Parliamentary questions

Cross-Border Co-operation

Joe McHugh

149. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on whether the cross-Border policing strategy acts as a deterrent to rural crime in Border counties and in the greater Dublin area. [6098/13]

Garda Stations Refurbishment

Willie Penrose

150. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he will take to ensure that a Garda station (details supplied) in County Westmeath is immediately refurbished and appropriate maintenance afforded to it, such as painting and decorating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6111/13]

Stardust Fire

Finian McGrath

151. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the matter of the victims of the Stardust fire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6142/13]

Garda Strength

Brian Stanley

152. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí stationed in County Laois at present; and the number based in the county in each of the past four years. [6149/13]

Refugee Appeals Tribunal Decisions

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

153. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality since the establishment of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, the number of decisions, per year, quashed by the High Court on judicial review; the number of cases, per year, settled by the State after judicial review proceedings were instituted; and the cost to the State rising from same. [6152/13]

Civil Legal Aid Issues

Michael Healy-Rae

154. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of money paid in the years 2010, 2011 and 2012 by persons making a contribution towards the cost of the free legal aid that was provided to them by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6160/13]

Garda Equipment

Michael Healy-Rae

155. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reissue gardaí with the Uzi sub-machine guns that were withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6163/13]

Residency Permits

Bernard Durkan

156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in the determination of an application for residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6176/13]

Garda Policing Plans

Bernard Durkan

157. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which he is satisfied that policing procedures, now applicable here, are in accordance with best international practice, particularly in the wake of the closure of a number of Garda stations throughout the country; his views that such closures will not interfere with good policing practices and requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6220/13]

Garda Strength

Bernard Durkan

158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of gardaí and Garda Reserve, all ranks, as of 31 December in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6221/13]

Garda Strength

Bernard Durkan

159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total strength of the gardaí, at all ranks, as of 30 June in each of the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6222/13]

Court Sittings

Bernard Durkan

160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which any backlogs exist throughout the Courts Service, and the extent to which cases at the District, Circuit, High and Supreme Courts are up to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6223/13]

Organised Crime

Bernard Durkan

161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which new initiatives may be taken to deal with the existence of organised criminal, or paramilitary gangs, in line with constitutional and international law commitments or requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6224/13]

Crime Levels

Bernard Durkan

162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of incidents of rape reported in each of the past five years to date in 2013; the extent to which the perpetrators have been brought to justice in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6225/13]

Crime Data

Bernard Durkan

163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of offences committed by persons while remanded on bail in each of the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6226/13]

Crime Data

Bernard Durkan

164. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners recorded as having absconded while on bail in the past ten years to date; the number recaptured or still at large; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6227/13]

Crime Levels

Bernard Durkan

165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which serious crime involving the use of firearms, knives or other weapons have been recorded annually in the past five years; if any particular initiatives are contemplated to deal with the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6228/13]

Legal Aid Service Reform

Bernard Durkan

166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when it is expected to reform the legal aid services with particular reference to the need to eliminate waiting lists and curtail costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6229/13]

Departmental Legal Costs

Bernard Durkan

167. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which legal costs were incurred by the State in respect of cases brought before the courts on constitutional grounds; the extent to which the complainants and-or plaintiffs contributed towards the costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6230/13]

Organised Crime

Bernard Durkan

168. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which adequate provision is being made to tackle organised crime, with particular reference to surveillance and monitoring the activities of criminal gangs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6231/13]

Garda Deployment

Bernard Durkan

169. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent, if any, to which redeployment of personnel within the Garda Síochána will take place to ensure adequate policing with particular reference to the need to meet the threat of highly mobile and motorised criminal gangs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6232/13]

Crime Levels

Bernard Durkan

170. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which he and his Department have monitored the levels of break-ins to private households and-or commercial premises; the extent to which the number of such robberies has fluctuated in each of the past five years to date, in both urban and rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6233/13]

Garda Recruitment

Bernard Durkan

171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of vacancies at all ranks awaiting to be filled at present; the extent to which such posts are to be filled in the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6234/13]

Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes

Bernard Durkan

172. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which prisoners serving long-term sentences, in respect of first-time offences, have been referred for rehabilitative training and-or education in their first year of incarceration in the past five years; the number of recidivistic offenders who have availed of such schemes in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6235/13]

Missing Persons Data

Bernard Durkan

173. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of persons reported and listed as missing in this country at present; the extent to which investigations are ongoing in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6236/13]

Crime Data

Bernard Durkan

174. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of unsolved serious crimes recorded in the past 15 years; the extent to which resources continued to be made available for further investigation in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6237/13]

