Written Answers Nos. 181-198
181. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice the number of applicants for naturalisationcurrently pursuing their cases in the courts; the legal costs to the State that have been incurred in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12877/25]
View answerAt present there are 118 active cases before the courts relating to naturalisation applications.
The number of legal cases taken should be taken in the context of an increasing number of applications. Last year in 2024, Citizenship Division received 27,376 applications.
Naturalisation applications are processed in line with the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, as well as any constitutional obligations.
A number of the legal cases taken are related to the length of time an application is taking. The Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. However given the importance of granting Irish citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks must take place on each application. Unfortunately, some international checks can take a considerable amount of time and these are largely out of the control of the Immigration Service.
Citizenship Division have taken a significant number of steps to speed up the process for applicants. These included introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are dramatically reducing processing times. This has meant that the length of time it takes to process an application has dropped from 15 months in 2023 to 8 months in 2024.
In recent years, training has also been provided to Citizenship Division staff to ensure that unsuccessful applicants are fully aware of the reasons for a refusal. This has had a significant impact on the number of judicial reviews received. In 2024, the number of judicial reviews taken in relation to citizenship applications was 13% down on 2023.
The legal costs in respect of cases relating to citizenship are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Citizenship Legal Costs Paid: |
|
2023 |
€2,353,829 |
|
2024 |
€2,001,762 |
|
2025 |
€293,305 |
Details of legal costs for my Department are published in the Annual Appropriation Accounts and subject to audit by the Comptroller & Auditor General. These can be found at: www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation%20accounts/
182. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Justice the number of valid applications received for the latest Garda recruitment campaign; the number of these from applicants aged over 40 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12372/25]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including the recruitment and training of Garda members. Public Jobs, on behalf of the Garda Commissioner, manages the initial recruitment stages for selection of Garda Trainees. As Minister I have no role in these matters.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that 6,784 people applied for the 2025 Garda Trainee Recruitment Competition. This is the total number of applications and applicants will now enter into a competitive selection process involving a number of stages. 965 candidates over 40 years of age applied for this competition. This clearly shows there is a strong interest in a career with An Garda Síochána.
Last week 201 trainee Gardaí entered Templemore, the largest single intake since 2019. It is the first of four intakes planned for this year.
A number of significant measures have been made to boost recruitment and retention including increasing the Garda trainee allowance to €354 per week, increasing the age of entry from 35 to 50 and increasing the mandatory retirement age to 62. Momentum is continuing to build in the area of recruitment and we can already see the positive effects of these measures.
A Recruitment and Training Capacity Group has been established to support the achievement of increased recruitment to An Garda Síochána. The group is due to report to me in mid-2025 and is looking at a range of issues, including how to ensure that there is the training capacity to meet the Government's ambitious recruitment targets for the next five years.
183. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if he will list the Garda stations which have been closed, or placed on reduced opening hours, across the country, over the past ten years. [12021/25]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
However, I have consulted with Garda management with respect to this question, and I have been advised that no Garda Stations officially closed in the last ten years.
I am further advised that the opening hours of Garda Stations is determined at divisional level by Divisional Officers with due consideration to policing and operational needs, aligning divisional priorities and resources. The collation of this information for each division over a ten-year period is deemed impractical and would take a disproportionate amount of time and resources to compile.
I can assure the Deputy that community safety is a top priority for my Department and everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe in their communities, wherever they are in Ireland.
Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána in the provision of a policing service to the whole community, both urban and rural, through a partnership based, proactive, problem solving style of policing. It is focused on community engagement, crime prevention and law enforcement. An Garda Síochána delivers an effective community policing service, responsive to the needs of a modern and diverse community under the following six principles: Community Engagement, Community Partnerships, Problem Solving, Crime Prevention, Law Enforcement and Accountability.
An Garda Síochána’s Community Policing objectives are -
• To engage in partnership opportunities (e.g. JPC / LCSPs, Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert, local policing fora, various retail fora, Business Watch)
• To provide an accessible and visible Garda service to communities.
• To establish effective engagement processes to meet the needs of local communities and provide feedback to communities.
• To use problem-solving initiatives, devised in partnership with communities and local agencies, to tackle crime, drugs, public disorder and anti-social behaviour, through targeted enforcement, crime prevention and reduction initiatives.
• To engage in a community-focused approach to provide solutions that reduces the fear of crime.
• To engage meaningfully with young people to develop and foster positive relationships and promote personal and community safety.
