grant agreements that grantees are obliged to have regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equality and protect the human rights of staff and persons to whom services are provided.

Notwithstanding our work under current equality legislation related to the public sector, it is important that we are all aware of the EEA Act/Directive, particularly where it might relate to supporting the public and our staff. As such, my Department will promote awareness of the Act to guide staff in the procurement of goods and services as provided for in the Act.

My Department will also promote awareness of the Act as appropriate to the agencies under its aegis through ongoing engagement with them and through the recently established Justice Sector Access Officer Network.

Posthumous Pardons

Questions (679)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

679. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice the up-to-date position regarding the review of historic cases (details supplied); if a recommendation has issued to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39725/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, a detailed application for posthumous Presidential pardons for the two individuals referenced by the Deputy was submitted by the Castleisland District Heritage incorporating the Michael O’Donohue Memorial Project in December 2021.

The application has completed an internal review within the Department, and an independent expert in trial law was engaged to further examine and review the case of the two individuals in question.This independent expert review of the case has been completed and is now under consideration and a decision on how best to proceed will be taken in due course.

Northern Ireland

Questions (680)

Charles Flanagan

Question:

680. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline, in the light of the recent UK government decision to carry out a fresh statutory investigation into the 1998 Omagh bombing atrocity, how she proposes that the Government will respond to such an inquiry; if she will accept that the most appropriate response would be the setting up of a parallel statutory inquiry in this jurisdiction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39735/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

The single worst atrocity of the troubles occurred in Omagh on 15 August 1998. The bombing was an unspeakable and brutal act of cruelty carried out by terrorists with no sense of humanity or respect for human life. We must never forget that it is they who carry responsibility for this brutal act.

We will also never forget those who lost their lives, those who were injured and the families whose suffering for their loved ones continues. The Tánaiste and I met recently with family members of some of those who lost their lives in the Omagh bombing to hear directly from those affected. As the Deputy is aware, the Government has always sought to acknowledge and address the legitimate needs and expectations of victims’ families and survivors of Troubles-related attacks.

As the Deputy is aware, in response to a judgment of the Belfast High Court, the UK Government announced that it intends to establish an inquiry into the preventability of the Omagh bombing. The Chair has been nominated and the terms of reference of the Inquiry are awaited. The terms of reference, when published, will provide clarity on the nature of that inquiry.

For our part, the Government has indicated our desire to ensure that there is nothing unanswered in this jurisdiction at the end of the UK inquiry and ultimately this will inform the decision here on the nature of any supporting mechanism that may be required in this jurisdiction.

Of course, it goes without saying that, as has been done in relation to a number of historical inquiries, this State will continue to cooperate fully as may be required. A number of measures are available to provide for cooperation, and mechanisms have been put in place in recent years, including primary legislation in the form of the Criminal Justice (international Co-operation) Act 2019, which, as the Deputy is aware, includes provisions for Garda cooperation with statutory inquiries in the UK.

The Tánaiste and I, in consultation with our Cabinet colleagues, will keep under consideration what further action may be required on our part.