Written Answers Nos. 225-245
225. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will comment on a matter with regard to the school meals programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21090/24]
View answerThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering 443,000 children are now eligible for funding.
Funding under the School Meals Programme can be provided for breakfast, snack, cold lunch, dinner, hot school meals and afterschool clubs and is based on a maximum rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided. These meals must meet the nutritional standards for the school meals programme.
The Nutritional Standards for School Meals were developed by a working group led by the Health and Wellbeing Programme in the Department of Health, in consultation with Safefood and the Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme in the Health Service Executive.
Each school is required to provide a menu choice of at least two different meals per day and where required, provide a vegetarian or vegan option and an option that caters for students’ religious and cultural dietary requirements. The food provided for those with allergies must comply with the Standards. Guidance on allergies such as coeliac disease and gluten intolerance is available from Safefood.net
Schools are responsible for choosing their own School Meals supplier on the open market in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with Public Procurement rules. Under tender documentation as stipulated by the Schools Procurement’s Unit, the menu is to accommodate those with food intolerances and allergies, from lactose-free to vegetarian to gluten-free, for example. In addition, the supplier is to check with the school upon award of the contract, the details of such to accommodate those potential customers and the supplier must provide clearly visible menu boards with an allergens list.
The Department provides the funding directly to the schools, who are then required to procure the provision of the food in compliance with Government procurement rules and with relevant Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, Food Safety regulations and the Nutritional Standards for School Meals.
It is the responsibility of the school to source a supplier that can meet the dietary requirements of all of their pupils, so they should liaise with their chosen supplier to discuss suitable options if a child has a specific condition.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to indicate when a PPS number will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21094/24]
View answerA Personal Public Service (PPS) Number is a unique reference number that helps a person access social welfare benefits and public services in Ireland.
Following the person’s application for a PPS Number, they were invited to attend an in-person PPS Number appointment on 10/05/2024 at 12.10pm in the Newbridge Intreo Centre. Details of the appointment and the documentation required, were sent by email to the person concerned on 02/05/2024.
When the person attends their appointment with the necessary documentation and successfully completes the registration process, a PPS Number will be allocated, and they will receive confirmation of their PPS Number on the day. Their Public Services Card be posted to their address within 7-10 working days of their appointment date.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
227. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of an application for domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied). [21118/24]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance is payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months.
I can confirm that my Department received an application for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) in respect of their child from the person concerned on 26 April 2024.
As part of the decision process, their application was referred for the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor (MA) and is awaiting an MA assessment to date.
On receipt of the MA opinion, a decision will be made on their application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the decision in writing.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
228. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the current situation regarding a claim for carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the reason this application was refused in light of the compelling medical evidence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21141/24]
View answerCarer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
To qualify, the Carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 5 March 2024.
As part of the decision process, the application was referred for the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor (MA). The claim was disallowed as the Deciding Officer (DO), having regard to the opinion of the MA, decided that the information supplied did not show that the care recipient required full time care. The person concerned was notified on 9 April 2024 of this decision, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal.
A request for a review with further medical evidence was received on 25 April 2024. The DO assessed all information and the outcome was that the decision remained unchanged. The person concerned was notified of this review decision on 25 April 2024 and also of there right of review and appeal.
A request for a further review was received on 2 May 2024. The outcome of this review was that the decision remained unchanged. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 7 May 2024 and of their right of review and appeal.
It remains open to the person concerned to request a further review (where further medical information / evidence is available) and / or to submit a request for an appeal of the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
229. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the awards made both with and without a tender process to management consultancy firms (details supplied) by her Department and bodies under the aegis of her Department for each of the years 2019 to 2024, in tabular form and classed by firm; the purpose and a brief description of the awards; the value of the awards and the total amounts paid; the timeline or timeframe of the contracts; and the desired or completed output. [21170/24]
View answer230. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice if she and her Department will engage with the UK authorities to examine if an exemption could be allowed for Ukrainian refugee children based in Donegal and other Border counties to travel across the Border into Northern Ireland to avail of amenities such as swimming, cinemas and school tours. [21070/24]
View answerThe Common Travel Area arrangement between Ireland and the UK is primarily for the benefit of Irish and UK nationals. CTA cooperation has brought benefits for certain groups of visa required nationals in respect of the Short Stay Visa Waiver programme and the British Irish Visa Scheme.
