Written Answers Nos. 449-463
449. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice what is involved in the process of applying for citizenship through Irish associations and seeking to avail of his discretion provided under section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956; the specific criteria that must be met to receive his discretion on such an application; the processing times for such an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21654/23]
View answer450. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice if a person may be eligible for citizenship (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21655/23]
View answer451. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice if a person living abroad may have grounds to apply for citizenship if they are the great-grandchild of an Irish citizen and have very strong ties to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21656/23]
View answer452. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice the number of citizenship applications that he has exercised absolute discretion and waived the statutory conditions in cases of Irish descent or associations in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21661/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 449 to 452, inclusive, together.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation can only be made after an application is received.
Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be granted.
Section 16 of the Act gives the Minister discretion to waive the statutory conditions in certain circumstances, including where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish associations (related through blood, affinity or adoption to a person who is or is entitled to be an Irish citizen). Any application under Section 16 that relies on Irish associations and affinity should be supported by substantive documentation that in the Minister’s view, renders the application exceptional and one where the normal pathways to citizenship provided for under the legislation are not appropriate.
However, there is no automatic right or entitlement to have any of the statutory conditions waived even where the applicant comes within the certain circumstances defined. This discretion is used very rarely and only under the most exceptional and compelling circumstances.
Given the complexity of the matter, Citizenship Division of my Department are in the process of preparing comprehensive guidelines, which will be made available to applicants for naturalisation on the basis of Irish Associations and these are nearing completion.
It is open to any individual to lodge an application for citizenship if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory conditions as prescribed in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
At present Irish Association cases are taking in excess of 30 months to process.
The information in terms of the number of applications as requested by the Deputy is not currently compiled in the format required.
Detailed information on Irish citizenship and the naturalisation process, along with the relevant application forms and guidance notes, is available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/
Additionally, any person born outside of Ireland who have an Irish national grandparent born in Ireland may obtain Irish citizenship through registration in the Foreign Births Register which is maintained by Department of Foreign Affairs, for more information please see: www.dfa.ie/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/
453. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of vehicles seized by gardaí for having no insurance within the Dublin metropolitan division in the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21697/23]
View answerI have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
454. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1041 of 18 April 2023, if he has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this PQ answered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21698/23]
View answerParliamentary Question no. 1041 of 18 April 2023, refers to the number of Gardai by rank attached to each divisional crime scenes unit as of 12 April 2023, in tabular form.
I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
455. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of new Garda community support vans that came into the fleet in 2022 and to date in 2023; the number of Garda community support vans withdrawn from the fleet during the same period; the Garda districts within DMR that have been allocated a community support van, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21699/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.
The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Community Support cars and vans allocated to and removed from the Garda Fleet in 2022 and in 2023 up to 30 April 2023, the latest date for which figures are available.
|
Community Support Vehicles |
Allocated |
Allocated |
Removed |
Removed |
|
Cars |
Vans |
Cars |
Vans |
|
|
2022 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
|
2023 up to 30 April |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
I am advised that at 30 April 2023 there were 49 Community Support Vehicles assigned to the DMR. This includes 42 cars, 2 vans and 5 others. The table below sets out the number of Community Support Vehicles within the DMR Divisions by District.
|
Division |
District |
Cars |
Vans |
*Others |
Total |
|
DMR East |
Blackrock |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Dun laoghaire |
4 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
|
|
Total |
9 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
|
Division |
District |
Cars |
Vans |
*Others |
Total |
|
DMR North |
Balbriggan |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Ballymun |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
Coolock |
3 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
|
|
Raheny |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
Total |
6 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
|
Division |
District |
Cars |
Vans |
Others |
Total |
|
DMR West |
Blanchardstown |
4 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
|
Clondalkin |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
|
Lucan |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
Total |
7 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
*The category 'others' refers to MPV, SUV, Minibus or Prisoner Conveyance Vehicles
The Deputy may also wish to be aware that An Garda Síochána publish information on Garda fleet, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown, on their website at:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html
456. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases each Garda divisional protective services unit has dealt with in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21700/23]
View answerI requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, this information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
457. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of each category of public order training courses provided to gardaí within the Dublin metropolitan division in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21701/23]
View answerI have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will contact him again when this is to hand.
458. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1039 of 18 April 2023, if he has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this question answered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21702/23]
View answerI understand that Parliamentary Question No. 1039 of 18 April 2023 refers to the number of full-time forensic accountants working in the Criminal Assets Bureau and Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in the years of 2022 and to-date in 2023.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten assets.
Under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996, the Chief Bureau Officer is responsible for the management and control of the administration and business of the Criminal Assets Bureau, including the staffing of the Bureau. Under the Act, the Chief Bureau Officer is responsible to the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána for these functions. As Minister for Justice I have no direct role in these functions.
