Tuesday, 25 Feb 2025

Asylum Seekers

Questions (624)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

624. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of times EURODAC has been used for each of the past five years. [7140/25]

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Written answers

The Eurodac database, which began operation in 2003, is used to enable the comparison of fingerprints and assist in determining the country responsible for the assessment of an asylum claim presented in one of the Member States.

Statistical data on the work of the Eurodac Central System are made public at the end of each year in accordance with the Eurodac Regulation (Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) No 603/2013). Information regarding the number of searches is not collated by the Member States authorities but can be found through the following website: https://data.europa.eu/en.

Question No. 625 answered with Question No. 617.

Departmental Data

Questions (626)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

626. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of people that have been arrested for carrying a knife for each of the past five years; and the number of crimes that have been committed with a knife for each of the past five years. [7149/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes the management of the PULSE system. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and I am informed that An Garda Síochána plan to publish an updated report on knife related crime in March/April 2025.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (627)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

627. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí that were recruited for each of the past ten years; the number of Gardaí retired for each of the past ten years; the number of Gardaí that are employed by the state for each of the past ten years; the number of Gardaí that resigned for each of the past ten years; and the number of Gardaí have been injured for each of the past ten years. [7150/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. I was pleased to secure unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Garda Members by Division, District, and Station is publicly available and can be found at the following link. I can also advise the Deputy that I have received the most recent figures for December from An Garda Síochána which have been published on the website.

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

Retirement, resignation and Garda recruitment figures at a national level for the last 5 years are provided in the below table.

Year	Intake to Garda College phase 1 training	Attested in year	Retirements	Resignations
2020	275	522	250	69
2021	380	148	293	95
2022	116	370	340	110
2023	746	388	319	171
2024	631	599	240	138
Total	2,148	2,027	1442	583

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

Statistics relating to retirements are publicly available and can be found in the Garda Commissioner reports to the Policing Authority on the Garda website at the following link: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/publications/general-reports/commissioner-s-monthly-reports-to-policing-authority/.

The table below outlines the number of Gardaí who have been injured on duty between 2020 and 2023. I have requested updated figures from An Garda Síochána for the Deputy for 2024 but they were not available in the time provided.

Year	Total - Injured on-duty
2020	570
2021	577
2022	549
2023	727

An Garda Síochána

Questions (628)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

628. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí that have been fired for each of the past ten years; the number of Gardaí that have been suspended with pay for each of the past ten years; the average length of time a Gardaí has spent out on suspended with pay leave; the number of Gardaí out sick for each of the past five years; and the average length of time a Gardaí is out on sick leave for each of the past ten years. [7151/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

I 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.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (629)

Eoghan Kenny

Question:

629. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the value of the tender awarded (details supplied) by An Garda Síochána for fixed notice payments; the status of that payment structure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7155/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the management of the Fixed Charge Notice system and the procurement, allocation and effective use of any Garda equipment or systems.

The Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS) was developed by An Garda Síochána to enable computerised, automated processing of road traffic and public order offences that incur fixed charges, as distinct from fines.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the value of the contract awarded for the Fixed Charge Payments Service with An Post totals €5,100,000 (excl. VAT).

The payment structure accepts payments via the following payment channels:

• Over the Counter,

• Postal channel,

• Telephone

• and On-Line.

Data Protection

Questions (630)

Gary Gannon

Question:

630. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the timetable and recruitment plans for the third, empty seat on Ireland’s Data Protection Commission; and his Department’s plans to ensure that on this occasion the role as advertised is attractive to leading international expertise. [7169/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

There are currently two Commissioners for Data Protection, appointed by Government with effect from 20 February 2024. The Public Appointments Service is currently running a campaign to recruit a third commissioner. The campaign is due to close at 3pm on 6 March 2025 and is aimed at attracting applicants from Ireland as well as abroad. The successful candidate will be appointed as Commissioner for Data Protection for a five-year term in accordance with the governing legislation. The delivery of effective data protection regulation is an important policy objective of Government. The Programme for Government provides that the Government will, “invest in the Data Protection Commission to ensure it can deliver on its mandate”. It further provides that the Government will, “invest to make Ireland an EU centre of expertise for digital and data regulation and being a regulatory hub for companies operating across the EU Digital Single Market”.The appointment of an additional Commissioner supports an effective and well-resourced, highly-skilled regulator and is consistent with broader strategic developments in the digital sphere in Ireland.