• To enhance communication strategies that articulate community policing objectives and outcomes.
• To work in partnership with other agencies to ensure safety on our streets and roads.
• To be accountable to the community we serve.
An Garda Síochána has invested in ensuring the availability of bespoke community engagement vehicles to engage with rural communities. Garda mobile clinics have been used to excellent effect in providing policing services to rural communities. Mobile clinics are multi-purpose vans that can be used for a range of activities including acting as a mobile Garda Station to allow members of An Garda Síochána greater accessibility across communities.
184. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice to outline the role of the new Gambling Regulatory Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12684/25]
View answerThe Gambling Regulation Act 2024 provided for the establishment of Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) for the purposes of licensing and regulating betting, gaming, certain lotteries, the sale or supply of products or services related to gambling and charitable / philanthropic gambling activities.
On 5 March last, I signed an order establishing the GRAI on a statutory basis and a further order commencing parts of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 to enable the authority to become operational. I also approved the appointment of the seven members of the new, independent, authority.
The Authority has a broad range of statutory functions, including to:
• license, monitor and control gambling activities in Ireland;
• monitor and enforce compliance by licensees;
• take appropriate enforcement measures against licensees who are or have been in breach of obligations and to curtail prohibited gambling activities;
• establish and maintain a National Gambling Exclusion Register – to allow persons to register with the Authority to exclude themselves from gambling online with licensees ;
• establish and administer a Social Impact Fund;
• establish standards for gambling products and services and provide certification;
• impose obligations in relation to advertising and branded clothing and merchandise;
• impose obligations on licensees not to employ children;
• impose obligations on licensees in relation to the protection of children, the promotion and sponsorship of relevant gambling activities, the training of staff, the notification of suspicious gambling patterns and the maintenance of appropriate and accurate accounts and records;
• enhance public awareness and disseminate relevant information in relation to gambling activities, products and services,
• be the competent authority for the purposes of Anti-Money Laundering matters as they relate to the sector
The GRAI will have responsibility for the licensing and the regulation of the following gambling services in Ireland:
• betting (on site and online)
• gaming (on site and online)
• both Business to Consumer (B2C) and Business to Business (B2B)
• lotteries (except the National Lottery), including for Charities/Sporting Organisations
The establishment of the GRAI is a further step towards replacing Ireland’s outdated gambling laws with a streamlined and simplified licensing framework, which will reflect the nature of modern gambling and take into account the harms associated with problem gambling, providing safeguards to protect people from those harms, especially children.
It is designed to meet the challenges of gambling responsibly in 21st century Ireland, providing clarity for operators and for consumers and taking a responsible approach to balancing the freedom to gamble with the safeguards to protect people from falling prey to addiction.
185. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the immediate measures he will take to increase prison capacity in the country; the efforts he will make to urgently review bail laws, to reduce the number of crimes being committed by persons out on bail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11483/25]
View answerThe Government is acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons. It has already engaged with the Irish Prison Service on this issue and has committed to increasing capacity of our prisons by 1,500. This work has already commenced.
The Irish Prison Service budget has increased by €79 million, or 18%, in Budget 2025. The capital budget is €53 million in 2025, an increase of €22.5 million on the original 2024 allocation, focused on bringing additional prison spaces into the system.
In recent years, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by in excess of 300 new spaces with over 100 of these added in the last 12 months and 50 to come onstream very soon.
In June 2024, on foot of a report from the Prison Overcrowding Response Group a range of actions were approved and work to implement these is ongoing. A Working Group was established in the second half of 2024 to further consider future prison capacity needs and to make recommendations on the numbers and types of prison capacity needed out to 2035, including the future use of the site at Thornton Hall. These actions form part of one of the fastest-ever expansions of prison capacity in Ireland.
In relation to Ireland’s bail laws, I am committed to ensuring our bail laws are fit for purpose. Bail laws in Ireland are comprehensive and the Bail Act 1997 has been revised and strengthened several times, specifically by the Criminal Justice Act 2007, the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Act 2015 and the Criminal Justice Act 2017.
While our bail laws provide for the refusal of bail in particular circumstances, the presiding judge is entirely independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, and the decision to grant bail in a particular case is solely a matter for the judge. However, in considering a bail application in accordance with the Bail Act 1997, as amended, the Court is required to have regard to any persistent serious offending by an applicant and, in specific circumstances, the nature and likelihood of any danger to a person, or to the community, arising from the granting of bail. The Court is also required to give reasons for its decision to grant or refuse the application.
