Parliamentary questions

Direct Provision System

Mick Wallace

40. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on reports that residents at a direct provision centre were moved to accommodate a wedding; if inquiries will be made as to whether this has happened at other direct provision centres; and if contact with the centre responsible has been made. [26862/19]

Direct Provision System

Mick Wallace

43. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he has taken with the Coroners Service, An Garda Síochána and the various companies that run the direct provision centres to ensure the circumstances regarding the death of a person (details supplied) are never repeated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26864/19]

Direct Provision System

Mick Wallace

53. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he is taking to facilitate the 200 plus residents at Hatch Hall direct provision centre following the announcement of its closure; the reason for the closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26871/19]

Direct Provision Data

Mick Wallace

54. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason he has ceased publishing data with regard to the number and nature of deaths of persons residing in direct provision centres; if he will consider recommencing collection of the data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26863/19]

Public Sector Staff Sick Leave

Mick Wallace

61. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 31 of 16 May 2019, the number of serving members of An Garda Síochána absent from work on sick leave due to stress-related factors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26865/19]

Prisoner Privacy

Mick Wallace

228. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints made by prisoners and or their families regarding breaches of privacy to the Irish Prison Service over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24891/19]

Prison Staff

Mick Wallace

229. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prison officers formally disciplined by the Irish Prison Service in response to breaches of prisoner privacy in 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24892/19]

Direct Provision System

Mick Wallace

131. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason An Garda Síochána, in response to requests and reminders by the RIA on 4 April 2019, 17 April 2019 and 3 May 2019, did not release the body of a person (details supplied) for burial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24482/19]

Direct Provision System

Mick Wallace

132. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the coroner authorised for a person (details supplied) to be buried in private with no ceremony, when there were requests and reminders on 4 April 2019, 17 April 2019 and 3 May 2019 by the RIA for the release of the body for a public burial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24483/19]

Direct Provision System

Mick Wallace

142. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures in place to ensure the welfare and fair treatment of residents in direct provision centres; the complaints procedures in place for residents; the appeals processes that exist if a resident is not satisfied with a decision in relation to a complaint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22392/19]

Direct Provision System

Mick Wallace

143. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of unannounced inspections for each direct provision accommodation centre carried out by the Reception and Integration Agency in each of the years 2013 to 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22393/19]

Direct Provision System

Mick Wallace

144. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to a protest on 25 April 2019 by a large number of residents in a direct provision centre (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to video footage posted on a social media platform showing the owner of the centre informing protestors that the protest will impact on them; if he or the Reception and Integration Agency has investigated the events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22394/19]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Funding

Mick Wallace

14. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that GSOC is receiving all available support in terms of funding and support from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21107/19]

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Mick Wallace

15. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the fact that An Garda Síochána is conducting criminal investigations of its own members without the knowledge or participation of GSOC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21109/19]

Policing Co-operation

Mick Wallace

17. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the rationale for the proposed participation of Ireland in the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation; the benefits of participation; if a budgetary contribution to the agency is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21110/19]

Garda Corruption

Mick Wallace

21. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has had discussions with the Garda Commissioner regarding the establishment of an internal corruption unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21108/19]

Public Sector Staff Sick Leave

Mick Wallace

31. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of serving members of An Garda Síochána currently absent from work on sick leave due to stress-related factors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21111/19]

Data Protection Commissioner

Mick Wallace

130. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to appoint additional commissioners to the Data Protection Commission as provided for in section 15(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018 in view of the large workload increases for the commission in terms of enforcement, investigation and supervision post the general data protection regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18148/19]

Protected Disclosures Data

Mick Wallace

15. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the work of the panel of barristers examining protected disclosures within An Garda Síochána; the number and names of counsel employed to date on the panel in tabular form; the fees paid to counsel to date; if he is satisfied with the work of the panel to date; if he has had discussions with the Garda Commissioner about same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11995/19]