Alcohol Sales

Courts Service

Questions (633)

Martin Daly

Question:

633. Deputy Martin Daly asked the Minister for Justice given that the Courts Service in Roscommon has been temporarily relocated to Racecourse Road, County Roscommon, and considering that the main court house in the county buildings in Roscommon town centre was promised refurbishment, for an update on the refurbishment timeline, and specifically, when the Roscommon court house is likely to be refurbished and operational again for court use. [7307/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will appreciate, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in carrying out its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided me with the following update on Roscommon Town courthouse.

The Courts Service have advised that, given the condition of the existing courthouse in Roscommon and the necessity to close it for health and safety reasons, the Courts Service took immediate steps to remedy the situation to ensure, firstly, that the health and safety of all court users was prioritised and secondly, to ensure that sittings continued to be facilitated in Roscommon town.

The Government's National Development Plan, 2021-2030, included a number of Courts Service projects. These projects included the provision of further new or refurbished courthouses in cities and county towns, including Roscommon.

In the case all activity under the NDP in the Justice Sector, projects will be progressed in as timely a manner as possible and progress will be reported on regularly, as part of overall implementation arrangements for the Plan.

Departmental Communications

Questions (634)

Matt Carthy

Question:

634. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if he has received a submission from an organisation (details supplied); if he has given consideration to their proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7329/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

My Department holds meetings with individual firearms organisations on request and engages with various firearms stakeholders in other ways, while An Garda Síochána also meets with stakeholder organisations in respect of relevant matters. The Firearms Expert Committee (FEC), a non-statutory advisory body, was established in 2022 to provide guidance on matters related to firearms licensing in the State. Its final reports were published in March 2023 alongside the minutes of each in-person meeting. Following the delivery of the FEC’s reports, an FEC consultation was launched online in May 2023. This was to ensure that stakeholder organisations, and their members, could engage fully in this consultation process. The then Minister of State and Department officials held meetings with a number of such groups so that they could feed in the views of their members, and this process continues. One of the issues raised during the course of these engagements was the need for more regular and structured engagement between policymakers and firearms users. It is my intention, with Minister of State Collins, to give early consideration to the FEC's reports and the outcomes of the consultation process and to further engage with relevant stakeholders in relation to any potential changes to policy or legislation in this area. Any proposed changes to policy or legislation arising for any reason including the recommendations of the FEC will be subject to prior consultation with firearms stakeholders.

Question No. 635 answered with Question No. 631.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (636)

Matt Carthy

Question:

636. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the number of knives seized by Gardaí in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7340/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

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 the management of the Property Exhibits Management System and PULSE. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that a total of 2,157 knives were seized in 2024.

This information was taken from the PULSE system on 11 February 2025 and is operational and subject to change.

Departmental Data

Questions (637)

Matt Carthy

Question:

637. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who have appeared before the courts in 2024 charged with offences under section 9: possession of knives and other articles, of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7341/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

Management of the courts, 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 given the separation of powers in the Constitution. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.

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

Departmental Contracts

Questions (638)

Matt Carthy

Question:

638. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if his Department has secured a charter plane for deportation flights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7344/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

It is a priority for me as Minister that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The removal of persons who have been refused permission to remain is an essential requirement for the immigration system to work effectively and to ensure that our people have confidence in the application of our laws in this area.

In June 2024, a request for tender was published with a view to procuring a suitable provider of charter flight services and relevant supporting services. A contract was signed in November last year for the provision of charter aircraft for deportation operation purposes.

Charter flights provide an alternative to commercial flights and can be more appropriate in circumstances when a group of individuals are being removed to the same destination. This will increase the options available to An Garda Síochána to effect removals and deportations.

Planning is well advanced to commence the use of charter flights for removals, the first flights are expected in the coming months. Alongside this, enforced deportations are continuing on commercial flights.

My Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals. The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). Last year, 1,116 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.), an increase of 252% compared to 2023 (317).

Question No. 639 answered with Question No. 631.

Question No. 640 answered with Question No. 631.

Asylum Seekers

Questions (641)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

641. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice to examine the case of a person (details supplied). [7367/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

It is a central priority for me as Minister that our immigration system works effectively and that our laws are robust and enforced in this area.

The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process in general. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to discuss the specific circumstances of any individual case.