Departmental Staff Rehiring

Eoghan Murphy

175. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there are any retired public sector workers from his Department, or any other part of the public sector, currently on his Department's payroll, for example, for sitting on a committee or preparing a report, but not exclusively these two areas; the number on the payroll; the cost to his Department; the services being delivered for this money; and the way that the positions were originally advertised. [6269/13]

Immigration Policy

Eoghan Murphy

176. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to certain residency, work-related issues, arising for immigrants from non-EEA countries (details supplied). [6280/13]

Garda Vetting of Personnel

Eoghan Murphy

177. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has considered allowing individuals who have been vetted by the Garda for a specific activity-organisation to obtain a copy of their Garda vetting disclosure, for use with other organisations or activities, in view of the fact that such a vetting disclosure would be similar to a driver's licence or passport in that it would be an official document held by an individual and subject to periodic renewal. [6283/13]

Garda Vetting Application Numbers

Eoghan Murphy

178. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vetting forms that the Garda receive each year; and the number of forms that are used for volunteering for charities. [6284/13]

Prisoner Complaints Procedures

Maureen O'Sullivan

179. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of recent revelations regarding St. Patrick's Institution, and his plan to implement new procedures for the investigation of prisoner complaints, the timescale he envisages for implementing a new plan for those aged 18 to 21 within the criminal justice system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6292/13]

Commissions of Investigation

Thomas P. Broughan

180. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has considered the possibility of a short commission of investigation into the Stardust disaster of 1981, in which 48 young people tragically lost their lives, in view of the ongoing dissatisfaction with the original investigation and findings into the horrific 1981 disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6293/13]

Garda Transport Provision

Thomas P. Broughan

181. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if there are any plans to provide a new Garda public order van for a location (details supplied) in Dublin 5; when each Garda district officer will be informed if his or her district is to receive a new Garda vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6312/13]

Prison Service Overtime

Thomas P. Broughan

182. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the overtime budget allocated to the Irish Prison Service for the years 2009 to 2013, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6313/13]

Departmental Banking

Simon Harris

183. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of money held on deposit or in short-term bank investments by each Government or State agency or body under his Department's remit; the rate of interest at which the deposits are held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6339/13]

Property Management Companies

Dominic Hannigan

184. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a property management company may introduce parking permits as a means to facilitate the collection of fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6352/13]

Subsidiary Protection Applications

Patrick Nulty

185. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for subsidiary protection in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6353/13]

Departmental Staff Rehiring

Eoghan Murphy

186. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if there are any retired public sector workers from his Department, or any other part of the public sector, currently on his Department's payroll, for example, for sitting on a committee or preparing a report, but not exclusively these two areas; the number on the payroll; the cost to his Department; the services being delivered for this money; and the way that the positions were originally advertised. [6262/13]

Overseas Missions

Thomas P. Broughan

187. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence if he has received a request from the EU for Irish soldiers to participate in the EU training mission in Mali; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6310/13]

Departmental Banking

Simon Harris

188. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Defence the amount of money held on deposit, or in short-term bank investments, by each Government or State agency or body under his Department's remit; the rate of interest at which the deposits are held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6332/13]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

189. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an Agri-Environment Options Scheme 2 payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6135/13]

Agriculture Schemes Payments

Paul Connaughton

190. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason payments have not been made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway, in respect of a disadvantaged areas payment and single farm payment, for 2011 and 2012; when they will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6136/13]

Grant Aid

Michael Healy-Rae

191. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has proposals to bring back grant aid for farmers wishing to erect sheep or cattle sheds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6154/13]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Michael Healy-Rae

192. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) has received no single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6155/13]

Fisheries Protection

Michael Healy-Rae

193. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assistance available to fishermen fishing for mussels in Castlemaine Harbour, County Kerry, who have been unable to fish at the harbour for a long period; if he will ensure that they can continue to earn a livelihood; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6157/13]

Upward Only Rent Reviews

Peadar Tóibín

194. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of leases with upward only rent clauses, that were in place for agencies under his Department at the start of 2011; and the number of such leases currently in operation. [6169/13]

Sea Lice Controls

Michelle Mulherin

195. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will set out his policy on sea lice controls; if he will address the concerns raised by the Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers that there is a significant threat, to the health of wild fish, on account of sea lice emanating from the massive industrial fish farms he plans to locate off the west coast of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6239/13]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Brendan Griffin

196. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an agri environment options scheme payment for 2012 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6241/13]

Aquaculture Development

Michelle Mulherin

197. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the consideration being given to the development of onshore coastal fish farms; if he considers such fish farms to be inherently less environmentally harmful than offshore fish farms; the evidence he relies on in arriving at his position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6242/13]

Sea Lice Controls

Michelle Mulherin

198. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way his policy on sea lice controls compares with those in existence in other countries which engage in fish farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6243/13]