Written Answers Nos. 522-536
522. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice how many gardaí were attacked and injured in during the rioting which took place in Dublin on 24 November 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54620/23]
View answerAt the outset I would like to condemn in the strongest possible terms any attack on a member of An Garda Síochána or any front-line worker. The rioting and violent disorder in Dublin on 23 November was disgraceful and I commend Garda members and all emergency services for their quick response.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that 12 incidents of assault whereby a Garda injured party was indicated were recorded on PULSE within DMR North Central Division on 23 November. I am also advised that these figures are operational and are liable to change.
In light of the riots, the Garda Senior Management Team has agreed on a range of measures to further support front-line Gardaí, including tooling all Gardaí with stronger incapacitant spray, expansion of the dog unit, increasing public order training, more tasers for public order policing, and provision of hand-held video cameras for public order units, among other measures.
I am committed to supporting An Garda Síochána in their mission of keeping people safe. The unprecedented allocation of €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.
I am also pleased to say that the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act passed all remaining stages in the Dáil and has been signed into law by the President. The Act provides for body worn cameras, Garda CCTV, automatic number plate recognition, and Community CCTV.
The crucial introduction of body-worn cameras is being accelerated through a separate proof of concept (POC) project involving the deployment next year of body-worn cameras in Dublin city centre.
523. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Justice to outline the number of scramblers and quad bikes seized, per county, since the introduction of the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54633/23]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
524. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice to list the Garda stations in Cavan/Monaghan that have their own electric vehicle charging points; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54641/23]
View answerThe unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently no stations in Cavan/Monaghan that have their own electric vehicle charging points.
525. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda stations in each Garda division that have their own electric vehicle charging points; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54642/23]
View answerThe unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, shows the number of Garda stations with an electric vehicle charger point by Garda Division.
|
Division |
Number of Stations with EV chargers |
|
DMR East |
1 |
|
DMR North |
2 |
|
DMR North Central |
1 |
|
DMR South |
1 |
|
DMR South Central |
0 |
|
DMR Traffic |
0 |
|
DMR West |
1 |
|
Kildare/Laois and Offaly |
1 |
|
Meath /Westmeath |
2 |
|
Waterford/Kilkenny and Carlow |
0 |
|
Wexford /Wicklow |
1 |
|
Garda Headquarters |
1 |
|
Garda College |
1 |
|
Donegal |
2 |
|
Galway |
0 |
|
Louth/Cavan and Monaghan |
2 |
|
Mayo/Roscommon and Longford |
10 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
0 |
|
Clare/Tipperary |
0 |
|
Cork City |
1 |
|
Cork County |
1 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
|
Limerick |
0 |
526. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of electric vehicles in the Garda fleet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54643/23]
View answerThe unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and €2.3 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
However, I can inform the Deputy that as of 30 November there were 3,447 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet which represents an increase of almost 11% since the end of 2020, and is the highest number of vehicles attached to the Garda fleet ever.
I am informed by Garda Authorities that the table below sets out the number of electric/hybrid vehicles attached to the Garda fleet at the end of November 2023.
|
Vehicle Type |
Number of Vehicles |
% of Fleet |
|
Electric |
103 |
3% |
|
Hybrid Unleaded |
100 |
2.9% |
|
Mild Hybrid Diesel |
200 |
5.8% |
|
Plug in Electric Hybrid |
13 |
0.4% |
|
Total |
416 |
12.1% |
I am advised that the purchase and allocation of vehicles is made on the basis of identified operational demands and the availability of resources. The allocation of Garda vehicles is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis to ensure the best match with operational requirements.
527. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice the number of people so far arrested under Section 4 of Coco's Law (Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act); the number to date actually charged under Section 4 of Coco's Law; and the number of outstanding charges under Section 4 of Coco's Law awaiting a decision by the DPP. [54662/23]
View answerI commenced the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 on the 10th February 2021. Along with other provisions, it created two new offences of sending, or threatening to send, intimate images without the consent of the person, regardless of the motivation for doing so.