The Bail Act as it stands contains robust provisions on both dealing with and pre-empting breaches of bail. The Bail Act now provides for stricter bail terms - including the use of curfews - for repeat serious offenders, and strengthens Garda powers to deal with breaches of bail. Where an individual fails to comply with any bail conditions, the judge may issue a bench warrant, giving An Garda Síochána the power to arrest and bring the person before the court to answer all charges relating to the bail.
Furthermore, a member of An Garda Síochána may arrest a person immediately without a warrant where they have reasonable cause to suspect that that person has breached, or is about to breach, a bail condition. They may also arrest a person if they consider it necessary in order to prevent harm to, interference with, or intimidation of a victim or witness.
Additionally, the Programme for Government commits to implement electronic tagging for appropriate categories of offender, such as individuals released on bail while awaiting their trial for serious offences, and where the judge imposes conditions such as curfew or exclusion zones.
A project has commenced in my Department to examine how electronic monitoring can be brought into use in line with existing legislative provisions. A steering group is in place made up of sectoral representatives who will be involved in the delivery. Work has started on scoping out the practical operational considerations, including the technology to be used, for relevant categories of offender to inform next steps.
I will keep our bail laws under review and will introduce further amendments if necessary.
186. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Justice the current Government plans to deal with the scourge of drugs and drug dealing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12903/25]
View answerTackling drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities, is a top priority for the Government and my Department.
A number of key actions have been taken as part of our plan to tackle illegal drug use. These include:
• Increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in prison to tackle those who direct gangland and drug related crime;
• Enacting new laws to criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime;
• Drafting new laws which will provide for the use of facial recognition technology in the investigation of certain drug offences;
• Rolling out a support programme to break the link between the gangs and the children they try to recruit.
My Department is also working to introduce legislation to further strengthen the State’s ability to seize criminal assets and to target the proceeds of crime. The new Bill will also speed up the process to dispose of seized assets for the benefit of the State.
In addition to the legislative and other measures introduced by my Department, unprecedented funding has been provided to An Garda Síochána which has enabled the Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime.
The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) leads in tackling all forms of drug trafficking and the supply of illicit drugs in Ireland. The GNDOCB was established in 2015. Since then the unit has seized €627 million in illicit drugs, 171 firearms and 6,586 rounds of ammunition, and made 1,722 arrests.
An Garda Síochána continue to target those involved in street-level drug dealing across the country and also focuses on disrupting and dismantling the drug trafficking networks that impact our communities, and prosecuting those involved at every level, through Operation Tara.
The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs. Under Operation Tara, individuals and groups involved in the drug trade will be the target of enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest crime trends.
Where criminality is identified, Divisional Asset Profilers identify unexplained wealth and may submit appropriate referrals to the Criminal Assets Bureau for further investigation.
187. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Justice the timeframe in which they intend to introduce a register of domestic abusers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12810/25]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to working with An Garda Síochána to ensure a person in an intimate relationship can be informed of a serious risk to them where a new partner has a history of domestic violence.
I have requested that officials in my Department examine proposals to establish a register or mechanism that would facilitate disclosure of information in respect of an offender’s prior convictions where there is a risk of harm. Careful consideration of the legal and policy implications of how the proposals would work in practice is required, in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
188. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Justice whether consideration has been given to recognising a history of childhood abuse as a mitigating factor in judicial proceedings where a survivor retaliates against their abuser; and the reforms being considered to prevent prolonged adjournments of court cases which can cause significant distress to those with mental health challenges. [12944/25]
View answerIt is important to emphasise that the conduct of any court case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. The courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, including sentencing.
The court is required to impose a sentence which is proportionate not only to the crime, but to the specific context and circumstances of the case, identifying where on the sentencing range the particular case should lie and then applying any mitigating factors which may be present.
The Judicial Council Act 2019 provided for the establishment of an independent Judicial Council, and, within that body, a Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee, which was established in 2020.
Its functions include the preparation of draft sentencing guidelines and the monitoring of the operation of those guidelines, together with the collating of information on sentences imposed by the courts and the dissemination of that information to judges and others. The Judicial Council is independent in the exercise of its functions and, as Minister for Justice, I have no role in relation to the operation of the Judicial Council or its Committees.
However, in line with the Programme for Government, I intend to review the sentencing guidelines legislation.
