Parliamentary questions

Closed-Circuit Television Systems

Pa Daly

220. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice when she expects the installation of the CCTV project that was sought for three schemes (details supplied) in Killarney, County Kerry, with particular emphasis on scheme 2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24455/24]

Coroners Service

Steven Matthews

141. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding the ongoing review of the coroner’s service following the closure of the public consultation in January 2024; to provide a timeline for the publication of the reports; the parameters of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24184/24]

Theft of Animals

Catherine Murphy

142. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of thefts of domestic dogs and/or pets reported to An Garda Síochána in the past three years to date. [24231/24]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

143. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if all formal requests from An Garda Síochána and the Government since 2021 for intelligence and other co-operation from the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom authorities relating to bombings in this jurisdiction in 1972 and 1973 have been fully facilitated; if An Garda Síochána is satisfied that no further information held by the PSNI or the UK authorities has been withheld or is outstanding following these specific requests relating to those heinous crimes committed more than 50 years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24234/24]

Naturalisation Applications

Bernard Durkan

144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in progressing an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24259/24]

Road Traffic Offences

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

145. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Justice the number of fixed charge notices and penalty points issued for driving in cycling lanes in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in total and on a geographical basis, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24266/24]

An Garda Síochána

Mairéad Farrell

146. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the total overtime paid to Garda members and to gardaí at sergeant rank in each of the years between 2020 and 2023; and the total of overtime payments made to gardaí and to sergeants in Q1 of 2024, respectively (January, February and March). [24270/24]

International Protection

Jim O'Callaghan

147. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider extending the hours of operation of the International Protection Office on Mount Street Lower, Dublin 2 to process applicants for international protection given the significant increase in the number making applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24327/24]

Departmental Staff

Chris Andrews

326. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice if he will ensure that there is a designated liaison staff member located at the IPO office on Mount Street who will communicate and engage with the local residents’ group, which has been very patient and understanding over the past 14 months. [23614/24]

An Garda Síochána

Catherine Murphy

327. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of e-bikes and e-scooters seized by gardaí within the Wicklow division in 2022 and 2023 and to date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23578/24]

Visa Applications

Pádraig O'Sullivan

328. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications that are currently being processed for the join family (sponsor is a spouse and Irish citizen) visa; the average processing time for a visa of this nature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23596/24]

Visa Applications

Mary Lou McDonald

329. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of the case of a Palestinian woman (details supplied) who has fled from Gaza to join their family in County Dublin; and if she will take the necessary steps to support their visa application. [23606/24]

Court Procedures

Josepha Madigan

330. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Justice the measures that are being taken by her Department to modernise and update contempt of court laws; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23632/24]

Visa Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

331. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice when a decision will issue on a stamp 4 application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23655/24]

Visa Applications

James O'Connor

332. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the status of a visa application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23664/24]

Visa Applications

Bernard Durkan

333. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if a change in visa status for a person (details supplied) can be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23676/24]

An Garda Síochána

Ged Nash

334. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Justice to provide figures relating to the number of members of An Garda Síochána serving in the community policing unit and the regular unit in Drogheda Garda station from 2017 to 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23721/24]

Immigration Policy

Paul Murphy

335. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of the negative impact that not being able to work or engage in any business, trade or profession is having on stamp 3 holders; if she will request her Department to review a document (details supplied); her views on whether it would help to provide to people on general employment permits the same rights as those on critical skills permits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23752/24]

Tobacco Control Measures

John Paul Phelan

336. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Justice the details of the number of fines issued by the courts for offences relating to the sale of illicit tobacco and tobacco smuggling in 2022 and 2023 that have been paid; and the number that remain unpaid. [23787/24]

Naturalisation Applications

Aindrias Moynihan

337. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice when an application for naturalisation/citizenship for an individual (details supplied) will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23831/24]

Work Permits

Pa Daly

338. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice if she would consider allowing the spouses of non-EU PhD students the right to work where they hold a stamp 2A permission. [23847/24]

Immigration Policy

Patrick Costello

339. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for an update in relation to efforts to regularise the migration situation between Ireland and Georgia, particularly through the provision of visa waivers or work-related visas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23954/24]

Crime Prevention

Patrick Costello

340. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the steps she and her Department are taking to prevent further attacks on politicians, political candidates and campaigners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23955/24]

Crime Prevention

Patrick Costello

341. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the steps her Department is taking to monitor and combat the increasingly violent far right in Ireland and to prevent further violent actions by these individuals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23957/24]

Work Permits

Holly Cairns

342. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if the recent extension of stamp 1G permissions can be extended to spouses of non-EU PhD students, given the contribution such students make to the Irish economy and education sector. [23985/24]

An Garda Síochána

Sorca Clarke

343. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the initial and ongoing training provided to members of An Garda Síochána and any civil support staff in communicating and interacting with individuals with ADHD and ASD. [24009/24]

Prison Service

Paul Murphy

344. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of different cell or room types of accommodation for prisoners, by metric size, not including the sanitary annex, for all prisons and open centres in the prison estate, by individual prison (details supplied). [24074/24]

Prison Service

Paul Murphy

345. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will amend the misleading figures supplied to the CPT in 2019 regarding capacity and inform the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of the amendment. [24075/24]

Prison Service

Paul Murphy

346. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the capacity for the total prison estate, having exact regard to the minimum recommendations of the European Prison Rules, not the IPS's calculation based on 'the bed capacity refers to the maximum number of beds which can be present/operational in a prison at any one time'. [24076/24]

