Written Answers Nos. 116-124
116. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the performance related awards made to chief executives of semi-State companies in 2013 and 2014 under the aegis of his Department. [2320/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently twelve State Bodies under the remit of my Department. Of these, eight are non commercial entities and four are commercial entities.
|
Non-Commercial Bodies |
Commercial Bodies |
|
Aqua licensing Appeals Board |
Bord na gCon |
|
Bord Bia |
Coillte |
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
Horse Racing Ireland |
|
Marine Institute |
Irish National Stud |
|
National Milk Agency |
|
|
Sea Fisheries Protection Agency |
|
|
Teagasc |
|
|
Veterinary Council of Ireland |
The pay arrangements, including bonuses and performance related pay, for chief executives of semi State companies is a matter for the State Bodies themselves within the context of Government Public Sector Pay Policies.
In April 2009 the Department of Finance requested the suspension of performance-related schemes in non-commercial State Bodies and again in February 2010 following the report of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. In relation to the commercial State Bodies, the Government agreed in 2012 to the continuation of the current policy requesting Commercial State Bodies not to award bonus payments in recognition of the serious state of the public finances. No performance related awards were paid to the Chief Executives of the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department in the years in question.
117. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views that a programme to encourage high-end holidaymakers to Ireland to consider investing here will be agreed between her Department and its agencies and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and its agencies; if such a programme will include points of contact information for potential investors and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1970/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has operated the Immigrant Investor Programme since April 2012. This programme has been open for applications since 2012 and would appear to cover what the Deputy is seeking. Detailed guidelines and application materials are available from the investor and entrepreneur page of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website www.inis.gov.ie.
118. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the system for householders to buy out their ground rent; if she will provide a list of the State system and charges; if a landlord must sell at seven times annual rent or is a landlord legally entitled to go higher; if a landlord can charge administration, search and registration fees or if these are all available free under the State system; if a landlord is legally entitled to claim arrears; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1879/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe general position regarding ground rents is that section 2 of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act 1978 introduced a prohibition on the creation of new leases reserving ground rents on dwellings. As regards existing ground rents, Part III of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No.2) Act 1978 contains a statutory scheme, administered by the Property Registration Authority (PRA), whereby the holder of a leasehold interest may, at reasonable cost, acquire the fee simple in his or her dwelling. To date, over 80,000 applicants have acquired freehold title to their property under this scheme. Comprehensive details of the scheme, including details of the manner in which the fee simple can be acquired and the fees involved, are available on the PRA's website (www.prai.ie).
119. Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to provide a new Garda divisional headquarters in Tallaght, Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1884/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe programme of refurbishment of Garda accommodation is based on agreed accommodation priorities which are established by An Garda Síochána. This programme is progressed by An Garda Síochána in co-operation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), who have responsibility for capital expenditure in this area.
In that context, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the OPW prepared a feasibility report for the development of a new Garda Divisional Headquarters on the existing Garda site in Tallaght in 2008. Further activity on the proposed development will be considered in accordance with the available resources within the Vote for the OPW and An Garda Síochána's identified accommodation priorities. However, I am advised by Garda management that there are no immediate plans to commence work on a new Divisional Headquarters in Tallaght.
The existing facilities in Tallaght Garda Station were supplemented by the OPW in October 2009 through the provision of additional accommodation at the Plaza Office Complex.
120. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form by county the number of prosecutions brought for non-payment of TV licences in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1895/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system.
In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the table below sets out the number of summonses served for non payment of TV licences for Court Offices in 2014. As the Deputy will be aware the initiation of a prosecution for non-payment of a TV licence is a matter for An Post which does not operate under the aegis of my Department.
|
Court Office |
No. of Offences |
|
Athlone |
88 |
|
Ballina |
37 |
|
Bray |
162 |
|
Carlow |
104 |
|
Carrick On Shannon |
57 |
|
Cavan |
189 |
|
Castlebar |
107 |
|
Clonakilty |
125 |
|
Clonmel |
335 |
|
Cork |
256 |
|
Donegal |
10 |
|
Dublin * |
9,761 |
|
Dundalk |
331 |
|
Ennis |
393 |
|
Galway |
306 |
|
Kilkenny |
108 |
|
Letterkenny |
78 |
|
Limerick |
391 |
|
Longford |
162 |
|
Loughrea |
86 |
|
Mallow |
250 |
|
Monaghan |
82 |
|
Mullingar |
195 |
|
Naas |
390 |
|
Nenagh |
317 |
|
Portlaoise |
242 |
|
Roscommon |
39 |
|
Sligo |
170 |
|
Tralee |
540 |
|
Trim |
292 |
|
Tullamore |
207 |
|
Waterford |
298 |
|
Wexford |
399 |
|
Youghal |
59 |
|
Total |
16,566 |
* The statistics available for Dublin are for all summonses issued including those not served.
121. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the outcome of a Garda investigation into the alleged chainsaw slaughter of a pig on a Dunboyne housing estate in December 2014. [1919/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that the matter referred to by the Deputy is currently under investigation by Gardaí at Dunboyne Garda station.