With respect to prolonged adjournments, I can assure the Deputy that it is a priority for my Department to ensure that the courts are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively. To this end, the Government endeavours to fill judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity.
Following the publication in February 2023 of the Report of the Judicial Planning Working Group, the Government committed to a historic increase of the number of judges to facilitate more timely access to justice and to reduce waiting times and backlogs across the courts.
The final Report recommended that 44 additional judges should be appointed in two phases to the Court of Appeal, High, Circuit and District Courts. A first phase of 24 additional judges was approved and appointed by Government in 2023.
The Judicial Planning Working Group also recommended that a second tranche of 20 additional judges should be appointed following an assessment of the impact of the first phase. As committed to in the Programme for Government, the appointment of these judges will be taking place within 12 months.
I want to emphasise that assistance and supports are available for all people who are impacted by crime. Further information is published in the Victims Charter at www.victimscharter.ie.
In addition, the Crime Victims' Helpline is a confidential, national helpline funded by my Department. Outlined below are additional details of some of the support organisations that are also available to victims of crime:
• Anyone who has experienced sexual abuse or rape can contact their local Rape Crisis Centre or the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 1800 778 888 (operated by Dublin Rape Crisis Centre ) which offers confidential, information and support service. Further information is available at: www.victimassistance.ie
• Women’s Aid provide a 24-hour helpline and can be contacted 1800 341 900 or by email at helpline@womensaid.ie.
• HSE National Counselling Service, www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mental-health-services/national-counselling-service/
• Samaritans (www.samaritans.org), their phone lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: Freecall 116 123.
189. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the progress of the family justice strategy; when legislation will come before the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12467/25]
View answerMy Department is leading a programme of family justice reform outlined in the first Family Justice Strategy, published in November 2022. This Strategy sets out an ambitious vision for a family justice system of the future - a system that will focus on the needs and rights of children and which will assist their parents in making decisions that affect all of the family. This will be achieved through the implementation of over 50 actions across nine goals, with timelines for delivery up to the end of 2025.
The goals and actions outlined in the Strategy stress the centrality of children to many family justice matters, and the need to ensure their best interests are considered in conjunction with their constitutional rights. A number of these actions have already been completed. For example, my Department published its policy paper on parental alienation in May 2023, setting out a series of recommendations to address this complex and challenging matter.
The Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders was published on 7 January 2024. It examined how the current enforcement process works, the challenges associated with it and areas which may require reform. The review contains 26 recommendations on how the current system can be improved, and work is ongoing to implement those recommendations without delay. This includes the establishment of an interdepartmental committee to examine the development of a set of child maintenance guidelines. The work of this committee is underway.
My Department has reviewed the role of expert reports in private family law proceedings, including section 47 and section 32 reports, examining their commissioning, availability, content and use. Stemming from this research, my Department established a Voice of the Child Working Group which is taking forward some of the recommendations in the Review, including the development of a Children’s Court Advocate Pilot Project.
A key action under the Family Justice Strategy is to review the operation of the in-camera rule in family law proceedings. My Department issued a request for tender for this research and a research team led by UCC are undertaking the review. I am expecting the review’s final report to be submitted to my office in the coming weeks, after which the report will be published.
A further key component of the Strategy is the Family Courts Act 2024, which was signed into law in November 2024, and provides for the establishment of family court divisions within the existing court structures. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to developing an implementation plan for the Family Courts Act within the first 12 months of this Government.
190. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Justice the actions being taken to decrease the processing time for international protection applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12884/25]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected.
In 2024 the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 14,000 first decisions compared to over 8,500 in 2023, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed around 3,100 appeals in 2024 compared to over 1,700 in 2023.
It is my intention to continue ramping up investment enabling more staff to be recruited. This will support reaching key targets, including making 25,000 decisions in the IPO in 2025 and to increase the number of appeals at the IPAT completed over the course of 2025.
Budget 2025 has provided an additional €25m package for end-to-end investment in the entire immigration system.
These significant additional resources will be directed to streamline the international protection process. It will also fund increased investment in digital systems to modernise immigration systems, reduce processing times, increase removals (including with the new charter plane service), and strengthen border security.
Additionally, accelerated processing was introduced in November 2022 and it now applies to those from designated safe countries of origin, applicants who have received protection elsewhere in Europe and citizens of countries from which there are the largest number of applicants.