Prison Service

Paul Murphy

347. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice in light of the then acting Minister for Justice’s direction to the Department of Justice in May 2023 to fast track the 39-year old recommendation of the 1/3rd Remission Regulation, and the current Minister's rescinding of such direction two weeks later, if she will now enact the regulation and reduce the 'record high-risk overcrowding', and avoid what her Department refers to 'a warning of violence in packed jails'. [24077/24]

Prison Service

Paul Murphy

348. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the steps she has taken to quell a riot or serious violence in Mountjoy Prison or other prisons as a result of overcrowding, such as occurred under her watch in Dublin in 2023; and how long it would take to implement such steps from the start of the outbreak. [24078/24]

Prison Service

Paul Murphy

349. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware the director general of the Irish Prison Service declared in March 2020 that the 'murderers, sex offenders and gang-land criminals' would not receive temporary release; if this is contrary to legislation currently in force before the introduction of the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022, and such a declaration is contributing to overcrowding; and the action she intends to take to rectify this illegality. [24079/24]

Prison Service

Paul Murphy

350. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware that the director general of the Irish Prison Service, who administers the remission regime on behalf of the Minister, informed the then-Minister in May 2023 that those convicted of 'domestic, sexual or gender-based offences' would not receive remission; if she is in agreement with this; if this is contrary to legislation currently in force before the introduction of the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 and is contributing to overcrowding; and the action she intends to take to rectify this illegality [24080/24]

Legislative Measures

Paul Murphy

351. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware that a judge (details supplied) in the High Court in August 2020 criticised her Department for not implementing an aspect of the State's refugee regime when an Act stated the Minister ''shall'' establish a board, but did not, saying it was a way of undermining the rule of law ''to commence the legislation, but simply do nothing to implement it''; and if successive Ministers have failed to fully implement the Parole Act 2019, even though a commitment is included in the Programme for Government, to ‘fully enact the Act’. [24081/24]

Prison Service

Paul Murphy

352. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she intends to implement the 1/3rd Remission Regulation first recommended by the Whitaker Report in 1985, and again by the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality Report on Penal Reform 2013 and Strategic Review Group Final Report 2014, and which the present Taoiseach directed her Department to fast track in May 2023, when the prison population was 4,567 and is now 4,922, and which she subsequently rescinded in June 2023 to help ease overcrowding. [24082/24]

Prison Service

Paul Murphy

353. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners certified for each prison in the most recent Rule 18 certificates issued before this date to each Governor; and how many certificates have been issued since 20 June 2020. [24083/24]

Prison Service

Paul Murphy

354. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if each of the current Rule 18 certificates for all prisons stated capacity is in excess of the minimum standard recommended by European Prison Rules; and if so, by how much. [24084/24]

Prison Service

Paul Murphy

355. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if a governor of a prison is obliged to accept prisoners over the number certified by Rule 18 certificate or over the number taking into account the European Prison Rules; and if the governor accepts prisoners over the numbers stated, if the governor is personally liable for a litigation claim as a result of overcrowding in that prison. [24085/24]

Prison Service

Paul Murphy

356. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if a governor of a prison accepts prisoners over the number recommended by European Prison Rules in respect of accommodation in that prison, whether certified by a current Rule 18 certificate or not, the governor is personally liable for a litigation claim as a result of overcrowding in that prison. [24086/24]

Departmental Policies

Brendan Smith

357. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice when it is proposed to re-establish the Firearms Consultative Panel to ensure a structured forum for regular and inclusive engagement between policymakers and organisations representing firearms users; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24103/24]

Citizenship Applications

James Lawless

227. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Justice the fees for citizenship applications for persons (details supplied); and the process and path to citizenship in each case. [23481/24]

Visa Applications

Bernard Durkan

228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which work permit-related visas continue to be issued in line with the requirements of those seeking such visas; if a quick turnaround can be managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23498/24]

Prison Service

Peadar Tóibín

229. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the plans to alleviate the crisis of prisoner overcrowding for prisoners and staff where there has been a substantial increase in the prison population in all prisons countrywide, and in view of the plans for Thornton Hall to be used for IPAS, which was originally intended as a site for a new prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23343/24]

Prison Service

Peadar Tóibín

230. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of male and female prisoners in each prison; the number of prison rooms per each prison; and the number occupying each prison room in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [23344/24]

An Garda Síochána

Patrick Costello

231. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications to join An Garda Síochána to date this year; the number of recruits currently in training; the number of recruitment offers made to date this year; the projected number of new gardaí to be recruited this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23395/24]

Road Traffic Offences

Patrick Costello

232. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of fixed charge speeding notices issued and paid, by Garda division, by month, for 2023 and to date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23410/24]

Peace Commissioners

Éamon Ó Cuív

233. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the process involved in appointing peace commissioners, including the application process and the method by which these positions are advertised; the number of peace commissioners in the State, broken down by county; if it is intended to amend the law in relation to this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23435/24]

Prison Service

Éamon Ó Cuív

234. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice when the enquiries into the death of a prisoner in custody (details supplied) will be completed; the nature of these enquiries; when she expects to receive a report on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23436/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

235. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the total costs incurred by her Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in online/digital media platforms; the names of the online platforms involved, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23450/24]

Immigration Status

Bernard Durkan

236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the procedure to be followed in order to renew expired Stamp 4 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23507/24]