Written Answers Nos. 87-111
87. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update regarding the Dungloe sewerage scheme, with reference to the concerns of local residents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23428/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. The further progression of all water services capital projects and issues pertaining to them is now a matter for Irish Water. Irish Water has recently published its proposed Capital Investment Plan 2014 – 2016 and this is available to download from the Irish Water website, www.water.ie.
Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that it has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
88. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the full criteria for exemptions to the local property tax for unfinished estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23438/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 10 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012, an exemption from liability can arise for properties located in developments prescribed on a list made by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government where the Minister is satisfied that the developments on the list are incomplete to a substantial extent, having regard to the condition of public infrastructure and amenities, including access, water services, public lighting and amenity areas. An exemption from the Local Property Tax applies to developments listed in the Schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013. The list of unfinished housing developments eligible for the exemption was compiled by local authorities utilising the categorisation employed for the purposes of the National Housing Survey 2012. The survey was carried out over the course of summer 2012 by my Department in conjunction with local authorities and the Housing Agency. Only developments that were deemed by local authorities to be in a “seriously problematic condition”, regardless of whether a developer was on or off site, were included in the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013.
The Government has taken a number of significant steps to address the issue of Unfinished Housing Developments, in particular the development of Site Resolution Plans (SRPs), agreed between residents, developers, funders and local authority personnel for the finalisation of works on site to render estates as habitable as possible, have been pivotal in resolving a large number of estates. In the 2013 National Housing Survey, of the 1,811 estates inspected, there were 607 in some stage of SRPs. Specifically, 281 were agreed and ready for implementation, 213 had commenced while 113 had been completed. I believe that a continuation of this collaborative approach serves the best interests of all concerned and is an effective tool in the resolution process.
The Public Safety Initiative (PSI), which was launched in March 2011, also provided funding to address immediate public safety issues in unfinished housing developments. The types of works that have been approved to date under the PSI include the fencing off of unsecured and hazardous areas, capping of pipes, installation of street lighting and other works to secure sites. Under the PSI, my Department has made allocations totalling €4.5m to local authorities from the funding made available. To date, €3.3m has been drawn down. Local Authorities have been advised that the deadline for receipt of any new applications for PSI funding is 30 May 2014.
To assist further in addressing the legacy of unfinished housing developments, Budget 2014 contained a special provision, in the form of a targeted €10m Special Resolution Fund (SRF). The SRF is designed to encourage the resolution of the remaining tranche of unfinished developments identified in the National Housing Development Survey 2013 and, particularly, those developments not likely to be resolved in the normal way through solely developer/owner/funder action because of the presence of specific financial barriers. It was envisaged that the SRF be particularly targeted to address the remaining unfinished developments with residents living in them and, in particular, any developments that local authorities identified, for the purposes of the Local Property Tax exemption, as in a seriously problematic condition.
In December 2013, my Department wrote to local authorities seeking proposals for funding support under the SRF and the deadline for receipt of applications was 28 February 2014. All submissions have now been evaluated by my Department in accordance with the criteria circulated to local authorities. On 2 May 2014, I announced SRF allocations to 86 housing developments across the country. Further information is available at the following weblink:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,37940,en.htm. This public investment will leverage an additional €12m from third parties (developers/lenders/bonds) which will be invested in these estates. It is hoped that the SRF will enable very substantial progress to be made in resolving as many of the remaining unfinished developments as possible.
There are no plans to revise the list of developments included in the Schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013, either by removing or adding developments to it, at this time.
89. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding water meters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23447/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government sets out a commitment to the introduction of water charges based on usage above a free allowance. The Government considers that charging based on usage is the fairest way to charge for water and it has, therefore, decided that water meters should be installed in households connected to public water supplies. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigned the company the necessary powers to allow it to undertake the metering programme.
Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that all of the water metering contracts are fully compliant with the Disability Act 2005 and that the water meters in use by Irish Water comply with the Measuring Instruments Directive. The meter boxes are not sealed and can be opened to allow the householder to read their meter, if necessary. The meters will be read by Irish Water and the information will be provided directly to customers in their bills. Furthermore, to assist the homeowner in the identification of any leaks Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that water meters being installed as part of the metering programme have a 'constant flow' alarm which alerts Irish Water who will in turn alert the affected homeowner. Householders with a meter installed will be provided with a reading of their meter as part of their bill and any unusual usage patterns can be discussed with Irish Water if the householder is concerned.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
90. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the protocol and memorandum of understanding between Irish Water and local authorities on the taking in charge of estates have been agreed upon; if not, when that will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23466/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, in consultation with Irish Water and the local authorities, is currently working on developing a protocol in relation to the taking in charge of estates. It is expected that this protocol will be finalised in the coming weeks, following which further advice will be issued to local authorities in relation to this matter.
91. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current credit rating of all commercial semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23513/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish Water is the only commercial semi-state company under the aegis of my Department. Irish Water does expect to seek a standalone credit rating in due course as a track record in revenue collection is built up.
92. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when funding will be provided to a library (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23531/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001, the provision of premises and facilities in the public library service is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority.
My Department provides capital funding towards approved new library projects carried out by local authorities subject to availability of resources. All available funding under the Library Capital Programme 201 4 is fully committed towards previously approved library projects and there are no additional funds available. This position has been notified by my Department directly to the local authority in this case.
The library service provides valuable social, educational and cultural services to communities around the country and my Department will continue to work with local authorities so that every effort is made to ensure the delivery of appropriate services within budgetary constraints.
93. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will list the 21 new service delivery units following the realignment of the fire service structures; if he will list the areas covered by each of these new delivery units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23536/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn February 2013 I published Keeping Communities Safe (KCS) as the national policy for the future direction of fire services in Ireland. KCS sets out an overall systemic approach to the objective of reducing the number of fires and consequent annual loss, based on a risk management approach to fire safety. Following an in-depth examination of a number of different service delivery options, it was considered appropriate that fire services remain a local government service, with appropriate local political accountability. However, while fire authorities remain based on the principal local authorities, KCS provides for a move to a 'shared services' structure, involving a reduction in the number of actual fire services from 30 to 21, with 14 single fire authorities and 7 'shared services'.
A full list of these can be found in the following table. Further information, including a map of the future service delivery units, can be found at Chapter 3 of the main KCS policy document which is available on my Department's website at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Community/NationalDirectorateforFireandEmergencyManagement/PolicyDocuments/.
|
Local Authority |
|
14 large population areas |
|
Mayo |
|
Wicklow |
|
Kildare |
|
Wexford |
|
Cork County |
|
Cork City |
|
Kerry |
|
Clare |
|
Louth (incl Dundalk & Drogheda) |
|
Meath |
|
Donegal |
|
Tipperary |
|
Limerick |
|
Waterford |
|
- |
|
7 “shared service” basis |
|
Cavan/Monaghan |
|
Longford/Westmeath (includes Athlone Fire Auth.) |
|
Carlow /Kilkenny |
|
Laois/Offaly |
|
Roscommon/Sligo/Leitrim |
|
Galway City & County |
|
Dublin City Council/South Dublin County Council/ Fingal/Dunlaoghaire-Rathdown |
The integration of fire services in Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford has been successfully advanced and this experience provides a basis for developing the recommended 'shared services' arrangements among fire authorities. It is envisaged that the revised structure will be in place nationally by end-2015.
94. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Defence the current credit rating of all commercial semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23511/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no commercial semi-State companies under the aegis of the Department of Defence.
95. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an agri-environment options scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23432/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2011 and payments have issued in respect of the 2011 and 2012 Scheme years. During a 2013 inspection, the person named was deemed non-compliant in respect of the Species Rich Grassland and Natura Owned actions. A letter issued to the person named notifying him of the inspection findings and setting out the appeal option. As no appeal was received my Department is processing the file on the basis of the inspection findings with the intention of issuing payment as soon as possible.
96. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an agri-environment options scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23434/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2010 and full payments have issued in respect of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Scheme years. During a 2013 inspection, the person named was deemed non-compliant in respect of the Laying of Hedgerow action. A letter issued to the person named notifying him of the inspection findings and setting out the appeal option. The person named unsuccessfully appealed the Inspection findings to my Department. On the 13th March 2014, a letter issued to the person named informing him that the appeal was unsuccessful and of his right of appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office. To date, no appeal has been received in the Agriculture Appeals Office. My Department is processing the application for payment based on the findings found on Inspection and entitlements for the 2013 scheme year will issue as soon as possible.
97. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horse pounds that are in operation here; the number of horses that were impounded in each county in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23435/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding under the Control of Horses Act, 1996, to assist local authorities implement the provision of the Act in relation to stray, abandoned and wandering horses. Local authorities submit claims to my Department on a quarterly basis in arrears in respect of horses seized by them in implementation of the Act. At present local authorities are engaging the services of 9 pounds in control of horses operations.
The following table, which is based on the information provided to me by local authorities, shows the number of horses seized in their operation of the Control of Horses Act in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Since complete statistics in respect of January to April 2014 have not been received from all local authorities, the figures in respect of 2014 are provisional only.
|
City/County Co's |
No. Horses Seized 2011 |
No. Horses Seized 2012 |
No. Horses Seized 2013 |
No. Horses Seized 2014 |
|
Carlow Co. Council |
18 |
27 |
82 |
55 |
|
Cavan Co. Council |
10 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
|
Clare Co. Council |
50 |
66 |
47 |
13 |
|
Cork Co. Council |
144 |
161 |
227 |
98 |
|
Cork City Council |
123 |
51 |
173 |
41 |
|
Donegal Co. Council |
0 |
20 |
40 |
12 |
|
Dublin City Council |
342 |
254 |
332 |
128 |
|
Sth Dublin Co. Council |
304 |
379 |
324 |
200 |
|
Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown Co Council |
38 |
7 |
61 |
2 |
|
Fingal Co. Council |
161 |
145 |
117 |
132 |
|
Galway City Council |
0 |
50 |
0 |
|
|
Galway Co. Council |
52 |
84 |
327 |
86 |
|
Kerry Co. Council |
28 |
21 |
37 |
7 |
|
Kildare Co. Council |
103 |
130 |
322 |
198 |
|
Kilkenny Co. Council |
91 |
80 |
99 |
55 |
|
Laois Co. Council |
185 |
243 |
220 |
125 |
|
Leitrim Co. Council |
40 |
18 |
22 |
52 |
|
Limerick Co. Council |
113 |
123 |
130 |
51 |
|
Limerick City Council |
259 |
215 |
222 |
148 |
|
Longford Co. Council |
5 |
4 |
25 |
23 |
|
Louth Co. Council |
8 |
39 |
145 |
42 |
|
Mayo Co. Council |
193 |
200 |
202 |
196 |
|
Meath Co. Council |
83 |
84 |
172 |
85 |
|
Monaghan Co. Council |
0 |
7 |
96 |
23 |
|
Offaly Co. Council |
59 |
0 |
60 |
58 |
|
Roscommon Co. Council |
8 |
8 |
235 |
66 |
|
Sligo Co. Council |
81 |
34 |
89 |
123 |
|
Tipperary (North Riding) Co. Council |
125 |
91 |
92 |
64 |
|
Tipperary (South Riding) Co. Council |
28 |
51 |
123 |
92 |
|
Waterford Co. Council |
14 |
5 |
59 |
21 |
|
Waterford City Council |
7 |
40 |
18 |
18 |
|
Westmeath Co. Council |
96 |
109 |
118 |
51 |
|
Wexford Co. Council |
30 |
63 |
163 |
97 |
|
Wicklow Co. Council |
138 |
151 |
354 |
126 |
|
Totals |
2936 |
2969 |
4,733 |
2,488 |
98. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that horse rescue organisations are struggling to continue with their work due to the fee they are charged to rescue horses from pounds; if he will reconsider the rescinding of the re-homing fees they are being forced to pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23436/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraRehoming fees are set by local authorities. My Department offers local authorities €200 towards the cost of re-homing of each horse in an effort to ensure increased re-homing of unwanted horses. In addition, I have specifically increased funding for 2014 to those animal welfare organisations involved in horse welfare activities to ensure sufficient resources are available to cater for any difficulties arising in the area of horse welfare during the coming year. In this regard, the overall amount provided in respect of 2014 is €1.8m, of which €210,000 is being provided to both the ISPCA and the DSPCA to enable these organisations to continue their work in rescuing horses and absorb some costs associated with re-homing horses.
99. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding that is provided for the animal welfare helpline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23437/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe helpline is manned by a clerical officer on a part-time basis. I should also emphasise that my Department has a network of regional offices throughout the country and persons concerned with animal welfare issues may also contact any of these offices. I am satisfied that, based on experience to date, the resources and facilities provided by my Department to deal with animal welfare emergencies is sufficient to meet the demand.
100. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide money from his Department's funds for the rebuilding of the pier at the East End, Inishbofin, County Galway, which is used by a considerable number of boats and was destroyed by the storms last January; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23506/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 20th March this year, as part of the Governments co-ordinated response to the damage caused by the winter storms, I announced €8.5m in funding for a once off programme to repair 115 publically owned piers, harbours and slipways damaged by these storms. As part of this Storm Damage Programme €2m in funding was approved for Galway County Council for the repair of 15 piers and harbours in County Galway damaged during the storms earlier this year. No application to repair the pier at the East End of Inishbofin was received under this programme.
Additionally, in accordance with my responsibilities under the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board piers, lights and Beacons act, I made €40,000 available to replace Gun Rock light at the entrance to Inishbofin Harbour, which was washed away during the inclement weather. I am happy to inform the deputy that this work has been completed.
101. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current credit rating of all commercial semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23507/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe four commercial State Bodies under the aegis of my Department are Bord na gCon, Coillte, Horse Racing Ireland and Irish National Stud. The credit rating of a State Body is an operational matter for the Body itself.
102. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide information on the number of digital audio recordings requested by litigants in 2013 and the revenue derived from those transactions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23416/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra103. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide information on the number of digital audio recordings requested by judges for their own use and the costs of this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23417/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra104. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide information on the total cost of the digital audio recordings system to the State in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23418/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra106. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason that transcription work and the typing is carried out in a Third World country in the Far East when Irish jobs could be created at lower cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23420/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 102 to 104, inclusive, and 106 together.
The Deputy will be aware that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, which includes the provision of information on the courts system, is the responsibility of the Courts Service. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that statistics on applications by litigants for Digital Audio Recordings (DAR) are not maintained and also that there is no fee payable by the applicant for a recording of court proceedings.
The Courts Service has a five year contract (extendable by two years) up to the end of 2015 for Digital Audio Recording Systems, Managed Storage and Transcription Services with Fujitsu (Ireland) Limited. The contract was entered into following a procurement process in accordance with EU and government procurement regulations. Access to DAR recordings for members of the judiciary is via a database accessible from each judge's computer. This service forms part of the overall contract and statistics on access to this database by judges are not maintained. I am informed that the total cost of DAR to the Courts Service Vote in 2013 was €2,197,070.
Transcription services for the courts are sub-contracted by Fujitsu to a service-provider. I am informed that the majority of transcripts are created in Ireland by staff working for the service provider. In the last year the total folios of transcripts transcribed was 495,335 and 92.3% of this was transcribed in Ireland. International transcribers are only used when the volume of transcripts reaches a peak. However, in-camera cases are transcribed only within Ireland. The cost of creating a transcript is based on the length of the transcript and the turnaround time, regardless of where the transcript is created.
105. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider making it easier and less expensive to access digital audio recordings in order to protect citizens' legal rights and simply the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23419/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Courts Service is responsible for the management and administration of the Courts. The scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business is a matter for the Presidents of the courts and the presiding judge who are under the Constitution independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the primary objective for the Service is to maintain the delivery of front line court sittings and services. The Courts Service continuously works to support the judiciary and assist in ensuring that cases are dealt with as effectively and as speedily as possible. Available resources and operational and organisational structures are kept under review to ensure that resources are targeted and focussed on keeping waiting times in the provision of services to a minimum. The increased monetary jurisdiction of the Circuit and District Courts which came into effect in February 2014 should ultimately lead to reduced legal costs for individuals and companies involved in litigation. Other efficiency measures are currently being examined such as extending e-filing which is currently available for small claims and personal insolvency applications and will become available for debt claims when the necessary supporting legislation is in place.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Legal Aid Board grants legal aid to persons on foot of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 to take and defend court proceedings. The authorisation is by way of a legal aid certificate and the majority of certificate types require payment of a financial contribution for the certificate to be effective. An authorisation is only granted if the Board is satisfied that the case meets the 'merits' tests that are set out in the aforementioned legislation. The minimum contribution is €130 and most cases are assessed at the minimum payment. There is a facility to apply to reduce or waive the contribution where not to do so would cause hardship. There are certain case types, notably the defence of applications by the Child and Family Agency regarding children, where no payment is required. Once the certificate is signed and the contribution is discharged, representation is provided.
