While initial detection rates, as the Deputy rightly said, hover between 10% and 12%, they then potentially increase to 20% because the criminal justice process is lengthy and it often takes time for those statistics to adjust. Even if the rate reaches 20%, however, that is still far too low and not enough. What is particularly worrying, and I visited several divisional protective service units recently, is that the DPSUs have found that there has been a significant increase in historical cases coming forward. Peop…

What has become increasingly clear to me following the publication of the O'Malley report last year and my engagement with victims and with the criminal justice system is that it is not child friendly and is not an encouraging, welcoming or warm place for a family or for children to come forward to. Therefore, everything required must be done to change that situation, including, for example, ensuring that specialist interview suites are available as close as possible to where people live, so that they do not have t…

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I too share his concerns for the Afghan people and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. I think we all share those concerns. In response, Ireland has acted swiftly and compassionately to demonstrate our support. While we can all be concerned, we need to show actual support and solidarity with the Afghan people. My Department continues to work closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integr…

The Deputy is right that, as a nation, we have travelled to every corner of the world and understand how important it is to be welcomed when we go to another country. We are trying to make sure that this process is as easy and as straightforward as possible, that those who need it the most can apply and that their family members can apply on their behalf. We do not want families to be split up so we will make sure that that does not happen. The Deputy asked how we can prioritise those who are most at risk. We know …

I thank the Deputy for his comments. I hope we will see something similar replicated across other member states. Other countries are doing their bit as well and trying to ensure that Afghan nationals, in particular those at risk, are protected. The scheme will essentially provide lawful residence on a temporary basis for up to two years, but it is important to add that it may be possible to renew the permission after that period or to apply for different immigration permission. The time people have spent in Ireland…

I thought the Deputy was going to tell me he had convinced Garth Brooks to come to Drogheda, but I do not think that is case.

Or Dundalk. As the Deputy will be aware, the publication and implementation of the recommendations of the Drogheda scoping report are key actions in my Department's justice plan for 2021. They are certainly a priority for me, as I know they are for the Deputy and others. I am grateful to the former director of the Probation Service, Mr. Vivian Geiran, who made over 70 recommendations in his scoping report on short- and long-term responses to challenges the community faces in Drogheda. We know, and we have seen, the…

The only way this will work is by providing additional funding and supports through our national and Government bodies and agencies, but also by supporting the community groups which have been doing a fantastic job over the last number of years. There is a space for them to work in tandem with the State agencies. We have spoken about the agency that the Deputy specifically mentioned before. My Department is engaging directly with the HSE on it. We will ensure that the support it needs, whether it is through funding…

I will not set out what the group is going to do or tell it what it needs to do. However, I think the actions are very clear. The subgroups have been created on the basis of those actions, the needs and requirements. Following the publication of the report, any engagement that my Department has had with the other Departments has been very positive and forthcoming. Indeed, the members of the localised implementation group, which includes members of the local council, Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan, representati…

As the Deputy is aware, the atypical working scheme was established as a cross-departmental response to address the matter of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet who are not currently eligible for permission under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment employment permit system. The scheme provided, for the first time, a framework for the employment of non-EEA workers within defined segments of the Irish fishing fleet and was welcomed as a solution to the risk of e…

I will comment on the timeline. We gave a commitment in the programme for Government to implement a new scheme within 18 months. While we are slightly shy of that, the scheme will open in the new year. I give that commitment. I am aware that people are anxious and nervous and want to know that it will open when we say it will. It will open in the new year. There may have been slight delays in that we wanted to engage as much as possible and I wanted to make the scheme as inclusive as possible to make sure that when…

I must stress that this is an undocumented scheme. We gave a commitment to introduce the scheme within the first 18 months. I have committed with the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, and others, to make it as inclusive as possible. There are other avenues for people to avail of to try to regularise their status. While we are trying to make it as inclusive as possible, if we were to take on board the fact that there will be different scenarios where some people can avail of it and some people cannot, we would never…

I will respond to the Deputy in English if that is okay. I regret that the Deputy has not received the response on time. I signed off on it so the Deputy should have had it at this stage. I apologise for the delay. I can inform the Deputy that promotions to the ranks of sergeant and inspector in An Garda Síochána are governed by An Garda Síochána regulations of 2021. The new regulations mark a fundamental change by providing promotion competitions to the supervisory ranks of sergeant and inspector, which have previ…

People are speaking to each other in this regard, and the Commissioner has engaged with my Department, and obviously has taken on board recommendations from An Coimisinéir Teanga and from the Minister with responsibility for this area. On that basis, and acknowledging that there are issues that need to be addressed here, the new Irish language strategy has been developed by An Garda Síochána, and I am advised by the Garda authorities that this is due to be launched in the coming weeks. The overall aim of the strate…

The implementation of the report will go a long way in addressing many of the issues and concerns raised by the Deputy.

First, I thank colleagues for their co-operation and support. It is genuinely appreciated. We all have gone through the reasons for the need to implement this as quickly as possible. To assure Deputies of the timeframe as to what will happen next, we are working to ensure that this is implemented and enacted by Tuesday of next week. When the Bill has completed its passage, which is this evening, it will be sent to the President. Normally there is a five-day period under Article 25.2.1° of the Constitution before th…

I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of men's mental health, particularly in the context of suicide and the fact that this Friday is International Men's Health Day. Any loss of life to suicide is a tragedy, and my deepest condolences go out to any family or individual who has lost someone to suicide or who has been affected by suicide. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, it is a complex problem and situation that individuals and families find themselves in and it means they need support in many differe…

The Deputy has highlighted the two most important issues and I agree with and support her wholeheartedly on that. This is about each and every one of us looking after our mental health. I visited my father's grave last night for the first time in a while and it is almost nine years since he died by suicide. When I visit the grave, I always think about my mental health and that of the people around me. It is important that we continue to look out for ourselves and each other, and that we allow a space where people f…

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter today. As she stated at the outset, the management or administration of the An Garda Síochána and deployment of resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. These decisions are made in the continued context of crime trends in a certain area and policing priorities. When issues arise, as they do, the Commissioner and his team respond to them as quickly as possible. The Deputy will appreciate that where the specific resources go and their allocation is not something I c…

I will come back to the Deputy on the response.