I thank the Ceann Conmhairle for the opportunity to discuss the OECD report on skills in the Dáil today. It is a timely intervention as yesterday also marked the beginning of the European Year of Skills 2023. This is the year in which we are all challenged to look at the skills in our own country but also to look at skills in our own lives and what skills we may wish to learn or avail of during the course of 2023. This is a year that will focus on what we can do to address skills shortages in our country and also t…

I am informed that records indicate two allegations of child sexual abuse have been made in relation to the Probation Service. Both relate to alleged incidents in the 1970s by a former staff member who is now deceased. I am informed that when the first allegation came to the attention of the Probation Service, An Garda Síochána and relevant services were notified. The Probation Service later became aware of a second allegation against the same former staff member, who by that time was deceased. The complainant in t…

Applicants are advised to apply for their visa 8 weeks before their intended date of travel to the State. The Dublin Visa Office are currently processing Short Stay Business Visas, received in the Dublin Visa Office, on the 3 April 2023. Processing times and decisions at the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/ There are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, An…

Higher Education Institutions are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997, the Institutions of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Technological Universities Act 2018. Under this legislation, the institutions are academically independent and are entitled to regulate their own academic affairs and administrative processes including admissions, examinations, programmes of study and awarding degrees and other qualifications. My Department has no role therefore in setting the entry requ…

The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purpose of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments, and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). Well-functioning OMCs are key to maintaining and sustaining higher-density residential developments, such as apartments. The Programme for Government contains a commitment by Government to conduct a review of the existing management compa…

I can inform the Deputy, that Criminal legal services are provided by private solicitors who have notified the relevant Court of their availability to undertake criminal legal aid work.  The courts, through the judiciary, are responsible for the granting of legal aid on application by the defence in court. My Department has no role in the granting of legal aid or in the appointment of solicitors to a case. The Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 gives expression to the Constitutional right that free legal aid mus…

With the agreement of the House, I will share time with the Minister of State, Deputy Collins. I am pleased to have this opportunity to address the House and present the Bill with my colleague, the Minister of State. The Bill represents an important contribution by my Department, working closely with SOLAS and on the basis of strong engagement with industry and trade union stakeholders, to strengthening the statutory framework for health and safety training in Ireland. The Bill, as is clear from its title, has a sp…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important topic. I am pleased to join colleagues in contributing to this important debate. I get a real sense of our reaching an important milestone on a long and winding road. I thank all the Members involved in the excellent work of the joint committee and especially my constituency colleague, Deputy Whitmore, for chairing it. This place often comes in for criticism, but that committee work is an example of this place at its best and I wanted to acknowledge that this eve…

Let us see how many of Deputy Bacik's Deputies run.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to discuss the impact of gangland and organised crime on communities across the country. It is a timely discussion as the Government sets to introduce tougher laws to further support An Garda Síochána in taking on the gangs that try to inflict misery on communities. I am pleased to report that significant progress has been made by An Garda Síochána in the past decade in dismantling organised crime. Since 2015, more than 1,300 people have been arrested and €324 m…

That is the point

I thank the Members for contributing to the debate. I want to begin on the topic of drugs because we have had a good discussion on this during the debate. It is an important one. I have listened very carefully to what people have said. People have spoken from different perspectives. I am conscious that citizens’ assembly proceedings are under way and have no doubt that the assembly will do good work. We need to be careful that none of us falls for the strawman argument that one is on the side of either the criminal…

I congratulate Deputy Daly on his appointment as his party's spokesperson on justice. While we may not always agree and while we may have disagreements from time to time, I wish him all the best as he takes up that role. I am extremely grateful to all front-line workers for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role they play in our society. It is imperative that front-line workers are able to go about their work safely and that the law reflects the importance of th…

It is my intention to use one of the legislative vehicles already going through the House, probably the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022, to bring forward the amendment to increase the maximum sentence from seven years to 12. It is my intention to bring that amendment to the Government shortly and with the co-operation of this House and the other House to seek the approval of the Oireachtas for that to be passed this side of the summer recess. I do not suggest, and nor would the Deputy, that th…

I agree with the point on minimum sentencing. There is quite a bit of evidence that when maximum sentencing is increased, it generally puts an upward pressure on the length of sentences given out by the courts. Therefore, I think maximum sentencing is the most effective way to go at this time. I, too, send solidarity to any garda or emergency front-line worker who has experienced any level of assault or abuse when going about their duties. This is also an important opportunity to thank gardaí for the incredible wor…

I thank the Deputy for quite rightly raising this important matter. It is important that in all parts of society we all redouble efforts to stamp out any culture that is anything other than inclusive, welcoming and supportive and does not have any tolerance at all for misogyny, violence or inappropriate behaviour in the workplace. I think we would both agree that the vast majority of members of An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service serve their organisations and our country with integrity each and every day…

I very much appreciate and welcome what Deputy Ó Ríordáin is trying to do here. There is always an additional onus of responsibility on a disciplined or hierarchical organisation in terms of being even more acutely aware around things like culture, inclusion, support, and empowering people to speak up and to speak out. On the topic of cultural audits, I am happy to get a detailed note to Deputy Ó Ríordáin on this. An Garda Síochána plays an important role. The plan for the Prison Service later this year will be ver…

I will certainly reflect on the comments Deputy Ó Ríordáin has made this evening and will feed them back into the Department and have conversations with colleagues there. I think we would all agree that no organisation or no part of society, as we know through our work on many issues, is immune to wrongdoing or discriminatory actions and the like. What is really important though is how an organisation responds when that happens. I was encouraged when the Paul Moody case took place. I will not comment on a specific …

I thank Deputy Ward for this important question. As the Deputy will be aware, and as I am from my past political life, the Department of Health leads on Government policy in the area of drugs, and this policy is guided by the national drugs and alcohol strategy which is called Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025. This strategy, while led by the Department of Health, endeavours to provide a whole-of-government response to this problem area in our co…

I thank the Deputy. His colleague, Deputy Crowe, was good enough to talk to me about it the other day and I am aware he has brought forward a Private Members' Bill on this and I have given him an undertaking that I will consider it and engage with him when it is scheduled to be debated. I also note that the Child Care Act 1991 falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, and I think there is some interaction there in terms of that Pr…