I am advised by the Bureau that there are currently three full-time Forensic Accountants employed in the Bureau and there is an additional vacancy that the Public Appointments Service (PAS) intend to advertise in the near future. There is also one Financial Crime Analyst working in the Criminal Assets Bureau and I understand that there is a vacancy for one Digital Specialist and that the PAS are also managing the recruitment process for filling this position.
Similarly, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that no full-time forensic accountants worked in Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Unit in 2022 or to date in 2023.
459. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí, by rank, attached to Garda water unit as of 1 May 2023; if he will provide the same figures as of 31 December 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21703/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am however assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continued review to ensure their optimum use. The below table, provided to me by Garda authorities, outlines the number of Garda members attached to the water unit for the dates requested.
|
Water Unit |
GD |
SGT |
|
31/12/2020 |
15 |
3 |
|
01/05/2023 |
13 |
1 |
460. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if gardaí based at the new Garda transport hubs that will be located at both Heuston and Connolly Stations will be deployed on a full-time basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21704/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) the Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State and I am unable to intervene in, nor direct the Commissioner in, these independent decisions.
I wish to inform the Deputy that I was delighted to open the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) Control Centre that re-located to office space within the National Train Control Centre (NTCC) at Heuston Station, which is a new €40 million building funded under the National Development Plan. This is another step forward in modernising An Garda Síochána and strengthening links with public transport operators.
This call and dispatch centre, located on a floor in the new National Train Control Centre in Heuston Station, is the nerve centre to Garda operations in the Dublin Metropolitan region and the personnel working there are the people at the frontline taking sometimes the most challenging and time-sensitive calls. The DMR Control Centre is the busiest of the four regional control centres in An Garda Síochána, with approximately 100 Garda personnel answering between 800 and 1,000 calls per day.
The personnel working there are the people at the frontline taking sometimes the most challenging and time-sensitive calls, doing so in a compassionate and professional manner. It will be Garda staff rather than sworn members who will work out of the Control Centre.
An Garda Síochána also plan to increase their presence in some other stations in the time ahead.
This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with an unprecedented allocation of over €2.14 billion in Budget 2023. The new Control Centre is another step forward in modernising An Garda Síochána and strengthening links with public transport operators.
Functions from Iarnród Éireann and Dublin City Council will be co-located in the building along with the Garda Síochána DMR Control Centre. The location of An Garda Síochána, Iarnród Eireann and Dublin City Council control centres in the same building will help Gardaí to build upon the already excellent relationships they have with public transport providers, particularly in the event of serious emergencies requiring coordinated responses.
An Garda Síochána's mission of 'Keeping People Safe' extends to all areas of our communities, including public transport and the stations that the services operate from. Garda management engages extensively with transport operators nationwide, including the National Transport Authority, Irish Rail (DART and InterCity rail) and Transdev Ireland (Luas) to provide a high visibility presence through a coordinated approach.
461. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice when the next European Council of Justice Ministers is scheduled to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21705/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the Council of the European Union’s next Justice and Home Affairs Council will take place on June 8-9 2023 in Luxembourg.
The Deputy may wish to note that this information and information related to this meeting is published on the Council of the European Union's website at: www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/jha/2023/06/08-09/
462. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of senior investigating officers; the total full-time equivalent of each child protection unit since 2019 to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21706/23]
View answerI have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
463. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1040 of 18 April 2023, if he has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this PQ answered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21707/23]
View answerI understand that Parliamentary Question No. 1040 of 18 April 2023 refers to the number of persons arrested and charged with public order offences within Garda B and C districts of DMR on both 17 and 18 March 2023, in tabular form.
As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no direct role.
The districts referred to by the Deputy are Pearse Street, South Central District (B District) and Store Street, North Central District (C District).
The tables below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outline incidents of Public Order which were reported in Store Street and Pearse Street Districts on 17 and 18 March 2023.
The second table outlines any charge, summons, prisoner log, caution or referral associated with these incidents.
It is worth noting that 12 of the 37 incidents reported in Pearse Street and Store Street Districts had a different district of custody, meaning the incident occurred in Store Street /Pearse Street Districts but the prisoner was held elsewhere.
Due to data protection, figures of less than 10 are denoted by an asterisk (*).
Number of Incidents Reported in Store Street / Pearse Street Districts
|
District |
17/03/2023 |
18/03/2023 |
|
Pearse Street |
18 |
13 |
|
Store Street |
18 |
* |
*less than 10
Number of Charges, Summons, Cautions, Referrals and Prisoner Logs associated with incidents reported in Store Street / Pearse Street Districts
|
- |
Adult Caution |
Charge |
Prisoner Log |
Referral |
|
Pearse Street |
* |
39 |
25 |
* |
|
Store Street |
* |
26 |
12 |
* |
*less than 10