Prisoner Welfare

Mick Wallace

17. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners who have died in prisons since 2011 to date; if he is satisfied that the Irish Prison Service is adequately funded to deal with prisoner welfare; if he is satisfied that the best international practice is in place in prisons here to assist prisoners with mental health difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11993/19]

Direct Provision System

Mick Wallace

34. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the recent alleged arson attacks on possible sites for direct provision and asylum seekers; if he has discussed the matter with the Garda Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11994/19]

Gambling Sector

Mick Wallace

271. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of occasions in each of the years 2016 to 2018 when An Garda Síochána intervened to cease the unlawful operation of gaming machines. [7735/19]

Gambling Sector

Mick Wallace

286. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 4 December 2018 and Parliamentary Question No. 432 of 15 January 2019, if he stands over his statement in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 4 December 2018 that all lawful gaming in amusement and gaming arcades here is confined to areas in respect of which Part III of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 is in force in view of the fact that in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 432 of 15 January 2019, he states that he is advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there are two premises in Dublin that either have a gaming licence and are licensed to make available for play or were so licensed up to a recent date in view of the fact that local authorities in Dublin have not passed resolutions to permit such gaming activity under Part III of the Act. [8121/19]

Protected Disclosures

Mick Wallace

35. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that the system regarding protected disclosures within An Garda Síochána is functioning properly, if he has had contact with the new Garda Commissioner on this issue since his appointment and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4387/19]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Funding

Mick Wallace

36. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether funding issues may be impeding the ability of GSOC to deal with protected disclosures in an expedient and timely manner; if he has considered increasing the budget for GSOC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4388/19]

Sex Offenders Treatment Programme

Mick Wallace

43. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the fact that the uptake in the Building Better Lives programme for sexual offenders is decreasing year on year; if proposals to make this programme mandatory will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4385/19]

Legislative Programme

Mick Wallace

53. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Judicial Council Bill 2017; when he expects it to progress to Dáil Éireann; the reason for the delay to date; his views on whether this is having a negative impact on the courts system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4384/19]

Garda Data

Mick Wallace

112. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda vehicles that were allocated to Wexford Garda division in 2018; and the number of vehicles removed from the division in 2018. [3252/19]

Gambling Sector

Mick Wallace

252. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 251 of 6 February 2018, the enforcement role An Garda Síochána has in regard to unlicensed gaming activities and the availability of gaming machines in locations in which gaming is prohibited; when the report he requested from the Garda authorities on this matter in February 2018 will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2789/19]

Garda Recruitment

Mick Wallace

85. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to review the maximum age limit of 35 years of age for normal entry into An Garda Síochána in order to maximise recruitment opportunities and diversity as suggested in the review of entry routes to An Garda Síochána advice by the Garda Inspectorate published in May 2018. [52495/18]

Prisoner Transfers

Mick Wallace

125. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 20 of 17 October 2018, the meaning of the reactivation of all existing applications for repatriation under the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act 1995 in practical terms for UK prisoners depending on their sentence type in view of the fact that the applications are likely to lapse without the required legislative changes to the Act; his views on whether the reactivations may raise false expectations of prisoners and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51271/18]

Prison Mental Health Services

Mick Wallace

24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the fact that there may be an inadequate level of mental health support for prisoners here as highlighted by a recent report by the IPRT; his further views on the fact that Irish prisons may not be meeting the standards of best international practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49796/18]

Surveillance Operations

Mick Wallace

38. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on reports that prison officers have been put under surveillance; the details of the investigation he has ordered into same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49793/18]

Asylum Seeker Employment

Mick Wallace

40. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers that have been granted the right to work since June 2018; his views on the fact that the limitations imposed are stopping asylum seekers from obtaining work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49792/18]

Commission on the Future of Policing Reports

Mick Wallace

48. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to implement the recommendations in the Commission on the Future of Policing report; his views on the fact that some of the recommendations may dilute accountability; and the recommendations he will be implementing. [49794/18]

