I note the Deputy's points. We cannot allow profiteering on foot of students whose families have made huge sacrifices to send them to Ireland to learn English. The new TrustEd Ireland quality mark will hopefully provide a better regulated environment for providers so that when people are coming to Ireland they will be able to come here with the assurance that their college will be well accredited and from that will flow the stamp 2 visas in the correct format. Obviously, my Department has responsibility for immigra…

The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and allocation of Garda resources. We are assured by the Commissioner that, when allocating Garda resources, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the annual policing plan. The requirements of all Garda divisions nationwide are also taken into account, which include local and national crime trends and workloads, policing arrangements and operational strategies, local population and trends, and geographical area and size. Transfer …

Obviously, population trends are monitored on a continuous basis, but looking at what we are doing to ensure overall community safety in County Meath, the Department is pleased to secure €8 million in budget 2026 for the national office for community safety to ensure the office carries out its functions, including its support for local community partnerships and the work on the national development of a national strategy for community safety. Much of the Deputy's constituency is obviously rural. One of our success …

I take the opportunity to commend the gardaí on the street. We are seeing huge effort being put in gardaí, not just in Dublin city but on a nationwide basis. We can see the number of people going through Templemore and the standard of the gardaí coming out of Templemore is really noticeable. Population trends and community trends are always under review. We are using census data to ensure that populations are represented according to increases in the local population. This will be reviewed on a continuous basis. Th…

The Deputy, the Minister and I all represent inner-city Dublin constituencies and we know very well the devastation the grooming of children into criminality has on all our communities. I have delegated responsibility for youth justice, and it has been a priority of mine since before my appointment to the Department of justice. I am very glad to take this question today. The Government’s Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 creates a whole-of-government framework to address the challenges around children and young adul…

As the Deputy knows, we are coming up to the end of our youth justice strategy and we will have a new strategy as of the end of 2027. The Greentown project has been extended. The extension of the programme has reduced the influence of criminal networks on children at risk of involvement in crime and improved the likelihood of pro-social outcomes for children who are already involved in criminal networks. We know that investment in these programmes does work, albeit in pilot and smaller models. I agree with the Depu…

Sorry.

I agree with the Deputy. Words like "multidisciplinary" and "multidepartmental" are often used very flippantly but education has a piece, as do criminal justice and the HSE. We, as legislators, have a piece. Supporting our local community is a part of the puzzle. We all must play our part in it. On what we can do from a community point of view, I have been to many of the projects in Ballyfermot like skate parks. The Deputy will be aware of the community safety fund, an annual grant fund that supports short- to medi…

I thank Senators who have contributed to the debate. I will address amendment No. 1, which I understand has not been moved. It provides interpretation in respect of the terms "crimes against humanity", "genocide" and "war crime" to be inserted into section 3 of the interpretation section of the principal Act, linking these terms to the definition in the statute of the International Criminal Court, which I take to refer to the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court. Amendments Nos. 2 to 6, inclusive, and 8…

I understand and appreciate the point the Senator has made and where these concerns come from. I note and reiterate that the current terrorism framework legislation before the House is not the correct law to address matters that have been raised today. Violations under international law, as outlined, by the armed forces of a state are already crimes in our domestic law. As was stated, the International Criminal Court Act 2006 sets out that in Ireland crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide are criminal off…

I thank the Senators who put this amendment before the House and made contributions today. I understand the genuine questions raised by Senator Higgins. Some were rhetorical and some were genuine, but I understand the point being made. This amendment seeks to delete the phrase "public provocation to commit a terrorist offence" from the definition of terrorist-linked activity in section 2 of the Bill. The effect of this amendment would be to remove public provocation as an offence under the Bill. Noting the concerns…

Apologies for my voice. Please bear with me. I thank the Senators for their amendments and contributions. Unfortunately, I cannot accept Senator O'Reilly's amendment No. 9. The directive, under Article 5, requires that the public provocation offence encompass direct and indirect incitement. An example of indirect incitement might be how to build a bomb or other publications. The amendments set down today seek to introduce various changes to section 3 of the Bill or to delete the proposed restructuring of this offen…

The two motions before the House seek the approval of Seanad Éireann to continue in force provisions in the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 aimed at combating terrorism and organised crime. Given the nature of these important provisions, the Houses of the Oireachtas has decided that they should be periodically reviewed. The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration, is required to lay reports before the Oireachtas on the use of the relevant provi…

I thank all Senators who contributed today. I am grateful for their contributions, particularly those who spoke in favour, and there was also important discourse from those who did not. Every Senator in this House knows the appalling damage caused by organised crime, as outlined by Senator Andrews and others, particularly the damage caused by the drugs trade to individual families and communities. As a public representative, and now as Minister of State at the Department of justice, I have seen first hand the impac…

The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and I thank everyone for their consideration of the Bill. I welcome to the Seanad Chamber Jason Poole whom I had the honour of meeting today. On Second Stage the background to the Bill - its genesis in the brutal and senseless murder of an innocent young woman - was outlined by all. Senators of all parties and none praised the Poole family for their tireless campaign on behalf of their beloved Jennifer. I take this opportunity to reiterate that those with serious criminal convictio…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for that. I listened with interest from my office to the comments on this Bill, and I thank all Members who contributed to the debate. It is very encouraging to see the level of support across the House and the goodwill towards the legislation, albeit with some comments from Members of the House. It is undeniable that the landscape of terror threats in Europe has shifted in recent years, yet terrorism and violent extremism continue to pose a persistent and multifaceted threat. These …

I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2026 and ending on 29th June, 2027. The two motions before the House seek the approval of Dáil Éireann to continue in force provisions in the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 aimed at combating terrorism and organised crime. Given the nature of…

I am very grateful to the House for its consideration of these motions. I thank Deputies for their contributions, particularly those in support but also those who do not support the motion because their discourse is very important. Many issues have been raised. I know I have only eight minutes. For the benefit of the House and for those watching, the independent review group carried out a comprehensive review of the law in this area and the majority and minority reports of the group were published in June 2023. The…

I know Deputy Carthy raised the issue of Sallins. The establishment of a public inquiry is something we can only proceed with in accordance with the legislation governing inquiries. The most important requirement is that the matter be of urgent public importance requiring investigation. In light of developments since 1976, the Minister is satisfied that it is not warranted.

I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that section 8 of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 (No. 32 of 2009) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2026 and ending on 29th June, 2027.