Parliamentary questions

Data Protection

Mick Wallace

112. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details of any communication she has had with the Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding the reported tapping of the underwater cable by the General Communications Headquarters in Britain; if she is satisfied that any such reported surveillance is entirely a matter of within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22628/15]

Data Protection

Mick Wallace

113. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 15 January 2015, if she has had any communication with the authorities in the United Kingdom, in response to the reports of tapping of the undersea communications cables by the General Communications Headquarters in Britain; if she has asked these authorities directly, in the interests of transparency and the fundamental right of Irish and all European Union citizens to privacy, whether this reported surveillance was authorised by the British Government; if so, under what British legislation is it covered under; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22629/15]

Garda Complaints Procedures

Mick Wallace

108. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on concerns that two Garda whistleblowers (details supplied) who made complaints of Garda malpractice over one year ago have still not had an investigation of their complaints completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19803/15]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission

Mick Wallace

111. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress that has been made to date as regards filling the post vacated by the former chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in January 2015; the process she is following for this appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19526/15]

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Mick Wallace

119. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of cases to date that have been referred to the independent review mechanism; the number of these cases that have been concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19530/15]

Proposed Legislation

Mick Wallace

121. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on when the Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill will be commenced; if this legislation will be enacted in its entirety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19528/15]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Remit

Mick Wallace

140. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied with the capabilities and appropriateness of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to act as a confidential recipient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19527/15]

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Mick Wallace

149. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the independent review mechanism will complete its work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19529/15]

Garda Powers

Mick Wallace

482. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied with the current Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009, which allows for the attachment and use of tracking and global positioning system devices, without the need for judicial authorisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19949/15]

Refugee Data

Mick Wallace

483. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the 300 migrants who we have agreed to resettle, as part of the European Union plan to tackle the current migration crisis, will be automatically granted refugee status, or if they will be forced to go into direct provision as asylum seekers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19950/15]

Garda Powers

Mick Wallace

484. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to amend the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009, in particular, the provisions that allow for any Garda, above the rank of superintendent, to internally approve another Garda to undertake covert surveillance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19951/15]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Funding

Mick Wallace

492. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to allocate additional resources to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, in response to the increase in referrals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20239/15]

Court Orders

Mick Wallace

241. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of court orders which have been enforced and the number of those which were made, but not enforced, regarding private dwelling home repossession cases, for the year 2014 and to date in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13121/15]

Sentencing Policy

Mick Wallace

407. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on sentencing for those found guilty of the possession of cannabis; her further views on the two year sentence handed down at Tralee court to a person (details supplied), who has arthritis, for the possession of six plants in view of the fact that the Government is bringing forward legislation for the provision of medical cannabis in the form of Sativex; if consideration will be given to making provision for those who use cannabis for pain relief and to make exceptions within the current prohibition on cannabis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15431/15]

Garda Expenditure

Mick Wallace

325. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amounts paid to the GoSafe company to operate speed cameras in the year 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13868/15]

Garda Oversight

Mick Wallace

357. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the payments made to a person (details supplied) as chairperson of the Garda authority; the functions this person has been undertaking and the nature of the contract awarded to this person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14371/15]

Legislative Measures

Mick Wallace

358. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to enact the Garda Síochána (No. 3) (Amendment) Bill 2014; and if it will be commenced in its entirety, or in a piecemeal fashion. [14372/15]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission

Mick Wallace

3. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will update Dáil Éireann on the appointment of a replacement for the former Chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC; if she is satisfied that the Commission is sufficiently resourced to deal with challenges facing it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13488/15]

Garda Oversight

Mick Wallace

5. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that it is over one year since the departure of the former Garda Commissioner, if she is satisfied with efforts made to change the culture and workings of An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13489/15]

Garda Inspectorate Reports

Mick Wallace

14. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied that sufficient progress has been made in relation to addressing the problems highlighted in the Garda Inspectorate report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13398/15]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission

Mick Wallace

19. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied that Garda whistleblowers are being adequately served by the new arrangement whereby the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has now taken over the role of the confidential recipient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13395/15]

Independent Review Mechanism

Mick Wallace

21. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that the independent review mechanism is not conducting full investigations into the cases but rather assessing whether they merit full investigation, the reason it is taking so long; when the findings of the assessments will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13396/15]

Policing Authority Establishment

Mick Wallace

24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when we may expect the legislation relating to the establishment of a Garda authority, in view of the fact that she had promised that this body would be up and running by the end of 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13397/15]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Remit

Mick Wallace

111. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied with the new arrangement whereby the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission now takes on responsibility for the role of a confidential recipient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13490/15]

Proposed Legislation

Mick Wallace

112. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason much of the promised legislation relating to reform of An Garda Síochána has been delayed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13491/15]

Spent Convictions Legislation

Mick Wallace

451. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when she expects to have legislation before Dáil Éireann to provide for cautions and convictions for lesser crimes to be deemed to be spent; if she does not have such plans, the reason there is no such provision envisaged and the reason Ireland will not be introducing such legislation, which is the norm in the vast majority of legislative jurisdictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11341/15]

Garda Operations

Mick Wallace

329. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the Garda Síochána codes of conduct in place to guide Garda conduct when dealing with persons with disabilities; her views on having the official Garda Síochána code of conduct published in the spirit of transparency and the public interest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10307/15]

Garda Equipment

Mick Wallace

330. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the policies and procedures surrounding EvoFIT, the new Garda facial recognition software, particularly relating to the compilation of its database; her views on the compliance of Garda policy and procedure with data protection laws in general; if EvoFIT and policing policy in this regard have been specifically pre-checked for compliance with privacy and data protection laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10308/15]

