Catherine Murphy
Ceist:685. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if funding has been provided for the purchase of additional vehicles for the Garda armed support unit. [50562/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (685)
Freagraí scríofa
The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of resources between the various Garda units. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters, and cannot comment on them.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands and availability of resources and is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis.
In 2021, 10 new vehicles were allocated to the Garda Armed Support Unit in Quarter 3 and an additional 3 vehicles will be allocated in Quarter 4 following fit out.
I can inform the Deputy that Budget 2022 provides for an allocation of €12m for further investment in the Garda fleet, the application of which is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to determine as set out above.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (686)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:686. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the amount of cash seized by An Garda Síochána in counties Kildare and Dublin in 2019 and 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and the amount returned on request or appeal. [50563/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the identification, tracing, freezing, and ultimate confiscation of criminal assets does not rest with a single body in Ireland and is spread across a number of different agencies and statutory bodies, not all of which are within the responsibility of the Department of Justice. The relevant bodies include An Garda Síochána, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Revenue Commissioners, the Chief State Solicitors Office, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Courts. It should be noted that in some cases, funds seized represent overdue or unpaid personal taxation.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána do not disclose the breakdown of cash seized at divisional level for operational reasons.
Road Traffic Offences
Ceisteanna (687)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:687. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of fixed-penalty notices that gardaí issued for parking at a bus stop in 2019 and 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if An Garda Síochána is notified as to whether payment has been made in respect of the notices. [50564/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have sought the information requested from the Garda authorities; however, this report was not available in time. I will write directly to the Deputy once this report is to hand.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (688)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:688. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí by rank attached to each divisional protective services unit as of 11 October 2021. [50565/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, Divisional Protective Services Units (DPSUs) support the delivery of a consistent and professional approach to the investigation of sexual and domestic crime. Personnel assigned to DPSUs have been provided with a bespoke training course consisting of a number of modules addressing issues such as: investigation of sexual crime; child protection; investigation of domestic abuse; online child exploitation and sex offender management.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the deployment of An Garda Síochána throughout the State as well as for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I play no direct role in these independent functions.
I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use.
The table below, which I have been provided with by the Garda authorities, shows the number of Garda members attached to Divisional Protective Services Units as at 11 October 2021.
Immigration Status
Ceisteanna (689)
Paul Donnelly
Ceist:689. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the status of the discretionary application to remain by a person (details supplied). [50639/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations were submitted on behalf of the person concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, were fully
considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and the person concerned was granted permission to remain in the State, on Stamp 1 conditions, without a requirement to obtain an employment permit, for 2 years, up to 11 October 2023. This decision was conveyed in writing to the person concerned by letter dated 12 October 2021.
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 (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), 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.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (690)
Paul Donnelly
Ceist:690. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice when the riot shields and helmets of an Garda Síochána were last updated; and when they will be next updated. [50667/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that public order shields and helmets are specific items purchased by the procurement section of An Garda Síochána, with input from the Public Order Unit to ensure that helmets and shields purchased are compatible with all other items of equipment provided to that unit, and that purchased equipment meet the required safety standards.
I am further informed by the Garda authorities that riot shields were last purchased in December 2020 and riot helmets were last purchased in November 2020.
I am advised that the Public Order Unit reviews the safety and protection levels of the equipment issued to it on an ongoing basis and requests the procurement of additional and/or replacement equipment as and when required.
Gambling Sector
Ceisteanna (691, 694)
Pa Daly
Ceist:691. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the timeline for the establishment of the gambling regulator; the amount allocated for its establishment in budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50701/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Thomas Gould
Ceist:694. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the details on the gambling regulator mentioned in budget 2022 speeches. [50704/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 691 and 694 together.
The Programme for Government gives a clear commitment to establish a gambling regulator focused on public safety and well-being, covering gambling online and in person, and the powers to regulate advertising, gambling websites and apps. The General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill was approved by Government today will be published shortly. The Scheme sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of this new, independent statutory body – the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.
The Authority will have among its key objectives:
- Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way for companies to make decisions in certainty;
- Requiring safeguards to address problem gambling including in relation to gambling advertising; and
- Preventing gambling from being a source or support to crime.
The Authority will have the necessary enforcement powers for licensing and to enable it to take appropriate and focused action where providers are failing to comply with the provisions of this legislation, and with the Authority’s licensing terms and conditions, regulations and codes.
My Department has established a Programme Board to ensure that the legislation and the operational preparations are progressed in parallel so that the Authority commences operations as soon as possible after enactment. There is a pathway mapped for this legislation progressing which will facilitate the Authority being established and operational in 2023.
