I hope that we can come back with positive progress. On the Deputy's initial point, I cannot speak highly enough of the members of the commission and the work they do. I commend their commitment to removing violence from the communities in Northern Ireland but also their commitment to developing, enhancing and supporting communities that have been impacted for many years and working with all sides to get to that point. They are committed and dedicated and as the Deputy says, they come with no agenda other than to p…

My Department has taken a significant number of measures to increase the capacity of the international protection system. Reforms to this process will continue this year and beyond. In November 2022, I introduced an accelerated procedure for international protection applicants from designated safe countries of origin. This now applies to ten countries, with Botswana and Algeria added this January. These applicants now typically receive a first instance decision in less than three months and the number of applicatio…

I will continue to be clear that this pact is not being forced on anyone. It was first presented in 2016, with a second iteration in 2020. During every stage of the debate, be it in the European Parliament, the European Council, the committee of justice or the European affairs ministers Council, which I was a member of a number of years ago, opportunities were available to Members of this House and the Seanad to discuss issues under Topical Issue Debates, Commencement matters, Private Members’ business and other fo…

The people did vote for this. They voted for it in the form of the Lisbon treaty.

The treaty clearly sets out that migration is an EU competence. What we fought for was the option to opt in. The only obligation from a constitutional perspective is that both Houses agree this. That is exactly what we are doing. To be clear, nothing is being forced upon us. We are deciding to opt into a set of measures that we are already a member of. We have been part of a common European asylum system since 2009. This is about upgrading and improving the measures and ensuring that our system is more efficient an…

Budget 2024 provided a budget allocation of more than €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána. A 25% increase on 2020, this will allow for the sustained recruitment of Garda recruits. Recruitment is gathering real momentum. The number of recruits in the Garda training college continue to increase with a total of 747 trainees last year. That was the highest intake since 2018. There are currently three classes in the Garda College, two having entered in 2023 and one earlier this month. They will be attesting in: June, Sep…

Approximately 40% of the applicants in the most recent campaign were over the age of 35. It has had a significant impact on those applying. A steering group has been established to see what more we can do around the Garda numbers around the Garda College and whether there is more that we need to do by examining hybrid training moving outside of Templemore. That might not be the answer but we need to make sure that we are looking at every option possible to increase those numbers. A total of 15,000 was the older tar…

I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann, having regard to Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and noting that copies of the following proposed measures were laid before Dáil Éireann on 23rd October, 2020, 23rd October, 2020, 29th October, 2020, 2nd August, 2016, 28th October, 2020, 2nd August, 2016, and 2nd August, 2016 respecti…

I thank the House for facilitating this motion today. I welcome the opportunity to address the Seanad on Ireland's opt-in to a new EU proposal for a regulation on enhancing police co-operation in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings, and on enhancing Europol's support to preventing and combating such crimes and amending Regulation (EU) 2016/794, which is the Europol regulation. Ireland has an option, provided for in Article 3 of Protocol 21 ann…

The Senator will have an opportunity in the coming weeks when the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 comes before the House. More broadly, I thank colleagues for their support of this motion in order that we can opt in at the earliest stage. When we opt-in early, it means we can shape the regulation and we can be as involved from the earliest stage possible. I accept colleagues' support on that and thank them. More broadly, there is a lot more we need to be doing on human trafficking. We…

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Order of the Dáil of 29th March, 2023, setting out the rota in which Questions to members of the Government are to be asked, Questions for oral answer, following those set down to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment shall be set down to Ministers in the following temporary sequence: Minister for Justice Minister for Social Protection whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 29th March, 2023, shall continue with Questions to the Minister for Agric…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on enhancing police cooperation in relation to the …

I thank Deputies for their contributions. Many topics were raised but specifically with regard to the regulation, the timing between St. Patrick's Day and Easter meant we were a little tight for time on this. I appreciate that it is always better to be able to come forward as soon as possible. As I said at the end of my initial contribution, the overall objective of the regulation is to make sure we codify much of the work that is already happening across the EU in regard to human trafficking and people smuggling, …

The motion gives me the opportunity to set out what the Government is doing to improve community safety through investment in An Garda Síochána to provide for additional recruitment, equipment and technology and the introduction of laws and changing structures. Most Senators referred to the riots before Christmas, but all of this investment and these changes are to benefit not only Dublin city centre but also towns, villages and cities across the country. As Senators will be aware, the Government has committed unpr…

I was in Tipperary last week when I was invited to speak at the president's lunch at the Tipperary Chamber of Commerce. This is why I was in Thurles. As part of my visit, I was also able to travel to Cashel. I wish I had been able to stay longer and meet people. In no way did I suggest that anybody was being manipulated. I was asked a number of questions by a radio presenter and I outlined and responded in a most appropriate way. Specifically related to that case, obviously I am not going to comment on an individua…

No.

I move: That Dáil Éireann, noting that the Government agreed on 13th February, 2024, to propose, for the approval of Dáil Éireann, Eilis Barry to be a member of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority on the nomination of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and pursuant to section 9 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, approves the appointment by the Government of Eilis Barry to be a member of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority to fill a casual vacancy pursuant to Section 10(9) of the said Ac…

I welcome the opportunity to address the House this afternoon on the very serious issue of the recent arson attacks that have been carried out by a small number of people determined to sow division in our communities. I want to be very clear that, while I will address issues around immigration today, the matter of arson is a criminal and violent act, and is not under any circumstances a legitimate form of protest. Immigration has been extremely positive for this country. I believe the Irish people, with our own his…

I never used that word.

The Deputy has not heard me use that language.