It also broadened the existing offence of harassment and provided for a new offence of sending, distributing or publishing a threatening or grossly offensive message by any means of communication with intent to cause harm to the victim, which means our legislation now covers harmful once-off communications as well as harassment.
As the Deputy will be aware, prosecutions are a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP is wholly independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended) and, as Minister, I have no role in the operations, governance or oversight of the Office of the Director, which is funded through the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach. As a result, I am unable to provide any statistical information related to the work of the DPP.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that due to the manner in which data is recorded on pulse, the Garda Síochána Analysis Service are unable to provide the specific figures requested in respect of Section 4 of Coco's Law (Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act), however I am advised that there have been 349 prosecutions (charges/summons) in relation to 254 incidents under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.
Gardaí anticipate that the numbers of prosecutions will continue to rise as further reports are received and the consequent criminal investigations progress.
My Department has also run two linked national awareness campaigns since the new legislation was enacted - one focused on the illegality of sharing intimate images without consent and the other, which was launched in May of this year, focused on the illegality of threatening to share intimate images.
It may also interest the Deputy to know that An Garda Síochána continues to partner with Hotline.ie which has created an online reporting facility that enables victims of intimate image abuse (IIA) to report this type of criminal activity to Gardaí, via the hotline website, while simultaneously making an IIA content removal request.
Where victims request, Gardaí will conduct a thorough criminal investigation with a view to prosecuting offenders, while Hotline will engage with the relevant service provider to seek the removal of the harmful content reported.
528. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to ‘Daisy’s Law’; and her plans to legislate to provide for children born as a consequence of rape to be recognised as a victim of crime for the purposes of gaining legal standing. [54679/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I am introducing important reforms to support and protect vulnerable victims and ensure that our criminal justice system is more victim-centred.
I want to assure the Deputy that all legislation in my Department is kept under review and I am committed to considering any changes necessary to ensure it remains effective, proportionate and fully compliant with due process and the Constitution.
As I understand it, Daisy’s Law will be covered in the UK Victims and Prisoners Bill which before the Houses of Parliament in the UK.
Officials in my Department are aware of this initiative and will monitor its progress.
529. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on a visa application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54691/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the applications referred to were created on the 26 April 2023. Supporting documentation was received in Dublin Visa Office on the 9 May 2023 where they await 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 these applications 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 applicants 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 (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary 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.
530. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will be made on an appeal in relation to a visa application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54693/23]
View answerThe visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Abu Dhabi. The reasons for this decision was set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant on 6 October 2022. An appeal of this decision was received on 6 December 2022.
All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on our website. Applicants that meticulously follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.
Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link:
www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-offices/.
Processing times can change during the year, for example before holiday periods or for study applications prior to a new college year.
A decision will be issued to the applicants as soon as full consideration has been given by a Visa Appeals Officer.
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 (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary 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.
531. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the processing of an application (details supplied); and the current average processing time for applications of this nature. [54702/23]
View answerThe application for an Extension of Student Conditions (ESTC) permission from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.
To be fair to all applicants, applications are dealt with in chronological order by date received. My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hand, individual circumstances, the complexity of applications, whether further information is required, and the resources available.
There has been a significant increase in recent months for people seeking an Extension of Student Conditions (ESTC). These are being dealt with as expeditiously as possible but it is only in exceptional circumstances that such an application will be considered.
In the meantime, the person concerned should continue to search for meaningful graduate level employment. Once successful, their employer should then apply for an employment permit through the Department of Enterprise, Trade or Employment.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the parliamentary questions process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
532. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the progress of resuming recruitment to the Garda Reserve. [54706/23]
View answerAs part of the Government’s plan to modernise and strengthen An Garda Síochána, the Garda Commissioner has developed a Garda Reserve Strategy 2021-2025, which provides a roadmap for the development of this important service.