As part of Budget 2022, €500,000 has been allocated to meet the costs of appointing the CEO designate as well as non-pay related costs in establishing the Authority. This is added to the initial seed funding of €200,000 in Budget 2021. This €700,000 will cover start-up costs including accommodation and professional services.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (692)
Pa Daly
Ceist:692. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the number of projected recruits, actual recruits, newly attested trainees and retirements in An Garda Síochána in each of the years from 2019 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [50702/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have sought the information requested from the Garda authorities, however this report was not available in time. I will write directly to the Deputy once this report is received.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (693)
Pa Daly
Ceist:693. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the details of the new community safety fund as outlined in budget 2022 measures; and the existing initiatives that are to be incorporated into the fund or discontinued due to its establishment. [50703/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, Budget 2022 provides for the establishment of the new Community Safety Innovation Fund. This fund will reflect the success of the Criminal Assets Bureau and other agencies by using money seized from the proceeds of crime to support investment in community safety projects. The fund, which is expected to grow in the coming years, will have an initial outlay of €2m.
Funding will be allocated via a process similar to that successfully used at present to distribute Dormant Accounts Funding. A call for funding proposals will issue seeking applications for community safety projects and similar initiatives from bodies involved in community safety, such as the new Local Community Safety Partnerships – pilots of which are in place in North Inner City Dublin, Waterford and Longford – and the Drogheda Implementation Board, as well as similar entities nationwide.
Applications will be assessed against criteria outlined in the call for proposals to ensure funding is allocated to encourage the development of innovative ways in which to improve community safety from those people who understand local community safety needs best and to avoid duplication with other services. These criteria for allocating funding are currently under consideration.
The fund will be open to bodies involved in community safety and will support them in addressing local needs and opportunities for innovation not provided for in other funds managed by Departments and agencies. This will ensure that the fund supports initiatives from communities themselves and does not create duplication with other schemes and funds.
No existing initiative will be discontinued due to the fund's establishment.
As the Deputy will be aware, all monies seized by CAB are remitted to the Central Fund of the Exchequer after the appropriate statutory time frame under the Proceeds of Crime Act; currently seven years must elapse from date of seizure to remittance to the Exchequer.
Responsibility for the identification, tracing, freezing, and ultimate confiscation of criminal assets rests with a number of different agencies and statutory bodies. These include An Garda Síochána, the Criminal Assets Bureau, as well as Revenue, the Chief State Solicitors Office, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Courts.
Question No. 694 answered with Question No. 691.
Asylum Seekers
Ceisteanna (695)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:695. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the assistance that can be provided in the case of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50729/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland has acted swiftly and compassionately to demonstrate our support and solidarity with the Afghan people. My Department is working closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure a coordinated national response.
This includes opening the Irish Refugee Protection Programme under Minister O'Gorman's remit to Afghan persons in need of protection and working to ensure that applications received from Afghan nationals under the various State schemes for immigration residence and international protection can be prioritised for speedier processing where possible. These schemes provide avenues for Afghan nationals to seek protection and for eligible family members living in Ireland to seek to have their close family members granted permission to reside in Ireland, where the relevant criteria are met. More than 740 Afghan nationals have already been granted permissions to reside in the State so far this year.
The Government has approved an additional initiative: the special Afghan Admission Programme, which will provide places for up to 500 Afghan family members. Each applicant will have an opportunity to nominate up to four family members who are currently residing in Afghanistan or who have fled to neighbouring territories and whom they consider would be especially at risk in terms of their freedom and safety.
The Programme, including the detailed eligibility criteria and the application process, will be developed over the coming months, with a view to issuing a call for applications in December. Further details will be made available on the Irish Immigration website (www.irishimmigration.ie) at the appropriate time.
In the meantime, all current immigration avenues remain open for new applications, including visa and family reunification applications. My Department will process any new applications received speedily and sympathetically. Further information can be found at: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/immigration-notice-on-the-humanitarian-situation-in-afghanistan/.
Immigration Support Services
Ceisteanna (696)
Mick Barry
Ceist:696. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice the reason her Department has not succeeded in closing down an online operation (details supplied) that automatically books interview slots with immigration services and then sells on these slots at a €40 charge to migrants with a genuine need for a face-to-face appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50738/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is aware that external third-party operations are offering to book appointments for customers in return for payment. This requires customers to give their valuable and sensitive personal details to unregulated bodies and pay unnecessary fees.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department is continually working to establish methods to mitigate against this unregulated practice.
Customers should continue to apply directly for appointments as they become available without charge, through the online appointments system: https://burghquayregistrationoffice.inis.gov.ie.
A tender has been awarded for a new Immigration Service appointment and scheduling system, which will streamline and further improve the registration process. The new system is expected to be available to customers in November 2021.
Immigration Status
Ceisteanna (697)
Mick Barry
Ceist:697. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Justice if the Garda National Immigration Bureau can agree to a face-to-face appointment with an Egyptian national (details supplied]) who was recently granted a change of status but is required by the Egyptian authorities to have an up-to-date visa sticker on their recently renewed Egyptian passport if they are to be permitted to visit their family in Egypt and to return to Ireland for a pending Labour Court hearing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50739/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the person concerned has attended an appointment at the Burgh Quay Registration Office and has had their permission updated.