Garda Inspectorate Reports

Mick Wallace

331. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to discuss in Dáil Éireann the Garda inspectorate report into serious crime, dated November 2014; if she and the Garda Commissioner are both committed to implementing every one of the 200 recommendations therein; if she will provide a timeframe and an update on the progress that has been made on implementing each of those recommendations in tabular form, with a particular focus on the categorisation and compiling of crime statistics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10309/15]

Garda Reports

Mick Wallace

332. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to provide for discussion of the recent report of the Garda professional standards unit into the cancellation of fixed charge notices; her reason for not publishing a redacted version of the second report; her plans to introduce legislative changes on foot of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10310/15]

Garda Oversight

Mick Wallace

333. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the terms of reference for those tasked with the independent review mechanism; the set of rules that apply to the practice and procedure of the mechanism; the full set of possible remedies that may arise once these reviews are concluded; if the reviews will be provided without redaction to the families and complainant; any appeal mechanism that applies from her decision; the reason she chose this method to properly investigate these claims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10311/15]

Proposed Legislation

Mick Wallace

334. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on commissioning an independent report concerning prostitution and trafficking here; the impact of the proposed legislation to criminalise the purchaser in the sex trafficking industry; to make a comparison with other models in Sweden and elsewhere; the methods and resources An Garda Síochána will be expected to use in investigating and detecting offenders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10312/15]

Parole Boards

Mick Wallace

34. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her legislative plans to reform the Parole Board of Ireland, in view of recent criticism, particularly about the decision-making process and the extent of ministerial input into temporary release; her views on failures identified in a report (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7069/15]

Garda Remuneration

Mick Wallace

312. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she is satisfied with her Department's allocation for the current wage scale for new Garda recruits, particularly in view of the removal in 2014 of the rent allowance allocation of roughly €4,000 per year, which constitutes a significant cut to the pay package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5774/15]

Garda Remuneration

Mick Wallace

313. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details on the implications of the Haddington Road agreement on salaries in An Garda Síochána, in particular, in relation to the pay package for new Garda recruits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5775/15]

Communications Surveillance

Mick Wallace

3. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the British intelligence body GCHQ's tapping of the underground cable between Ireland and Britain was authorised by her; if so, the legislation under which it was authorised; if not, the action she will take regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1415/15]

Commissions of Investigation

Mick Wallace

5. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the establishment and date of commencement of the Guerin Commission of Investigation along with copy order and details regarding pricing and staffing appointments and relevant responsible Departments; the reason for their particular terms of reference and their publication on 19 December 2014 which was not a sitting day of Dáil Éireann; and the reason independent review mechanism cases have not been included but confined to a parallel legal process. [1553/15]

Sexual Offences Data

Mick Wallace

12. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on commissioning an independent report of the statistics regarding prostitution and trafficking; the impact of the proposed legislation to criminalise the buyer on sex-trafficking, along with a comparison of all other models, and not just the Swedish model; and if she will provide the methods and resources An Garda Síochána will be expected to use in the investigation and detection of the proposed offence. [1413/15]

Garda Inspectorate Reports

Mick Wallace

13. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in detail the action taken by her on the findings of the Garda Inspectorate report chapter relating to the Guerin report and the Secretary General vacancy in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1416/15]

Military Aircraft Landings

Mick Wallace

25. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views that it is acceptable that the Garda has not conducted any searches of US military or troop-carrying aircraft at Shannon airport, in view of the fact that the UN Committee Against Torture specifically stated that in order to comply with our international legal responsibilities regarding torture and suspected renditions, relying on diplomatic assurances was insufficient; and the action she will take in this regard. [1414/15]

Policing Authority Establishment

Mick Wallace

458. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views with the previous Ombudsman for Children that a representative from that office should be represented on the new independent Garda authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43962/14]

Public Procurement Contracts Data

Mick Wallace

111. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details on all contracts awarded by the Irish Prison Service to building consultants and firms over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47456/14]

Public Procurement Contracts Data

Mick Wallace

112. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide details on the firm awarded the winning tender for the redevelopment of Limerick prison; if she will provide details on the value of the contract in question and the criteria for its award; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47457/14]

Policing Authority Establishment

Mick Wallace

117. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the policy reasons for her decision to retain ministerial control of policing in the same hierarchical arrangement, to include the political appointment and protection of both the Garda Commissioner and head of the policing authority; if she will set out in detail the process being applied to the two appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43823/14]

Garda Oversight

Mick Wallace

122. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps taken and progress made to address the root causes of each of the Garda controversies from earlier this year, to include any improvements or departures in direction since her tenure as Minister commenced; if she will provide a clear timeframe for her reform programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43822/14]

Policing Authority Establishment

Mick Wallace

260. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on putting an independent mechanism in place to deal with the selection of the proposed new policing authority board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41138/14]

Garda Inspectorate Reports

Mick Wallace

261. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the delay in the publication of the Garda Inspectorate report into Garda handling of serious crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41139/14]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Investigations

Mick Wallace

294. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the recommendations that criminal proceedings be issued against a named garda following the investigation by GSOC into the criminal activities of the gardaí who were involved in a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44096/14]

Penalty Points System Investigation

Mick Wallace

264. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the action she has taken following new allegations regarding the continued abuse of the penalty points system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36806/14]

Garda Commissioner Appointment

Mick Wallace

20. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the process to be used in the selection of the new Garda Commissioner; the number of applicants from outside the State to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35414/14]