I should have answered that question because the Deputy did ask it. There is a cumulative figure of 1,792 gardaí that will become eligible to retire by 2028. That, of course, does not mean that this number will retire over this period, only that they will be eligible to do so. For example, a Garda member may have 30 years of service or more at age 55 but may opt not to retire for the next seven years until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 62. The Commissioner can, with my consent, extend the age of retire…

The important thing is that we get Garda numbers continuously going up, which is happening. There are always going to be retirements and some small level of resignations but, cumulatively, we want to see the figures of attested gardaí rising, and we are seeing that. The Deputy asked about exit interviews. The Garda offers exit interviews to all individuals who leave the organisation, with the exception of those who are dismissed. They were established to determine longitudinal teams in relation to organisational at…

I met with the Garda National Vetting Bureau in Tipperary town about two months ago. I went down there to get an update from the bureau, but also to communicate some of the concerns Deputy Ward and other Deputies have expressed to me. It is important to point out that the vetting bureau of An Garda Síochána received over 6,330 vetting applications in 2025. The current processing time for 85% of those is eight to nine working days. For the majority of applications, it manages to produce an outcome in very short orde…

One of the consequences of being a public representative is that people only ever come to us when they have issues of concern. They are never going to come to us and say, "Deputy, that is a fantastic vetting process. I managed to get a response within eight days." I am conscious that aspects of the current vetting system result in a highly segmented process. It should be updated to ensure the burden of seeking vetting disclosures, particularly on volunteers and organisations working in their communities, is minimis…

It would be primary legislation. I will come back to the Deputy on that. It will not be coming in the very near future but it is something I am committed to doing. It will also require updated technical systems to support the revised approach. When I was down in Tipperary with the vetting bureau, I raised the issue of the wet signature for vetting. Currently, the bureau does not accept digital signatures as their use presents security and integrity risks within the vetting process. I was told these include potentia…

I do not propose to accept amendments Nos. 100, 104, 107, 112 or 114. Amendments Nos. 17 and 18 are simple technical amendments related to amendment No. 106, which I will outline later. Amendment No. 23 is a technical amendment related to amendment No. 98. Amendment No. 98 provides for the designation of the competent authority in respect of representatives. Amendment No. 29 clarifies the notification procedure when it comes to the attention of a relevant body that an applicant may be an unaccompanied minor. Amendm…

I thank Senator Nicole Ryan for her amendments, and other Senators for their contributions. What we are debating at present is chapter 2 of Part 3 of the Bill, which concerns the appointment of representatives for unaccompanied minors. I am well aware that this is an area of significant interest and importance to Senators. It is also a very significant part of the legislation. As people will be aware, under the Bill there will be a requirement on me to designate a competent authority for the purpose of being the pr…

It is assessed by the member or the officer involved. I think that is a fair assessment. The individual who is concerned - the representative of the State - is looking to ensure it is in the best interests of the minor. I cannot think of any other person who would be in a position to make that determination. I will listen to the Senator if she has another suggestion.

It is assessed-----

The Senator did mention yesterday about privately contracted officers. It is not envisaged at present that we are going to-----

It is possible that services can be contracted out. It is not envisaged that we are going to start privatising the work that is being done at present by immigration officers. They do a difficult job very sensitively. Obviously, somebody has to make an assessment in respect of an unaccompanied minor. It cannot be left the minor to determine whether it is in his or her best interests or not. It has to be somebody in a position of authority. As the Senator can see from this legislation, the State has put the interests…

I thank Senators for the amendments they have moved. I thank them all for their contributions. I spoke yesterday about how in this legislation what I am seeking to do, and in fairness what Senators are seeking to do as well, is to try to balance on the one hand the rights of an asylum applicant with, on the other hand, the legitimate rights of the State to try to ensure it can exert control over the asylum process. We spoke earlier, in the context of unaccompanied minors, about how it is very important for the Stat…

In terms of the second point, huge amounts of translation services are provided in the IPO. That is absolutely necessary because people who cannot speak English who are coming here claiming asylum have to be understood and translated. Those services are there and they will be there. We cannot have any system operating either for the benefit of the asylum applicant or indeed fairly for the State, unless people can comprehensively understand what is being said. People will be understood in terms of their own language…

I am sorry, but I am responding to the Senator. The other issue she mentioned was facial recognition. She referred to the UK's technology in the Home Office. One of the things that is very noticeable is that the UK is at a considerable disadvantage now that it is no longer in the European Union, because the European Union does have very advanced technology systems and it does have quite a significant database in terms of asylum applications. When somebody comes in to claim asylum, it is not unreasonable to ask them…

If somebody arrives into the IPO and they are told to go to the screening centre in Rathmines, unless they understand it, we cannot expect them to be able to go to the screening centre in Rathmines. They will be coherently told where they have to go to. Senator Higgins does not need to be concerned about that. They will be coherently told, in whatever language can be communicated, where they have to go to. It is a small communication but it is an important obligation that applicants must comply with and it is a per…

I thank Senators for their contributions and for moving this amendment. If Members look throughout the Bill as it is at present, there are numerous references to "the best interests of the child". For example, section 41 states that, "The best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in the application of this Chapter." Section 51 also states that, "The best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in the application of this Chapter." I now propose to include even further reference to …

As Senators will know, a regulation is directly effective if the regulation, which sets out procedures, says the best interests of the child should be a primary consideration. We have also transposed it in this Bill in many different areas. We also have to be careful to recognise that we are entitled to refuse asylum to a child. Maybe people will look at me and think that is an horrific thing to say. If the whole Bill were to be interpreted on the basis of what was in the best interests of the child, then any inter…

Amendment No. 21, as drafted, is on "the application and interpretation of this Act", so it is not limiting it to simple procedures under the different regulations. It is in respect of the entire Bill. That Act would include the assessment of the application for asylum of the child. The amendment is broader than what is provided for in the regulations and, for that reason, I cannot accept it.

I thank Senator Ryan for her amendment and her contribution to the debate. I do not propose to accept it. It is out of sync with where the Senator wishes to place it in the legislation. It would be just ahead of section 3, which deals with regulations and orders. Once the legislation commences, whatever agency is responsible for functions under it will have to be fully resourced. We spoke yesterday of legal counselling and the extra financing gone to the Legal Aid Board this year to enable it to deal with the extra…

The Senator has highlighted an issue that is under discussion between my Department and the Department of children. Some functions are at present carried out by Tusla; further functions will have to be provided in respect of unaccompanied minors. Discussion on that is ongoing between the two Departments. A final decision has not been made as to what entity will be designated as responsible for unaccompanied minors. The responsibility under the legislation is given to me to do it by way of secondary legislation. Whe…