Parliamentary questions

Official Engagements

Micheál Martin

1. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the number of non-party political events which he has attended in each month during 2012 which have been handled by the protocol section of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47363/12]

Official Engagements

Gerry Adams

2. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the role of the protocol section of his Department in organising non-party political events. [55213/12]

Social Partnership

Gerry Adams

3. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on his process of social dialogue. [47414/12]

Social Partnership

Gerry Adams

4. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the groups he has met as part of his process of social dialogue. [49776/12]

Social Partnership

Micheál Martin

5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the progress there has been on his plan to abolish the National Economic and Social Development Office and place the National Economic and Social Council on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50873/12]

Social Partnership

Micheál Martin

6. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he has met the social partners recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52234/12]

Social Partnership

Gerry Adams

7. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach his plans regarding the future of the National Economic and Social Council. [52243/12]

Garda Policing Plans

Niall Collins

51. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the closure of Garda stations in 2013; his plans for Garda recruitment; his plans for the total number of Gardaí in 2013, 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55542/12]

Penalty Point System

Pádraig MacLochlainn

52. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on any internal inquiry currently being conducted following reports from a garda whistle blower (detail supplied) that a number of persons had penalty points written off; if he has met with the Garda Commissioner regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54672/12]

Prison Visiting Committees Expenditure

Maureen O'Sullivan

53. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the disparities between the Inspector of Prisons' report on St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin and the Visiting Committee Report of 2010; the location at which it is planned to accommodate 18 to 21 year olds, who would currently be residing in St. Patrick's Institution (detail supplied), after 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54640/12]

Gangland Killings

Niall Collins

54. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps being taken to address the increase in gangland crime and murders over the past number of months; if his attention has been drawn to a recent United States Congressional Research Service report entitled Terrorism and Transnational Crime: Foreign Policy Issues for Congress, in which it cited US Department of Homeland Security authorities which found that the production, smuggling and sale of tobacco products, including genuine and counterfeit cigarettes, is a lucrative form of financing for organised crime as well as terrorist groups (details supplied): if he is satisfied that Garda resources are being adequately deployed to tackle this source of income for dissident republicans as part of their efforts to tackle gangland crime; if he has discussed the issue with the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55543/12]

Defence Forces Deployment

Tom Fleming

55. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will second Irish army soldiers at corporal and sergeant level to act as assistance to the Garda Síochána unarmed for a period of two years following three months training and that they would be placed on foot pattrol in areas of high crime in larger towns and cities. [54641/12]

Equality Issues

Pearse Doherty

56. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reassure those with potential equality claims that their cases will continue to be processed in an effective way by the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and by the Workplace Relations Commission, into which the Equality Tribunal is to be merged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54483/12]

Traveller Community Issues

Dessie Ellis

57. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce legislation to recognise Traveller ethnicity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54485/12]

Penalty Point System

Michael McGrath

58. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made in his Department's investigation into the writing off of penalty points on certain persons' records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55464/12]

Courts Service Issues

Mary Lou McDonald

59. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to address delays in the Courts Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54479/12]

Joint Policing Committees Remit

Willie O'Dea

60. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the future of joint policing committees; his view on broadening their remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55484/12]

Proposed Legislation

Sandra McLellan

61. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which a new Mental Capacity Bill will be published. [54481/12]

Garda Investigations

Denis Naughten

62. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 20 June 2012, the position regarding the Garda review of the murder of Fr. Niall Molloy at Clara, County Offaly, in July 1985; if he will accede to the request by the family for an independent inquiry into the priest's death; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54353/12]

European Court of Human Rights Rulings

Michael Colreavy

63. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the decision in the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), in MM v United Kingdom, ruled that the indefinite retention and disclosure of minor criminal records infringed Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which protects private and family life; and his plans to address same in the context of the recently passed National Vetting Bureau Bill. [54478/12]

Crime Prevention

Sandra McLellan

64. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to emphasise and resource diversion measures to help at-risk persons make better choices and stop or avoid offending behaviour. [54482/12]

Court Accommodation Provision

Dara Calleary

65. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the closures of court buildings across the country; the total number of buildings closed by location since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55470/12]

Proposed Legislation

Dessie Ellis

66. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce comprehensive family law reforms that will provide for children being parented by lesbian or gay couples. [54486/12]

Prison Visiting Regulations

Brian Stanley

67. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the fact that international research demonstrates that strong family relationships are key to the successful reintegration of prisoners on release; and his plans to address this matter in the context of denial of visits due to prison discipline, which is against human rights standards. [54466/12]

Penalty Point System

Clare Daly

68. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has received information regarding the write off of a number of motoring offences for a person (details supplied). [54508/12]