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, inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie, 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.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (698)
Martin Browne
Ceist:698. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Justice if there will be a recruitment campaign for an Garda Síochána before the end of 2021. [50743/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am happy to inform the Deputy that Budget 2022 reflects the commitment of the Government to ensuring our communities are safe and that An Garda Síochána has the resources to be an effective and trusted policing service.
The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.952 billion for 2021. Budget 2022 provides over €2 billion in funding.
As the Deputy may be aware, COVID-19 restrictions on the Garda Training College in Templemore constrained recruitment and training for periods over the last 18 months. However, I am glad to confirm that 450 Gardaí will be recruited this year and the funding provided for next year fully supports the sustained recruitment of Garda members and staff.
In particular, the funding announced last week includes provision for the recruitment of 800 new Garda recruits and 400 Garda staff in 2022 - an additional 1,200 personnel. This increase in the number of Garda members and staff will deliver significant growth in operational policing hours nationwide and improved services to the public generally. Redeployment of Gardaí from administrative and support roles will also continue next year, thus allowing highly trained Gardaí to focus on frontline policing duties. The organisation's capacity will be further strengthened by the recruitment of additional Garda staff, including to specialist roles to support the investigation of crime and enhance the management of the organisation.
An Garda Síochána have advised that a recruitment plan for 2022 is currently being developed to manage the recruitment processes for Garda Members and Garda Staff roles. I understand there are a number of successful candidates who will be called from the last Garda recruit competition but a new Garda Trainee competition is also being planned which will be launched before the end of this year or early next year.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (699)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:699. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if funding has been provided for the provision of purchasing additional high-powered unmarked vehicles for the roads policing unit. [50877/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general administration and management of Garda business, including the allocation of funds for specific purposes within the organisation. As Minister, I have no role in this independent function.
However, I am informed by the Garda authorities that no high-powered unmarked vehicles have been allocated to the Roads Policing Unit in 2021. 34 marked all-wheel drive vehicles have been allocated to the Roads Policing Unit to date in 2021, with one further allocation planned for Q4 2021.
I am further informed that the purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands and availability of resources, and is monitored and reviewed on a continual basis. The number and types of vehicles to be purchased in 2022 to meet operational demands is currently under review. Budget 2022 has allocated €12m for investment in the Garda fleet, which will mean more high visibility policing in our towns and cities.
Citizenship Applications
Ceisteanna (700)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:700. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if the Irish citizen child unit can waive its usual requirement to submit a child’s passport with the application in which entitlement to Irish citizenship can be established through other means, for example birth in Ireland to an Irish citizen parent given the current long delays in processing first-time applications in the passport office. [50907/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I understand that the Deputy's question relates to applications under the Zambrano judgment, whereby a non-EEA national who is the biological parent of a minor dependent Irish Citizen Child living in Ireland, can be granted residency rights in Ireland.
Where an application is submitted to my Department, which contains all required documentation except a valid Irish passport for the Irish citizen child, due to delays in the Passport Office, applications may be accepted and processed in the following circumstances where there is:
- clear evidence that the child is entitled to an Irish passport i.e. bio data page of the Irish citizen parents passport;
- substantial evidence of the relationship between the applicant and the other biological parent of the child;
- evidence of a passport application that is ongoing, with evidence of the expected time frame of same.
To maintain the integrity of the application process, applications are required at a minimum to meet the above criteria.
If there are other concerns arising from an application with regard to the right to an Irish passport, applications may be returned/not accepted or refused on that basis, and an application only accepted when the child holds a valid Irish passport.
Child Protection
Ceisteanna (701)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:701. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the legislative measures required to ensure that all offences under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography can be prosecuted on an organised and transnational basis in line with Article 3.1 of the protocol. [50918/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government continues to be strongly committed to the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
A number of significant pieces of legislation had to be passed to ensure that Ireland is in compliance with the obligations of the Optional Protocol. The enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 constituted key steps on the pathway to the ratification of the Optional Protocol.
My Department is engaging with the Office of the Attorney General to determine whether a small number of additional legislative measures may be required to ensure that the State is compliant with all of the extra-territorial jurisdiction requirements under Article 3.1 of the Protocol. My officials are considering advices recently received and, if further legislative amendments are considered necessary, I will bring those forward at the earliest opportunity.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (702)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:702. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of new gardaí allocated to the Kildare Garda division in each of the past three years; the number allocated by station in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50961/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will make contact directly with the Deputy when this has been received.
An Garda Síochána
Ceisteanna (703)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:703. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice the number of new gardaí allocated to each county in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50962/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will make contact directly with the Deputy when this has been received.