Written Answers Nos. 98-106
98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current expected position in respect of an application for leave to remain in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27578/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, in response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned.
These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement, in advance of a final decision being made.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
99. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will expedite an application for Garda vetting by a person (details supplied). [27583/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that a vetting application from a Registered Organisation in respect of the person to whom the Deputy refers was received on 16 September 2016.
The application was processed and returned to the Authorised Signatory in the relevant organisation on 26 September 2016.
In the circumstances the applicant is advised to contact the Registered Organisation to ascertain the current position.
100. Deputy John Curran asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if, since the recent commencement of Part 4 of the Charities Act 2009, she will outline the increase that has been made to the staff in the Charities Regulatory Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27612/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Charities Regulatory Authority (the Charities Regulator) was established in October 2014 to regulate all charitable organisations operating in Ireland as provided for in the Charities Act 2009. Part 4 of the Act providing for new investigatory and enforcement powers allowing the Regulator to investigate the affairs of a charitable organisation and to take enforcement action if necessary was commenced on 5 September 2016.
As of the 26 September 2016 the current headcount of the Charities Regulatory Authority has increased to 30 and a budget of €2.665 million has also been allocated to the Regulator for 2016, compared to a budget of €1.419 million for 2015. This increased funding facilitates the continued recruitment of additional staff in key areas of the Regulator, including policy development, registration and reporting, compliance and investigations and communications. I am determined to ensure that the Regulator has the necessary staff and financial resources available to achieve its goals. To this end, I approved a proposal from the Regulator to undertake a structural review to determine the human and financial resources needed to optimally implement the Charities Act. This review is currently underway and its outcome will inform future decisions on the resourcing of the Regulator.
I am advised that further additional staff, at various grades, are due to be appointed to Authority in the coming weeks in order to ensure that the Authority is adequately resourced to undertake its functions. I can assure the Deputy that the regulation of the charity sector remains a priority for this Government.
101. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) is awaiting Garda vetting for a special needs assistant, SNA, application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27629/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that a vetting application from a Registered Organisation in respect of the person to whom the Deputy refers was received on 4 July 2016.
The application was processed and returned to the Authorised Signatory in the relevant organisation on 2 August 2016.
In the circumstances the applicant is advised to contact the Registered Organisation to ascertain the current position.
102. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position on the preparation of the new national women’s strategy. [27639/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to publish an updated National Women’s Strategy by end 2016. Work has begun on preparing the Strategy and a wide-ranging consultation process will be launched shortly.
103. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a visa for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27709/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the visa application referred to was received in the Visa Office in Dublin on the 4th of September, 2015.
I am also advised that there has been an exponential increase, since the second quarter of 2015, in the number of such applications. While every effort is made to process these applications within a reasonable time frame, processing times generally will vary having regard to the volume of applications in each processing centre, their complexity and the resources available.
The visa application referred to by the Deputy will be processed in due course.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to the INIS Visa Office (visamail@justice.ie).
104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which so-called cold cases continue to be vigorously pursued with a view to detection and prosecution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27746/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the provision and allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the light of identified operational demands. In this regard I am informed that the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) continues to review serious cases that remain unsolved and continues to identify evidence and witnesses to assist in the development of these cases.
At the conclusion of each review by the SCRT a substantive report is provided to the Senior Investigating Officer who considers the opportunities for further investigation. Any recommendation of organisational effect is disseminated within the Garda organisation to improve the overall investigative capability of An Garda Síochána.
The Deputy will appreciate that all Garda activities, including the investigation of unsolved cases, will benefit from the ongoing investments in policing resources and the accelerated programme of Garda recruitment which are now underscored by commitments in the Programme for Government.
105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the activities of criminal gangs continue to be pursued by An Garda Síochána with a view to de-glamourising the perceived activities of criminal gangs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27747/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can assure the Deputy that targeting organised criminal activity is an ongoing priority for the Garda authorities.
An Garda Síochána is tackling criminal groups through a range of targeted measures designed to disrupt and dismantle their operations.
This work involves the use of focused intelligence led operations by Garda specialist units including the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the National Economic Crime Bureau and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigations, supported, as required, by the Security and Intelligence Section.
All of these specialist units operate under the umbrella of An Garda Síochána’s Special Crimes Operations Unit and working collaboratively they continue to achieve commendable success in tackling criminal groups.
Multi-disciplinary approaches are also utilised to ensure that those involved are effectively targeted including through the use of the Proceeds of Crime legislation, money laundering legislation and the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau.
The ongoing successes achieved in bringing those involved to justice and in targeting the proceeds of crime all serve to send out a strong message of deterrence and the simple message that crime does not pay.
106. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which good policing practice continues to evolve in line with the best international practice with a view to ensuring that criminal gangland activity and white-collar crime is seriously tackled in a way to dissuade such activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27748/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Report of the Garda Inspectorate on Crime Investigation is of value in providing a welcome analysis of An Garda Síochána's investigative processes.
I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 19 of 22 June which referenced the recommendations of the Report, that were designed to ensure, amongst other things, that An Garda Síochána's investigative processes align with best international standards.
The recommendations in the Report also form a key component in the overall justice reform programme which has been put in place in recent years. Implementation of this programme is being overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform, chaired by An Taoiseach, and this Committee has taken on a role in overseeing delivery of the reforms recommended by the Inspectorate.
In June of this year, the Garda Commissioner published the Garda Síochána Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 which takes on board the key findings of various reports into the organisation by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and expert groups, amongst others. The purpose of the Programme is to professionalise, modernise and renew the organisation to ensure that it can meet present and future policing and security challenges.
The Deputy will be aware of the significant resources that have been made available to an Garda Síochána under the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021. In particular, some €205 million for Garda ICT and €46 million for new Garda vehicles has been allocated over the lifetime of the plan. The Programme for Government commits the Government to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country and to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000, doubling the Garda Reserve and greater civilianisation.
The Programme also commits the Government to supporting the Policing Authority and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in providing a high degree of oversight and accountability for An Garda Síochána.
I am in ongoing contact with the Commissioner in relation to the wide range of issues arising from the Inspectorate report and continue to receive updates on progress. There will also of course be a central role for the Policing Authority in overseeing the implementation of the reforms identified by the Inspectorate.
Taken together, I believe that the above measures will ensure that An Garda Síochána can deliver a 21st century police and security service that will accord with international best practice.