The Strategy published in October 2021 is informed by an internal review of the Reserve, and sets out key commitments including recruitment, training and development, deployment, governance and evaluation.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff, including members of the Garda Reserve. Furthermore, the initial stages of Garda recruitment campaigns are conducted on behalf of the Commissioner by the independent Public Appointments Service (PAS). Neither I as Minister nor the Department have any role in this recruitment process.
Established in 2006, the Garda Reserve represents a real opportunity for anyone wishing to support policing and give something back to their communities. The Reserve reinforces An Garda Síochána's essential community links, and provides capacity to draw on additional resources to assist in policing.
The Garda Commissioner has established an Implementation Group and Oversight Committee to ensure the Strategy delivers on its objectives, and I look forward to working with him to increase the number of members of the Reserve and in realising its full potential as a resource to policing and in providing a pathway to full-time membership of An Garda Síochána, including from minority communities.
A priority is a new recruitment campaign, which I understand is intended to be held in Q1 of 2024.
The campaign will target a broad and inclusive range of candidates, in keeping with the Reserve's role as a visible form of community engagement. My Department is currently engaging with An Garda Síochána on revisions to the regulations governing the Reserve ahead of the commencement of this recruitment process.
533. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Justice to provide a list of the 17 current serving country registrars attached to each county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54737/23]
View answerThe post of County Registrar is a statutory officer appointed by the Government, with a number of different roles, including under-sheriff and returning officer functions.
When posts become vacant (as currently in Clare/Limerick and Waterford), arrangements are made with the Courts Service and the Public Appointments Service to run an open recruitment competition to identify suitable persons for recommendation to Government for appointment.
Further information on such competitions is available on the public jobs website (www.publicjobs.ie).
A list of serving country registrars is provided in tabular form below.
|
Name |
Country |
|
Imelda Brannigan |
Longford |
|
Padraig Burke |
Kerry |
|
Marian Chambers Higgins |
Galway |
|
Bridin Concannon |
Meath (Westmeath) |
|
Rita Considine |
Dublin |
|
Eithne Coughlan |
Kildare (Carlow) |
|
Ann Marie Courell |
Mayo (Roscommon) |
|
Mary Delahanty |
Wicklow |
|
Deirdre Burke |
Wexford (Kilkenny) |
|
Geraldine O’Connor |
Donegal (Sligo) |
|
Joseph Smith |
Cavan (Leitrim, Monaghan) |
|
James Seymour |
Tipperary |
|
Clare O'Shea-O'Neill |
Cork |
|
Rory Hannify |
Laois(Offaly) |
|
Mark Stafford |
Louth |
|
Vacancy |
Waterford |
|
Vacancy |
Clare (Limerick) |
534. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of basic M3 shotgun courses that were held for armed Garda personnel to date in 2023. [54746/23]
View answer536. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of Steyr rifle refresher courses that were held for armed Garda personnel to date in 2023. [54748/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 536 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes all matters related to the training of Garda members. As Minister I have no role in these matters.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that were no basic M3 shotgun courses, and five Steyr precision rifle refresher courses, held in 2023.
535. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 316 of 14 November 2023, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have PQ answered. [54747/23]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to Parliamentary Question number 49298 of 14 November 2023 where he sought the amount spent by An Garda Síochána on upgrading firearms and other weaponry available to armed Garda personnel in 2022 and to date in 2023.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. Budget 2024 provided an unprecedented budget of €2.3 billion for the Garda vote, a total increase of 23% since 2020. This allocation underlines the commitment to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe, including to invest in recruitment, in equipment and technology and in buildings.
The tables below, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the amount spent by An Garda Síochána on upgrading accessories/optics for official Garda firearms and the amount spent on Firearms/Taser upgrade in 2022 and to date in 2023.
An Garda Síochána spend on upgrading accessories/optics for official Garda Firearms
|
2022 |
€399,623 |
|
2023 (to date) |
€81,673 |
An Garda Síochána spend on Firearms /Taser Upgrade
|
2022 |
nil |
|
2023 |
€1,113,297 |
