Wednesday, 22 Feb 2017

Written Answers Nos. 67-77

Garda Misconduct Allegations

Ceisteanna (67)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

67. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she received a file in regard to allegations of Garda corruption in a case at a venue (details supplied). [8842/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

The Deputy is aware that a complaint made by the person referred to in the question was referred to the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM). The IRM was established for the independent review of certain allegations of Garda misconduct, or inadequacies in the investigation of certain allegations which have been made to me as Minister for Justice and Equality or the Taoiseach or other public representatives with a view to determining to what extent and in what manner further action may be required in each case.

The outcome of the review in this particular case was communicated to the complainant by letter on 8 February 2016. The letter of notification set out the reasons for the recommendation made by the member of the IRM panel who examined the papers. I accepted that recommendation, as I have done in all of the cases referred to the IRM. The recommendation in this case was that I should take no further action.

Child and Family Agency

Ceisteanna (68, 69)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

68. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the circumstances of adult disclosure cases in which relevant third parties (details supplied) should be notified; the definition of third parties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8839/17]

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

69. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the mechanisms for appealing an allegation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8840/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together.

I understand that the details supplied with this question refer to guidelines contained in a Tusla document entitled - Policy & Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse and Neglect, dating from September 2014. While An Garda Síochána has a role in relation to certain aspects of these procedures, the policy responsibility in this area rests with my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and accordingly these questions would be more appropriately directed to Minister Zappone.

Garda Investigations

Ceisteanna (70)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

70. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the inquiry currently with the Garda national economic crime bureau on suspected VAT fraud in the poultry industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8844/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Garda authorities that it is not possible, on the basis of the information provided, to make any substantive comment on the matters referred to by the Deputy. However, I am assured that any information provided to An Garda Síochána in relation to possible criminal actions, including suspected fraud, is thoroughly investigated.

Road Traffic Offences

Ceisteanna (71, 72)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

71. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will address a matter (details supplied) with regard to fatal vehicle accidents in which it is reported that alcohol was involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8847/17]

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

72. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will address a matter (details supplied) with regard to fatal vehicle accidents in which it is reported that alcohol was involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8849/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together.

The statistics referred to by the Deputy in the 'Details Supplied' with these parliamentary questions were published in June 2016 by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) in its 'Fatal Collisions 2008 - 2012: Alcohol as a Factor'. I have been advised by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport that, under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006), the RSA has responsibility for analysing the cause of road traffic fatalities. I have requested a report from the RSA in this regard and will contact the Deputy directly immediately on receipt of the RSA's response.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that its 6 week 2016/2017 Christmas campaign resulted in a 35% increase in arrests over the same period in 2015 for ‘driving under the influence’. This clearly illustrates that drink-driving remains a significant road safety issue in Ireland that needs to be addressed urgently. Following a special meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on Road Safety in January, Minister Ross announced that his Department would review section 29 of the Road Traffic 2010 with the intention of ensuring that all drivers, if caught drink driving, will, in future, receive a mandatory disqualification.

I support Minister Ross's intention to amend section 29 of the Road Traffic Act 2010, which should assist us in ensuring more effective enforcement of road traffic offences and making our roads safer. My Department will continue to assist the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in bringing these changes forward.

Immigration Data

Ceisteanna (73, 74, 75, 76)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

73. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in total, and by nationality, refused leave to land at approved ports of entry to the State in 2016. [8850/17]

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

74. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in total and by nationality refused leave to land at approved ports of entry to the State from Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Iran and Eritrea in 2016. [8851/17]

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

75. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in total, and by port of entry, denied entry at Dublin, Rosslare and Dún Laoghaire ports and Cork, Shannon and Dublin Airports in 2016. [8852/17]

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

76. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons in total, and by nationality, refused leave to land here that were subsequently allowed to enter as asylum seekers in 2016. [8853/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 to 76, inclusive, together.

In general, a person may be refused leave to land on one, or more, of the grounds set out in Section 4(3) of the Immigration Act 2004 (as amended). Every person refused leave to land in the State is served with a notice in which the reason, or reasons, for refusing an application for permission to enter the State is set out. I would also advise the Deputy that persons refused leave to land and who are subsequently removed from the State are returned to their point of embarkation, which in most cases is within the EU.

The total number of persons refused leave to land at approved ports of entry to the State in 2016 was 4,127. Of these, the top five nationalities were as follows, Brazilian – 533; Albanian – 446; South African – 329; United States – 266 and Pakistan – 180. The further breakdown of nationalities requested by the Deputy is not readily available and would require the search and retrieval of individual records that could only be obtained by the disproportionate expenditure of time and resources relative to the information sought.

A breakdown by port of entry requested by the Deputy is as follows: Cork Airport – 113; Dublin Airport – 3,370; Dublin Port – 142; Dun Laoghaire – 1; Rosslare Port – 98; Shannon Airport – 56.

The information sought in respect of Iraq, Syria and Eritrea has been provided to the Deputy in response to PQ No. 100 of 31st January, 2017. The corresponding numbers for Yemen, Libya and Iran were 7, 7 and 46 respectively.

The number of persons refused leave to land here who were subsequently allowed to enter as asylum seekers in 2016 totalled 396. I do not propose to disaggregate these figures further as I have a legal obligation to protect the identify of all asylum seekers in accordance with the International Protection Act 2015.

It should be noted that information on numbers refused permission to enter the State may be subject to revision over time where individual cases are examined further and the status of some cases may change.

Immigration Policy

Ceisteanna (77)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

77. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will be opening the dedicated facility to accommodate persons who have been detained for immigration related matters at Dublin Airport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8854/17]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I am informed by An Garda Síochána that the proposal for the redevelopment of Transair House at Dublin Airport to meet the requirements of both a Garda station and a facility for Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) have been agreed between Garda management and the Office of Public Works (OPW). The OPW is currently engaged with the Dublin Airport Authority in relation to the planning application for these works with a view to work commencing as soon as possible.