Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2017
266. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 25 of May 2017, if this report will be made available; the outcomes of that presentation in the way in which An Garda Síochána is planning to increase the numbers of summons served; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30817/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to the Deputy's parliamentary question No. 73 of 25 May 2017, the Deputy is already aware that the Criminal Justice Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS) Working Group is monitoring a Garda review of summons service and has included this Garda review in the Working Group's Work Programme, which oversees a number of priority items for implementation in the context of the FCPS. It was intended that An Garda Síochána would make a presentation on its summons service review process at a meeting of the Working Group scheduled for 14 June 2017, however this meeting was subsequently rescheduled, as a number of Working Group members were unable to attend the proposed 14 June meeting on account of other commitments. The Working Group meeting has been rescheduled for tomorrow, 5 July 2017, and An Garda Síochána will provide an update on its review of summons service at this meeting.
With the completion of the short- and medium-term goals relating to the review, the focus of the Garda authorities is now on the long-term goals, which include reviewing the legislation to allow for different methods of service, such as reviewing the possibility of outsourcing summons service in conjunction with the postal codification of addresses which took place in 2015, and considering e-summons service as part of the future vision of summons service.
