I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. Almost 50 years ago, bombs exploded at Belturbet, Clones and Pettigo. In Belturbet, this callous act of violence claimed the lives of two innocent young people - Geraldine O'Reilly and Patrick Stanley - and injured others. My deepest sympathies go out to the bereaved and the injured. The dreadful effects of this attack last to this day. The suffering of those who have lost what was most precious to them goes on. That the perpetrators of this atrocity have n…

I will certainly endeavour to ensure that the Department keeps the families updated regarding any developments I would expect to happen. I would expect that An Garda Síochána will do likewise. As the Deputy noted, a Garda liaison officer has been appointed. Of course, we think of all those who lost their lives in the immediate events of all these bombings where people were viciously murdered and injured. Many who did not die in the immediate event went on to suffer very serious consequences and may have had their l…

I stand in support of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Government's motion of confidence in response to the cynical exercise of a motion put down to deflect from the work of the Minister and the Government. Fianna Fáil sought the portfolio of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage at a difficult and challenging time. We sought it, when many others ran away from forming a Government, in order that we could deliver housing for the people of this country. Housing for All is just over one year ol…

Not true.

Not true.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to present the Gambling Regulation Bill to the House. I know there is significant support to progressing this landmark legislation and I look forward to hearing Members' contributions. Today is a true milestone for this long-awaited Bill. This is important and necessary legislation and reform designed to meet the challenges of gambling responsibly in 21st-century Ireland. The advent of the Internet has wrought considerable and r…

I thank the Deputies and convey to the House my appreciation for its assistance in facilitating the progression of the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 to this very important Second Stage. I thank everyone for their contributions and support for this important step as we embark on the significant work ahead of us over the coming Stages. Today's debate has afforded us all an opportunity to consider the legislation and matters that require further consideration or reflection as the Bill progresses. It was important to g…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice persuant to Standing Orders 95(3)( a ) and 181(1).

I thank the Deputy for raising the question. The Parole Board was established as a statutory body under the Parole Act 2019 on 31 July 2021, replacing the former interim parole board which had been in place since 2001. Under the Act, victims now have a right to engage in the parole process.  Victim engagement is an important element of the work, and the board is currently engaging with 291 victims in relation to 105 applications for parole. I understand no victim details are available in some cases and, in others, …

I acknowledge there is a backlog of cases at the moment. The transition phase from the interim parole board processes will take at least two years to work through. The board increased its number of meetings this year with a view to increasing the number of applications being considered. It will do so even further in 2023. However, the number of cases reviewed still remains lower than anticipated. There are a number of causes for this, primarily victim engagement. Engagement with victims has proven to be a lengthier…

These delays were unanticipated. However, having realised the delays, we have already taken pro-active steps to clear the backlog. The board is now fully operational and is hearing cases. Furthermore, it has developed a structured plan which will see a significant increase in meetings and applications considered right throughout 2023. To support this work a 23% increase of funding has been allocated to the board for 2023. I am confident that this will assist the board. We are working through the applications on han…

I thank the Deputy for raising the question. This is a difficult situation for our Afghan community and their loved ones. I take this opportunity to assure them that we are processing applications under the Afghan admission programme as quickly as possible. It should be noted that the Afghan admission programme is not the only avenue for Afghan nationals to come to Ireland. Since the beginning of August 2021 up to 28 November last, a total of 142 visas had been approved for Afghan nationals to join family members a…

By my maths, 846 Afghans have been approved through the other schemes and, as I said, where they can be used, they are being used to help Afghans. In the context of this particular scheme, there have been 528 applications and 22 applications have been approved. There has been a challenge in terms of the information being provided within those various applications, which has proven to be challenging. Our Department is working actively with the Afghan community and with each and every one of those applicants. In circ…

On the applications, there has been a challenge in terms of the information that has been provided. We have to examine the information that is provided, and that is part of any process of issuing visas or any type of programme for admission to the country. We do not bring any people to the country under the scheme; we simply issue permissions for people to come here. As already stated, the Department is not simply standing back. It is working proactively with the Afghan community in respect of each of those applica…

I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue regarding the Government's strategy on step-down accommodation in cases where a person leaves a domestic violence refuge. In June, the Government launched zero tolerance, the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Under this five-year ambitious programme of reform, we want to achieve a society that does not accept domestic, sexual and gender-based violence or the attitudes that underpin it. It is a whole-of-Government and whole…

I certainly hear the Deputy. I assure her that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is determined to deliver as many refuge spaces as possible as quickly as possible. I agree with the Deputy that steps have to be taken to ensure that survivors can return to their homes without the presence of their abusers, who should be removed. We need to work more on ensuring that is the situation. One of the overarching goals of the strategy is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one. As I said, we will double th…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. What the Government is doing, led by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will deliver. It has put in place the correct structures to deliver additional refuge accommodation, including the development of the new statutory agency. We will accelerate the number of additional spaces that can be delivered each year. Already, work is being undertaken to implement the strategy and preparations for it have been made, including a significant increase in funding under budget 2023. The …

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The courthouse on Church Street has stood unused for a number of years. The building is a monument of historical significance in terms of the War of Independence and the Civil War. Deputy Michael Moynihan has been raising this matter for some time to try to make the building available for public use. Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of…

As I know from my previous legal experience, identifying the title of old buildings can often be a challenge and take some work. I will undertake to contact the Courts Service to see whether it can do that work and ensure that the property's title is correctly identified as being under the Courts Service in order that steps can be taken in respect of the building's future use. Regarding the preservation of the documents within the buildings, historical documents should be preserved. I will raise this matter with th…

I undertake to contact the Courts Service to emphasise the importance of preserving this courthouse and the attached bridewell, given their historical significance and that of the graffiti.