When it comes to international protection applicants, each person that enters the process is fingerprinted and photographed. These fingerprints are checked against EURODAC, an EU database which stores the fingerprints of asylum applicants and those who have crossed borders illegally.

In addition to checks specifically on those applying for international protection, each and every person arriving at a port of entry in the state is subject to Schengen Information System (SIS) check. Under this system Ireland sends and receives SIS II information (termed ‘Alerts’) on persons and objects; for example persons wanted for criminal purposes, missing persons and objects which have been stolen or are wanted as evidence for a judicial purpose.

Criminal convictions are considered when processing an international protection application, as part of this, character and conduct checks are carried out before applicants can be granted any permission to remain in the State. An Garda Síochána notifies the Department of matters which may be relevant to its considerations.

International Protection

Questions (642)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

642. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice whether he will permit this Deputy to visit the International Protection Office to see the operation and to ask questions of the staff. [7368/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

While visits can be arranged for members of the relevant Oireachtas Committee, it is not the practice to arrange meetings with operational officials in the course of their work. My Department can of course arrange for a briefing for the Deputy with the senior officials responsible for managing the International Protection Office.

International Protection

Questions (643)

Carol Nolan

Question:

643. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the purpose of having presenting officers present at international protection appeal hearings; the number of times a presenting officer was present during an appeal in 2024, in the context of the overall number of appeals that were heard; if there has been a change in his Department’s policy to not have a presenting officer present for every appeal; if so, the reasons for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7369/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

Up to the 1st of October 2023 it was the usual practice for a representative of the Department to attend at all oral appeal hearings held by International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT), to assist the Tribunal by explaining the reasons behind the recommendation made in the case in question. Attendance is not mandatory or a statutory requirement of the International Protection Act.

From 2nd October 2023 a new process began under which presenting officers were not automatically assigned to all oral international protection appeals concerning applicants from Safe Countries. This was further extended in 2024 to include newly designated Safe Countries, Dublin III regulation oral appeal hearings and oral appeal hearings where the country of origin of the applicant was the countries with the largest number of applications and therefore considered under the accelerated process.

This is one of several measures introduced to improve the end-to-end international protection process and to use personnel and resources in the most effective and efficient manner. It was informed in particular by an assessment of the complexity of particular categories of cases. Rather than be deployed to attend all Tribunal hearings, priority was given to increasing staff and Panel Members working at first instance decision making stages as well as to attending certain hearings where a presenting officer was most likely to be needed to explain the recommendation made.

The Tribunal can request clarifications from the International Protection Office if necessary.

These arrangements are kept under ongoing review including as to outcome of appeals.

The data requested by the Deputy is in the table attached.

International protection appeal hearings 2024

An Garda Síochána

Questions (644)

Carol Nolan

Question:

644. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications made by An Garda Síochána for a section 63 order under the Criminal Justice Act 1994 in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; the numbers of orders granted during this timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7372/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

Under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), Section (a) the Garda Commissioner is responsible "to direct and control the Garda Síochána" and Section (b) "to carry on and manage and control generally the administration and business of the Garda Síochána".

As Minister I have no role in these independent functions and I am unable to seek to intervene with, influence or direct the Commissioner in these matters.

Section 63 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 (as amended by the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008) relates to preservation and production orders. Under the legislation, applications for such orders are made by members of An Garda Síochána, and considered by a judge of the District Court.

As Minister, I am not a party to such applications. Furthermore, the decision to grant or not grant an application is solely a matter for the Judiciary, who are completely independent in the exercise of their functions. The courts are subject only to the Constitution and the law, are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and the conduct of any court case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998.

Question No. 645 answered with Question No. 631.

Residency Permits

Questions (646)

Colm Burke

Question:

646. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that it is 12 weeks since the application was submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7405/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

I can advise the Deputy that the application from the person concerned has been processed and completed by Immigration Service Delivery of my Department. The person cited can expect to receive their new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card in the next 10-15 working days.

The person concerned can now directly check the status of their immigration applications on the Immigration Service’s new Digital Contact Centre (DCC).

In its first phase, the DCC can be used to check the status of, and raise queries in relation to Citizenship Applications, Visa Applications, Domestic Residence Permission Applications, EU Treaty Rights Applications and Travel Documents Applications. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/

A guide to using the DCC is also available on the Immigration Service website at www.irishimmigration.ie/dcc-a-guide-to-using-the-online-self-service-portal/.

As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.