The Deputy will appreciate that as the matter is under investigation it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
122. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has read the full GSOC special report from May 2013 to the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence issued pursuant to section 80(5) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005; and her plans to publish the report with the appropriate redactions. [1932/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the promotion of any member of An Garda Síochána under investigation over matters of serious public importance in the GSOC Special Report from May 2013 issued pursuant to Section 80(5) of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005; and her views on the promotion of such a member of An Garda Síochána. [1933/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.
I dealt with the issues arising from the GSOC Report in my reply to PQ No. 43791/14 of the 18th November 2014. For ease of reference this is set out hereunder.
The first thing I want to emphasise is that I as Minister for Justice and Equality have no role in relation to prosecutions or decisions whether or not to initiate a prosecution.
In May 2013, the Garda Síochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) made a Report to my predecessor under Section 80(5) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 following its investigation into allegations of collusion between an individual and members of the Garda Síochána.
In its letter accompanying the report GSOC stated that a file relating to its public interest investigation was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Having considered the file the DPP advised that the file did not warrant prosecution of any individual. Thereafter GSOC considered and decided against launching any investigation of matters which may constitute indiscipline.
The Report by GSOC also contained a series of recommendations related to informant handling procedures within An Garda Síochána, oversight of those procedures, as well as intelligence handling and information exchange between GSOC and An Garda Síochána.
At the time my predecessor sought the observations of the Garda Commissioner on the Report and its recommendations. In response, the Garda Commissioner pointed that following the putting in place of a code of practice for the management of Covert Human Intelligence Sources many of the recommendations made by GSOC were already incorporated into Garda procedures. The Commissioner also emphasised that informants are clearly instructed that they may not commit crimes or act as agents provocateur.
I should emphasise that there has been, since 2010, an independent, external oversight mechanism in place to ensure compliance with the code of practice. The current holder of this appointment is Mr Justice Thomas Smyth, former judge of the High Court. Mr Justice Smyth's report for 2012 has been published and I am currently making arrangements to publish his reports for 2013 and 2014. I am pleased to note that the Judge has indicated that he received full cooperation from relevant members of An Garda Siochana in compiling his report and he records substantial compliance with the code of practice by An Garda Siochana.
I should mention that the recent Inspectorate report makes a number of recommendations in relation to the handling of information and these will be addressed.
A Memorandum of Understanding, Protocols and Agreement on Operational Matters, agreed by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has been in place between An Garda Síochána and GSOC since the establishment of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in 2007. However, a new Memorandum of Understanding, Protocols and Agreement on Operational Matters has been agreed between An Garda Síochána and GSOC and was signed by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission on 23rd September, 2013. The Memorandum of Understanding agrees protocols for operational matters between An Garda Síochána and GSOC, including the provision of information to GSOC by An Garda Síochána.
There is continued ongoing co-operation between An Garda Síochána and GSOC to address any issues that arise during the course of an investigation. A working relationship is maintained between the two organisations with regular formal and informal meetings between senior management representatives. In addition, the Garda Commissioner has established a dedicated office (GSOC Liaison Office) to process and monitor all such requests and ensure that all correspondence with GSOC is attended to in a timely manner.
In the context of Garda oversight generally, the Deputy will be aware that I recently introduced the Garda Síochána (Amendment)(No. 3) Bill 2014. The main purpose of the Bill is to amend the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to expand the remit and powers of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC). The Bill will bring the Garda Commissioner within the remit of GSOC for the first time. It will also ensure that An Garda Síochána provides information sought by GSOC for an investigation as soon as practicable."
Promotions in the Garda Síochána to all ranks from Sergeant to Assistant Commissioner (inclusive) are covered by the Garda Síochána Promotion Regulations of 2006 (S.I. No. 485 of 2006) and I have no involvement in the selection process. While it would clearly not be appropriate to comment on individuals persons selected, I am not aware that any person has been selected who remains under investigation as outlined by the Deputy.
124. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality since the enactment of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, the number of persons have been prosecuted for trafficking children and adults for the purposes of sexual exploitation and soliciting or importuning for the purposes of prostitution of the trafficked person in each of the years 2009 to 2014 inclusive. [1944/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 1 January 2009, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of my Department initiated a data collection strategy for the purpose of gaining a more in-depth understanding of the nature and extent of human trafficking in Ireland. To date, annual reports for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 have been published and are available from Ireland’s dedicated anti-human trafficking website, www.blueblindfold.gov.ie, in addition to my Department’s website.
For the purposes of clarity, the information sought, as outlined in these annual reports, is below. As the report for 2013 is to be published soon, the figures for 2013 are preliminary as are the figures for 2014.
The specific information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table beneath.
|
YEAR |
of a Minor |
Prosecutions in relation to trafficking for purpose of sexual exploitation of an Adult |
|
2009 |
3 |
- |
|
2010 |
4 |
1 |
|
2011 |
6 |
1 |
|
2012 |
13 |
- |
|
2013 |
16 |
- |
|
2014 |
14 |
- |
For the sake of completeness, I would note that although prosecutions were initiated as a result of human trafficking related investigations in 2 cases in 2012 and 1 case in 2014, the offenders were prosecuted for offences other than human trafficking and are not included in the figures for those years set out above.
There were no prosecutions for the soliciting or importuning for purposes of prostitution of a trafficked person contrary to section 5 of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008 during the period.