Garda Training

Mick Wallace

18. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether there is an over-reliance on An Garda Síochána with regard to incidents surrounding mental health; if he is satisfied that members of An Garda Síochána are receiving adequate and up-to-date training in the area of mental health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42439/18]

Prisoner Transfers

Mick Wallace

20. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the progress of the transfer of sentenced persons for cases outside of the UK that were reactivated earlier in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42442/18]

Commission on the Future of Policing Reports

Mick Wallace

24. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the proposed Garda Síochána board as recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing; his further views on whether this will lead to a decrease in external oversight of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42438/18]

Commission on the Future of Policing Reports

Mick Wallace

45. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the recommendations by the Commission on the Future of Policing to establish two new oversight bodies for An Garda Síochána; his further views on the fact that two members of the commission noted their disagreement with these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42441/18]

Criminal Law

Mick Wallace

54. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on reports by an organisation (details supplied) that there has been an increase in violence towards workers in the sex industry; his further views on whether the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 may be contributing to these incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42440/18]

Gambling Sector

Mick Wallace

621. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 251 of 6 February 2018, if the report he requested from An Garda Síochána on the enforcement role An Garda Síochána has with regard to unlicensed gaming activities and the availability of gaming machines in locations in which gaming in prohibited has been received. [32433/18]

Commission on the Future of Policing Reports

Mick Wallace

11. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he expects the Commission on the Future of Policing to finalise its final report; if he has received an interim report to date; the costs associated with the running of the commission, including salaries and so on, since its inception; if the new Garda Commissioner will be bound by the expected recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing; if the Minister has discussed the commission and its work with the new Garda Commissioner; if his attention has been drawn to whether the work of the commission was raised during the interview process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29597/18]

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Mick Wallace

16. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of refugees Ireland has accepted under the refugee protection programme; when the original figure of 4,000 refugees will be reached; the reason for the delays in resettlement and relocation; his views on whether the family reunification programme will experience delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29600/18]

Garda Retirements

Mick Wallace

29. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has had discussions with the Garda Inspectorate regarding retirement figures in An Garda Síochána; if he has assessed the possible need for a foreign recruitment drive particularly in the area of white collar crime; his plans to have discussions with the new Garda Commissioner with regard to these retirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29598/18]

Protected Disclosures Data

Mick Wallace

46. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the functioning of the protected disclosures system in An Garda Síochána; his further views on whether it is serving the needs of those who make a protected disclosure; the number of protected disclosures An Garda Síochána has received since 2014 under this system; the number of the disclosures that are still under active investigation; the length of time each investigation has taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29601/18]

Gambling Sector

Mick Wallace

70. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 135 of 7 February 2018, the number of prosecutions that were commenced in respect of unlicensed gaming activity for non-compliance with gaming licensing requirements in each of the years 2010 to 2017, by district; the number of these that led to convictions; the enforcement role An Garda Síochána has in regard to unlicensed gaming activities and the availability of gaming machines in locations in which gaming is prohibited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29599/18]

Direct Provision Data

Mick Wallace

235. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which single adults residing in direct provision are sharing rooms; the number who have been sharing rooms for over 12 and 24 months, respectively; the range of beds per room in shared rooms, that is, the highest number of beds to the lowest number of beds; and the average number of beds per room in shared rooms across the direct provision portfolio. [26271/18]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Mick Wallace

251. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Policing Authority has not issued guidelines to the Garda Commissioner regarding the supervision and control by the Commissioner of the monitoring of CCTV by authorised persons under section 38(11) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26357/18]

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Mick Wallace

498. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the Policing Authority has not yet issued guidelines on CCTV schemes in accordance with section 31(d) of the Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015; when the Policing Authority will issue these guidelines; if he issued guidelines prior to the 2015 Act as per section 38(11)(a) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24932/18]

Employment Rights

Mick Wallace

40. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider re-evaluating the restrictions in place on the right to work of asylum seekers with regard to specific occupations in view of a Supreme Court decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22698/18]