In addition, the Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011, which has completed Committee Stage in the Dáil and which I expect to commence Report Stage in June, gives legislative expression to the commitment in the Programme for Government to "establish independent regulation of the legal professions to improve access and competition, make legal costs more transparent and ensure adequate procedures for addressing consumer complaints". The Bill makes extensive provision, in Part 10, for a new and enhanced legal costs regime that will bring greater transparency to how legal costs are charged by legal practitioners, along with a better balance between the interests of legal practitioners and those of their clients. Legal practitioners, whether solicitors or barristers, will be obliged to provide more detailed information about legal costs from the outset of their dealings with clients. This will be in the form of a Notice written in clear language which must be provided when a legal practitioner takes instructions. Among other things, the Notice must, as set out in section 117 of the Bill, disclose the costs that are involved, or, where this is not reasonably practicable, the basis upon which such costs are to be calculated. A cooling-off period is to be allowed for the consideration of costs by the client. When there are any significant developments in a case which give rise to further costs, the Bill provides that a client must be duly updated and given the option of whether or not to proceed with the case in question. An aggrieved client also has the option of applying for the taxation of disputed legal costs by the Office of the Taxing-Master. Under the Legal Services Regulation Bill the current functions of the Taxing-Master will be taken over by the new and modernised Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicators.
I would expect that, along with those other cost-cutting measures being introduced by the Government in relation to legal services, the new legal costs regime set out in the Bill will help reduce such costs and their impact on clients and will increase access to justice for citizens.
107. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding an assault. [23431/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have sought a report from the Garda authorities on the issues referred to and I will contact the Deputy directly when this information is to hand. The Deputy will be aware that it is open to the individual in question to make a complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission concerning the conduct of a member of An Garda Síochána should they wish to do so.
108. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Garda Reserve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23502/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to put on record my appreciation for the contribution that those who volunteer for service as Garda Reserve members make on a daily basis to the work of An Garda Síochána. Together with full time members, they provide vital assistance to communities and neighbourhoods right across the country.
The Admission and Appointment Regulations provide that, as part of the competitive selection process organised by the Public Appointments Service for full-time membership of An Garda Síochána, "due recognition to any satisfactory service by the person as a reserve member" shall be given to such candidates. This provision was introduced in order to acknowledge the beneficial experience and skills gained by a reserve member and to allow them, at assessments and at interview, the opportunity to highlight that experience and skill. It is important that all persons wishing to join the full time force undergo the same competitive selection and recruitment process. A candidate who fails any stage of the process will be eliminated and will not be allowed re-enter this particular competition.
109. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current credit rating of all commercial semi-State bodies operating under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23518/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am assuming that the Deputy is referring to semi-State bodies who have a significant element of commercial or trade activities within their remit. The bodies and agencies attached to my Department provide public services in the broad Justice area, and, as such, do not engage in any significant commercial activity.
110. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will include in the external expert review of the performance, management and administration of her Department, to be completed before the summer recess, the manner in which all documentation received by her Department from members of a group campaigning for justice (details supplied) was dealt with; the manner in which it was decided within her Department not to proceed with a further inquiry or commission of investigation regarding the events leading up to a tragedy in north Dublin; and the interaction between her Department and a senior counsel in the period between two versions of the latter's report having been presented to the Department but only the second version having been published. [23534/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra111. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will accept the invitation to meet with a group (details supplied) regarding its ongoing campaign for justice on behalf of relatives. [23535/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together.
While the terms of reference of the review referred to by the Deputy have yet to be finalised, it is not envisaged that this would be an appropriate vehicle to address issues of concern to the group involved. I can tell the Deputy that since taking up office as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have received correspondence from the group referred to raising a number of issues. I am currently considering the papers in relation to this matter, along with the group's request for a meeting.