While there is excellent cooperation on CTA matters, the immigration rules that apply in the UK and Ireland are a matter for each jurisdiction. Therefore travel requirements of the type referred to by the Deputy are a matter for the relevant UK authorities.
However, I can advise the Deputy that there has been ongoing engagement at officials level with the UK in the context of regular engagements on CTA matters
231. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice if a decision has been made on an application for an employment permit by a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21072/24]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy created on-line Employment visa application on 01 May 2024.
Once the applicant is satisfied with their application they should click “submit” and print a copy of their “Summary Form”.
The summary form contains some of the information the applicant has entered. It will also contain instructions on what they are required to do next in order to submit their documentation.
The instructions will differ depending on which country they are applying from.
The applicant should lodge the summary form together with the relevant fee and supporting documentation with the Irish Embassy/Consulate/Visa Office/Visa Application Centre as soon as possible. The applicant should make sure that the supporting documentation is as up to date as possible. Only upon receipt of the necessary documentation & fee, can the visa application be processed further.
The summary sheet and supporting documentation has not been received by the relevant Visa Office to date.
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 (IMOireachtasMail@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.
232. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice if a decision has been made on an application for an employment permit by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21073/24]
View answerThe person referred to by the Deputy created on-line Employment visa application on 01 May 2024.
Once the applicant is satisfied with their application they should click “submit” and print a copy of their “Summary Form”.
The summary form contains some of the information the applicant has entered. It will also contain instructions on what they are required to do next in order to submit their documentation.
The instructions will differ depending on which country they are applying from.
The applicant should lodge the summary form together with the relevant fee and supporting documentation with the Irish Embassy/Consulate/Visa Office/Visa Application Centre as soon as possible. The applicant should make sure that the supporting documentation is as up to date as possible. Only upon receipt of the necessary documentation & fee, can the visa application be processed further.
The summary sheet and supporting documentation has not been received by the relevant Visa Office to date.
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 (IMOireachtasMail@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.
233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the extent to which she is satisfied that the most recent European proposals in respect of immigration are sufficiently grounded to ensure universal acceptance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21126/24]
View answer234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the steps, if any, available to the European Union to ensure the availability and acceptance of universal immigration policy throughout Europe to which all EU countries can contribute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21128/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together.
I am committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected.
The EU Asylum and Migration Pact will significantly reform the current approach to migration and asylum both in Ireland and across the EU by providing a robust legislative framework to address the challenges faced in this area.
EU migration is a shared European challenge that requires shared European solutions. In order to address the migratory challenges in a truly European manner, it is necessary that EU institutions, EU agencies and the Member States all do their part. The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum sets out a comprehensive new approach to migration bringing together policy in the areas of migration, asylum, integration and border management.
Ireland was at the centre of negotiating this pact and worked hard with all other Member States over eight years to agree the comprehensive approach in the Pact.
Political agreement between the two co-legislators at EU level was achieved in December 2023, and the European Parliament passed all elements of the Pact on 10 April. It is expected the Pact will be fully adopted very soon and in the next couple of weeks, becoming fully applicable across the EU after two years. The European Commission has started to work with Member States on the implementation of the Pact and a Common Implementation Plan is expected to be finalised by June 2024.
In an Irish context the Pact represents a permanent structural solution to the challenges around migration. Migration as a phenomenon is in essence a transnational issue. The reality is that no country can deal with the challenges of migration alone, and the need for cooperation and coordination with countries of origin, transit and neighbouring countries is ever growing. It is for this reason that Ireland has participated in the Common European Asylum System since the beginning. We are already part of the Common European asylum system, and the Pact is a reform of the Common European Asylum system.
The overall objectives of the Pact is to create a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure in ordinary times as well as in times of migratory pressure and crisis situations. It will ensure a fair sharing of responsibility, developing robust and fair management of external borders and providing stronger governance of asylum and migration policies.
235. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) gardaí issued for parking on a footpath in 2023; the percentage of those FPNs that were paid within the first 28 days of penalty notices being issued in 2023; the percentage that were paid within the subsequent 28-56 days of the penalty notices being issued in 2023; the percentage of those FPNs issued in 2023 for parking on a footpath that have yet to be paid, in tabular form; if An Garda Síochána intends to issue FPNs to persons via registered post; and if not, why not. [20975/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the general management and administration of Garda business. This includes the enforcement of all applicable legislation and the management of the Fixed Charge Notice system.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following offences for which a Fixed Charge Notice (FCN) was issued for parking on a footway are:
|
Offence code/desc. |
Offence group |
|
RP394A-On A Footway -Hirer -Park |
Hirer Parking Offences |
|
RP404A-On A Footway -Owner -Park |
Park-Manner/Location |
|
RP414A-On A Footway -Driver -Park |
Park-Manner/Location |
A total of 6,009 FCNs were issued for the offences of parking on a footway in 2023.
The base fine amount for payment within the first 28 days was €80 in 2023. 4,319 (72%) FCNs were paid at this amount.
347 (6%) FCNs were paid at the amount of €120, indicating that they were paid within the subsequent 28-56 day time period.
A further 190 (3%) FCNs were paid at the amount of €160, indicating that they were paid availing of the third payment option prior to the commencement of court proceedings.
The remaining 1,153 (19%) FCNs either have a status of terminated, statute barred, summons created or have been sent to court.
Please note I am further advised by the Garda authorities that these figures are based on incidents which occurred from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023, inclusive. All information is based upon operational data from the FCPS system as was available on 3 May 2024, and is liable to change.
236. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the most recent figures for the number of appointed detectives in each Garda division, in tabular form. [21005/24]
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 managing the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to keep people safe. An Garda Síochána has been allocated unprecedented funding of over €2.35 billion for 2024 representing a 25% increase since 2020. This funding will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.
The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of appointed detectives in each Garda division on 31 March 2024. Please be advised that this information is operational and may be subject to change.
|
Division |
AC |
CS |
SU |
IN |
SG |
GD |
Total |
|
D.M.R. EAST |
<10 |
<10 |
46 |
||||
|
D.M.R. NORTH |
<10 |
<10 |
18 |
100 |
|||
|
D.M.R. NORTH CENTRAL |
<10 |
<10 |
10 |
67 |
|||
|
D.M.R. OFFICE |
<10 |
<10 |
|||||
|
DMR SOUTH |
<10 |
<10 |
10 |
52 |
|||
|
DMR SOUTH CENTRAL |
<10 |
<10 |
12 |
61 |
|||
|
D.M.R. WEST |
<10 |
<10 |
13 |
70 |
|||
|
CLARE/TIPPERARY |
<10 |
<10 |
16 |
59 |
|||
|
CORK CITY |
<10 |
<10 |
18 |
85 |
|||
|
CORK NORTH |
<10 |
<10 |
31 |
||||
|
CORK WEST |
<10 |
<10 |
28 |
||||
|
DONEGAL |
<10 |
<10 |
46 |
||||
|
GALWAY |
<10 |
<10 |
10 |
47 |
|||
|
KERRY |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
29 |
|||
|
KILDARE |
<10 |
27 |
|||||
|
KILKENNY/CARLOW |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
30 |
|||
|
LAOIS / OFFALY |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
39 |
|||
|
LIMERICK |
<10 |
<10 |
13 |
57 |
|||
|
LOUTH/CAVAN / MONAGHAN |
<10 |
<10 |
16 |
67 |
|||
|
MAYO/ROSCOMMON/LONGFORD |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
37 |
|||
|
MEATH/WESTMEATH |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
36 |
|||
|
SLIGO / LEITRIM |
<10 |
<10 |
26 |
||||
|
WATERFORD |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
31 |
|||
|
WEXFORD |
<10 |
<10 |
25 |
||||
|
WICKLOW |
<10 |
<10 |
32 |
||||
|
C.A.B. |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
34 |
||
|
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BUREAU |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
15 |
39 |
||
|
CYBER CRIME BUREAU |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
48 |
||
|
D.O.C.B. |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
18 |
71 |
||
|
ECONOMIC CRIME BUREAU |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
22 |
67 |
||
|
GOVERNANCE & ACCOUNTABILITY |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
14 |
||
|
HRM OPERATIONS |
<10 |
||||||
|
IMMIGRATION BUREAU |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
49 |
||
|
LIAISON & PROTECTION |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
19 |
38 |
||
|
NATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES |
<10 |
||||||
|
ORGANISED & SERIOUS CRIME |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
|||
|
PROTECTIVE SERVICES BUREAU |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
15 |
43 |
||
|
S.D.U. |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
18 |
148 |
||
|
S.T.O.C. |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
46 |
||
|
SECURITY & INTELLIGENCE |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
24 |
149 |
||
|
TECHNICAL BUREAU |
<10 |
<10 |
<10 |
38 |
|||
|
GRAND TOTAL |
13 |
57 |
92 |
409 |
1917 |
2488 |
I am also advised that data is not released by An Garda Síochána for counts less than 10 for data protection reasons.
237. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice to list, in tabular form, all of the progression units in the Irish prison system; and the number of prisoners in each as a percentage of the overall population of each institution. [21035/24]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that there are currently 201 people accommodated at the Progression Unit which is located within Mountjoy Prison. This equates to 4% of the total prison population.
238. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if she is aware of an issue whereby documentation is being returned to passport offices despite not being correctly completed by gardaí, thereby delaying passport applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21069/24]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the administrative functions in relation to international protection, immigration (including visas) and citizenship matters.
Passport applications are the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Any queries relating to delays in passport applications should be addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
239. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice if she has engaged with her colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs on what can be done to assist medical professionals working in our health service who have family back home in Sudan, by way of humanitarian assistance; and if she has received requests for humanitarian visas for family members of these medical professionals. [21076/24]
View answerI understand that this is a difficult situation for our Sudanese community and their loved ones. My Department has assisted the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families from Sudan. Where necessary, we are continuing to work closely with the DFA on a case by case basis assisting any remaining Irish citizens who are evacuating Sudan with their family.
Sudanese nationals are visa required and must have a valid Irish entry visa before they seek to enter the State. Any visa required national that wishes to enter the State, and remain, for up to 90 days must have a Type C Short Stay Visa. A visa required national that wishes to reside in the State for longer than 90 days must have a Type D Long Stay Visa. The Family Reunification Unit which process applications made under the International Protection Act 2015 is prioritising Sudanese applications where possible.
Any person that wishes to make a visa application can do so online at:
www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx
It is open to the persons affected who have family members here to apply for a visa. Due to the unrest in Khartoum the office of Ireland’s Honorary Consul is currently inaccessible. Where possible visa applicants should engage with the nearest available Irish Embassy who can give further information on specific cases. Emergency visa applications will be dealt with on a case by case basis but will, wherever possible, be processed speedily and sympathetically.
240. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 535 of 30 April 2024, if she will review the legislation for sexual offences against children where a perpetrator lives very close to the child in question, regardless of whether the crime was a first offence, and where the child is likely to see the perpetrator; if she will work to increase the protections for children in these cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21082/24]
View answerThe Government takes the issue of sexual abuse and exploitation of children very seriously and there is comprehensive legislation in place to deal with these offences, as was detailed in my previous response to the Deputy.
As previously explained, there is already provision for a judge to impose an order under part 2 of the 2017 Sexual Offences Act 2001 that can, among other things, restrict where a sex offender can go and with whom they can engage. Nothing in the Act prescribes or precludes what a judge can include by way of exclusion zones or areas, or indeed how such areas should be referred to geographically and as the Deputy is aware, under the Constitution and the law, the Courts are independent in the exercise of their functions.
As also previously explained, I recently commenced the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 to provide for stricter oversight and management of convicted sex offenders within the community including by strengthening the notification requirements for sex offenders and providing for the court to prohibit a sex offender from working with children. The 2023 Act also provides additional powers to An Garda Síochána to take photographs, fingerprints and palm prints from a convicted sex offender and has given Gardaí the power to disclose information regarding a convicted sex offender to a third party in certain circumstances.
In terms of the work of An Garda Síochána to both combat child sexual abuse and support and protect victims, I am advised that there are Gardaí in every Division working on investigating child sexual abuse - both in person abuse and online abuse and An Garda Síochána engage with their counterparts in other jurisdictions to identify children who are at risk of, or subjected to, sexual abuse. In addition, some 72 Garda members have completed the specialist child interviewer training programme to date and a further 117 garda members are currently undertaking the training programme.