Probation and Welfare Service

Martin Ferris

69. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to adequately resource the Probation Service into the future to effectively administer the community return scheme and the increased volume of Community Service Orders following the enactment of the Criminal Justice (Community Service)(Amendment) Act 2011. [54469/12]

Road Safety Authority Campaigns

Thomas P. Broughan

70. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there will be an enhanced road safety campaign on the roads over the Christmas period; if this will include increased Garda checkpoints; if resources have been allocated to An Garda Siochána to facilitate an enhanced Christmas road safety campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54355/12]

Garda Stations Closures

Michael Moynihan

71. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the closure of Garda stations across the country in 2013; the location of the closures; the estimated savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55476/12]

Garda Compensation

Timmy Dooley

72. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the future of the Garda compensation fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55478/12]

Proposed Legislation

Gerry Adams

73. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which he will address the decision in the European Court of Justice MM case in the intervening period before the publication of a new Immigration Bill. [54464/12]

Spent Convictions Legislation

Michelle Mulherin

74. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to address the issue of spent convictions which was dealt with in the Law Reform Commission report in or around 2007 which would allow the slate to be cleaned in relation to certain offences after a number of years for a convicted person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54358/12]

Youth Services Provision

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

75. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which the new national youth justice strategy will be published. [54488/12]

Garda Strength

Thomas P. Broughan

76. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will ensure that the number of members in An Garda Síochána does not drop below 13,000 in view of the recent comments of the Garda Commissioner in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54356/12]

Child Protection Issues

Richard Boyd Barrett

77. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the measures in place to ensure the safety and welfare of children in direct provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54503/12]

Proposed Legislation

Mary Lou McDonald

78. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which he will introduce a Criminal Justice (Proceeds of Crime) Bill; and if he will insert a provision allowing for this money to be ring-fenced and put back into communities worst affected by drugs and crime. [54480/12]

Rights of People with Disabilities

Peadar Tóibín

79. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54476/12]

Judicial Appointments

Pádraig MacLochlainn

80. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will introduce an open and transparent appointment and removal criteria and process for the judiciary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54462/12]

Child Detention Centres

Seán Crowe

81. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners under 18 years of age who remain in St. Patrick’s Institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54472/12]

Third Level Fees

Richard Boyd Barrett

82. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the doubling of registration fees for non-EEA nationals to €300; the basis for giving five days' notice to non-EEA nationals of the increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54502/12]

Asylum Seeker Accommodation

Jonathan O'Brien

83. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to address the concerns set out in the recent Irish Refugee Council report on conditions in State-funded accommodation for those seeking asylum. [54474/12]

Prisoner Releases

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

84. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to place on a statutory footing, clear and transparent criteria for release of prisoners through remission, temporary release and parole, as well as provision of the disclosure of reasons to prisoners for all decisions taken and the remedy to appeal any decision taken. [54468/12]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues

Charlie McConalogue

85. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of personnel in the Gardaí that are assigned to combating white collar crime; the number of forensic accountants in the force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55495/12]

Asylum Seeker Accommodation

Peadar Tóibín

86. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has met with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs regarding the issue of separated children seeking asylum who are removed from Health Service Executive care at the age of 18 years at which point they enter accommodation funded by his Department; the legal barriers to allowing them to remain with their foster carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54475/12]

Property Transfers

John Browne

87. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has had any further discussion with the Law Society regarding changes recommended by the Conveyancing Task Force on property transfers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55466/12]

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Issues

Alan Farrell

88. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if any consultation process occurred between his Department and the British Government prior to the announcement of the G8 summit in Enniskillen in relation to the requirement for extra security forces; if there will be extra security required in Irish airports and on the border in the run up and during the G8 Summit in 2013; the loations from which resources will be taken in respect of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54352/12]

Garda Transport Provision

Catherine Murphy

89. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda cars which will be deployed as part of his recent announcement; the locations at which said cars will be deployed; if he has determined the allocation of new cars based on need; if he will state the number of cars that have been retired this year; if there will be similar commitments in terms of new Garda cars in 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54442/12]

Departmental Funding

Michael Colreavy

90. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding allocated to disability groups and organisations over each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54477/12]

Garda Equipment

Mick Wallace

91. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for increasing the numbers of patrol cars for an Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54498/12]

Courts Staff

Derek Keating

92. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the resignation of convicted District Court judge (details supplied), a judge found guilty of attempting to deceive an elderly client, if he will outline the salary that the judge was in receipt of; the length of time they were a Justice of the District Court; if their resignation entitles them to any pension, gratuity, lump sum payment, severance or any other such payment from the Courts Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54351/12]

Prison Accommodation

Brian Stanley

93. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to increase the number of child-friendly visiting areas in prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54465/12]