Written Answers Nos. 964-970
964. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the redevelopment of the Family Law and Children’s Court complex on Hammond Lane, Dublin 7; the estimated cost of delivery; when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15987/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to build a new Family Law Court building in Dublin and ensure that court facilities across the country are suitable for family law hearings, so that these hearings can be held separately from other cases.
The total capital budget for the Courts Service in 2020 is €66.017 million, €15.380 million of which will be allocated for courthouse capital works for a variety of courthouses around the country and which will also allow for ongoing preparatory work on a dedicated Dublin Family Court complex on Hammond Lane. My Department has, working with the Courts Service, been able to secure sufficient additional funding to allow the Hammond Lane Project to go ahead.
While I can’t confirm exact figures as the future project will have to go to public tender, it will provide enough to deliver a modern, fit for purpose family court in Dublin.
This New Family Courts Project in Hammond Lane will be an important step towards reforming the family courts system in Ireland. I hope to bring my proposals to modernise the family justice system to Government in the coming weeks.
965. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the ceiling for capital investment in her Department for 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15988/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ceiling for capital investment for the Justice Sector is €208m for 2021, and €216m in 2022. The allocations for 2023 have not yet been agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Increased levels of public investment in the Justice Sector are a critical foundation of the National Development Plan 2018-2027. Notable areas of capital investment for the sector over the course of the plan include:
- Forensic Science Laboratory
- Garda Divisional Headquarters in Kevin Street and Galway
- Replacement of the Harcourt Square Complex
- Garda Station Building and Refurbishment Programme
- Garda ICT Programme
- New or refurbished courthouses in a number of provincial cities and county towns
- Redevelopment of Limerick Prison
- Development of Mountjoy Prison Campus
- Family Law and Children's Court Complex on Hammond Lane
The plan also recognises that increased population growth in the next ten years as envisaged under the National Planning Framework will create new demands in terms of the current accommodation stock across the sector including in relation to policing, prisons and courts.
My Department is also developing its analytical capability to be better placed to predict future trends including demographic changes and thus better inform both policy developments and budgetary requirements in the years ahead.
966. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the delay for a review by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, of the EU treaty rights of a person (details supplied) who has applied for citizenship. [16027/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn EU Treaty Rights review application was received from the person referred to by the Deputy in December 2017 and is due to be considered in the coming weeks. This review is in respect of a negative decision made on an application for retention of a residence card as a family member of an EU citizen. The length of time it takes to process applications may vary depending on a number of factors, including the volume of applications on hand.
The Immigration Service Delivery of my Department has unfortunately been experiencing delays due to the COVID-19 crisis and staff have very limited access to their offices and to the relevant case files. However, it is expected that the person concerned should receive a determination on their application within the next four weeks.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to 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 is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
967. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the incidence of dog thefts reported to An Garda Síochána in 2019 and the first six months of 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16099/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that the following are the approximate number of dogs reported stolen in 2019 and to the 30th June 2020:
|
Year |
2019 |
2020 (to 30 June) |
|
Number of dogs stolen |
205 |
76 |
I am further advised that these figures are approximate as they are based on descriptions given on the PULSE system.
As the Deputy may be aware, on 9 July 2020, An Garda Síochána appealed to the public to take extra crime prevention measures when it comes to caring for their pets, particularly high-value breeds of dogs, following the reporting of a number of dog thefts in recent months. A range of measures for pet safety, recommended by the National Crime Prevention Unit, can be found on the Garda website at https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/dog-theft-crime-prevention-advice.html.
968. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an appointments system will be instituted in Anglesea Street, Cork, for the renewal of visas rather than a queueing system in view of social distancing concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16114/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department registers persons residing in the Dublin area only. The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) processes all applications outside of Dublin through the Garda Station network.
I am informed that An Garda Síochána, Cork City Division is very conscious of the risks involved in a queuing system in view of social distancing concerns. The health and safety of the public and that of Garda personnel will be prioritised at all times.
In the context of COVID-19 public health considerations, alternative arrangements to the queuing system have been put in place at the Immigration office at Cork City Divisional HQ in Anglesea Street. The renewal process will be electronic as far as possible, and where the applicant is required to attend the Immigration Office in person to verify their identity, appointments will be arranged by email by the staff at Anglesea Street Garda Station. It is anticipated that the office will re-open in line with public health guidelines on 20 July 2020. Additional resources have been allocated to the office by the Garda authorities and extended opening times are being considered. In the interest of public health, applicants will not be seen without an appointment. Cork City Divisional Immigration Unit staff at Cork Airport will also provide relevant information to incoming applicants.
Inquiries regarding the new arrangements can be emailed to the Anglesea Street Office at CorkCity.Registration@garda.ie. Information on the new arrangements will also be issued by An Garda Síochána in the coming days to the relevant stakeholders: immigration bodies, universities and colleges and employers.
969. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of tribunals, public investigations and commissions of investigations in process; the length of time each has been under way; when each will conclude; the cost to date of each; and the estimated cost of each at completion. [16137/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy within the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy to provide this information when it is available.
970. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the challenges faced by LGBTQ parents due to the lack of legal recognition for both parents; his plans to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14677/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 represents one of the most significant changes in family law in a generation. It aims to reform family law in a way that is inclusive of, and sensitive to, the reality of contemporary family life in Ireland. It attempts to better reflect this reality by meeting the needs of children living in diverse family types. Parts 2 & 3 of the Act of 2015 contain provisions relating to the regulation of donor-assisted human reproduction (DAHR) procedures carried out in the State. This covers situations where the child born as a result of that procedure is born in the State and where the intending mother carries the pregnancy and gives birth to the child. The recent commencement of Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (as amended) on 4 May 2020 will, for the first time, provide a legal framework for registering the births of children who are born as a result of assisted human reproduction (AHR) involving donated eggs or sperm or embryos.
People can also acquire rights in respect of their children through guardianship or step-adoption. Under section 6C of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (as amended) – which was inserted by section 49 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 – a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant (who has co-habited with the other parent for over three years), can apply for guardianship provided they have shared parenting responsibility for the child for over two years. The applicant applies to the District Court for guardianship. Issues relating to guardianship rights generally are the responsibility of the Minister for Justice.
In addition, it may be possible for the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of a child’s legal parent to obtain full parental rights and responsibilities in respect of the child through step-parent adoption. Issues relating to adoption are the responsibility of the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration.
In relation to children born through surrogacy, the Deputy may be aware that the Government approved the drafting of a bill on AHR and associated areas of research which encompasses the regulation of a range of practices for the first time, including altruistic domestic surrogacy. The General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill also provides for the establishment of an independent regulatory authority for AHR. These provisions outline the specific conditions under which surrogacy in Ireland will be permitted, including a requirement for all surrogacy agreements to be pre-authorised by the AHR Regulatory Authority. The General Scheme also sets out a court-based mechanism through which the parentage of a child born through surrogacy may be transferred from the surrogate (and her husband, if applicable) to the intending parent(s). Drafting of the Bill is ongoing in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General.