As I’m sure the Deputy is aware, responsibility for child protection and support of child victims in sexual offence cases falls under the remit of Tusla, and I would direct the Deputy to my colleague, Minister O’Gorman, for further information on other work being undertaken to protect children in such cases.
241. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice if she would consider reducing the amount of time required for legal separation, which currently stands at one year (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21092/24]
View answerSection 2(1) of the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989, as amended, provides for a number of grounds under which a person may apply for a judicial separation. An applicant may apply under one or more of these grounds, which are:
• that the respondent to the application has committed adultery;
• that the respondent to the application has behaved in such a way that the applicant cannot reasonably be expected to live with the respondent;
• that there has been desertion by the respondent of the applicant for a continuous period of at least one year immediately preceding the date of the application;
• that the applicant and respondent spouses have lived apart from one another for a continuous period of at least one year immediately preceding the date of the application.
• that the marriage has broken down to the extent that the court is satisfied in all the circumstances that a normal marital relationship has not existed between the spouses for a period of at least one year immediately preceding the date of the application.
Section 2(3)(a) of the 1989 Act provides that spouses who live in the same dwelling as one another shall be considered as living apart from one another if the court is satisfied that, while so living in the same dwelling, the spouses do not live together as a couple in an intimate and committed relationship. A relationship does not cease to be intimate merely because the relationship is no longer sexual in nature.
While all legislation is always kept under review I have no plans at present to alter the statutory minimum time limits provided for in section 2(1) of the 1989 Act.
242. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice when a person (details supplied) whose application was granted in December 2023 will be invited to a citizenship ceremony; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21093/24]
View answerI am pleased to say that the next Citizenship Ceremonies will take place on 10 and 11 June 2024 at the INEC Killarney and also on 20 and 21 June at the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD).
Invitations to successful applicants will be begin to issue shortly.
Information on Citizenship Ceremonies is available on my Department’s website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/citizenship-ceremonies/
All invitees attending a Citizenship Ceremony should ensure that they have an up to date IRP Card that provides details of their permission to remain in the State on the date of the ceremony.
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 at: IMoireachtasmail@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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
243. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice when a final decision in respect of an application for citizenship will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21097/24]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy was approved on 26 April 2024. The person concerned has now paid their Certificate Fee and they will receive an invitation to attend an upcoming Citizenship Ceremony.
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 at: IMoireachtasmail@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 Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
244. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice for an update on a visa application for an individual (details supplied); the processing times for applications of this nature; and a timeframe for decision. [21102/24]
View answerThe application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department on 12 February 2024 and continues to be processed.
In the interests of fairness, applications are dealt with in strict chronological order. My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hand, individual circumstances, the complexity of applications, whether further information is required, and the resources available.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas mail facility (imoireachtasmail@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 email service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
245. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice in view of the Government’s recent endorsement of the Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware, if she will now clarify whether An Garda Síochána makes use of commercial spyware and, if so, what oversight, transparency and redress processes are in place. [21109/24]
View answerAs the Deputy has noted, Ireland signed up to the Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware in advance of the third Summit for Democracy in the Republic of Korea held in March of this year.
Upon joining the Department of Foreign Affairs issued a national statement which made clear Ireland’s commitment to curbing the proliferation of commercial spyware that has been, or risks being, misused by authoritarian regimes and in democracies.
These technologies can play a legitimate and important role in supporting the work of law enforcement agencies and security services when they are used in a manner that is consistent with respect for human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles.
The Deputy will appreciate that for security and operational reasons it is not the practice to comment on the specific means used by An Garda Siochana under the relevant statutes, i.e., the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993 and the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009.
As the Deputy is aware, the operation of both Acts is overseen independently by serving Judges of the High Court who are designated by the Government for this purpose and report to the Taoiseach. In carrying out their functions, the Designated Judges have, by law, full access to all persons and records they consider relevant and all relevant persons have, by law, a duty to co-operate. In addition there is a Complaints Referee who can receive and investigate complaints. In carrying out his functions, the Referee has by law full access to people and records he considers relevant to his investigations and any such person has a duty to cooperate with him.