Ireland has also opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact. The Pact will significantly reform the approach to migration and asylum both in Ireland and across the EU by providing a faster, more streamlined, and fairer system for addressing the challenges faced in this area.
Implementation of the Pact will benefit the State by delivering a digital-first, rights-based, fair and effective international protection system, where those who are entitled to protection receive it quickly and those who are not entitled to protection must return to their country of origin.
In the meantime, increased focus, along with investments and system enhancements are yielding results and will assist in putting the necessary capacity in place in advance of June 2026.
191. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the provision of body worn cameras to all members of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12576/25]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
An Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to help our Gardaí do their jobs in protecting people from harm and saving lives. This includes equipping all frontline Gardaí with bodycams which is something I am committed to progressing, as outlined in the Programme for Government. Using technology to enhance policing services is part of the Garda Digital Strategy, and another step towards the overall goal of developing an information-led policing service. As part of Budget 2025, €100m of funding has been provided for ICT to equip Gardaí with the necessary tools to enhance crime prevention and detection.
Currently the 'proof of concept' phase for body-worn cameras is ongoing in selected stations in three locations: Dublin, Waterford and Limerick. The purpose of the trial is to assess how body-worn cameras and digital evidence management systems will be used operationally and to inform the technical design, required infrastructure and procurement process for the national solution for all of An Garda Síochána. There are 600 body-worn cameras in use across the five proof of concept stations including in three Dublin stations, namely Kevin Street, Pearse Street, and Store Street, and also in Limerick’s Henry Street Station and Waterford Garda Station.
The learnings from the proof of concept in Dublin, Limerick and Waterford will inform the national deployment of body-worn cameras and provide more of an insight into how they can impact interactions with Gardaí.
My priority now is to support An Garda Síochána to move towards a nationwide roll-out of body worn cameras, and the development of a new digital evidence management system. The experiences of the Gardaí on the ground will be invaluable in informing how best this technology can be rolled out in the future.
192. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice if he will establish a historical investigations unit to allow for independent police investigations into unresolved deaths and incidents of torture or ill-treatment, as proposed by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Committee on the Administration of Justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12803/25]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Historical Investigation Unit structure, as proposed in the Stormont House Agreement, was specific to Northern Ireland. In this jurisdiction the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, led by the Assistant Commissioner for Organised and Serious Crime, holds a national investigative remit and is specialised in the area of major crime investigation. It undertakes and supports investigations on the direction of the Garda Commissioner.
More generally, the expertise of the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT), which was established in 2007 to provide for independent review of historical investigations, including homicides, is available where appropriate. The purpose of a review conducted by the SCRT is to assist the Senior Investigating Officer with the criminal investigation. These reviews constitute an independent examination of evidence and other material, gathered during investigation and to ensure that it conforms to approved standards; that the investigation has been thorough, conducted with integrity and objectivity; and to identify further investigative opportunities. The remit of the SCRT is broad and would include reviews of troubles-related cases, where appropriate.
I am assured that, in circumstances where historic offences have not been resolved, the investigations remain open and the Garda Authorities will, and do, follow up fully, on any new evidence or information that becomes available to them, whether that comes from the public, from other police services or from their own investigations.
I note that the legacy mechanisms in Northern Ireland referenced in the report mentioned by the Deputy such as the PSNI Legacy Investigations Branch and Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman legacy investigations have been closed down by the UK Legacy Act. I can assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to fulfil our shared responsibilities as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. The Programme for Government explicitly states our commitment to play our full part in legacy processes and to address the legacy of the conflict in this jurisdiction. The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and I continue to engage with the British Government in this regard.
Supplementary Material
The ICCL and CAJ recently published a report following their roundtable event, Policing for Peace and the Commitment to “Repeal and Replace” the Northern Ireland Legacy Act: How should the Irish government deal with legacy investigations in its jurisdiction?. The roundtable considered ways to address conflict-related deaths and other historic human rights violations by State actors, including An Garda Síochána, and abuses by non-State actors in related cases in the Republic. Various cases are referenced:
• Sallins
• Dublin Monaghan bombings
• The hooded men case before the ECHR.
• Shane O’Farrell.
• Una Lynskey and Martin Kerrigan.
• Dennis Donaldson
• Magdalene laundries/ mother and baby homes
• Kingsmill inquest
ICCL and CAJ propose that new legacy mechanisms be established here to investigate violations of Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This would include instances of death, torture and other forms of ill-treatment connected to An Garda Síochána and other State agencies within a defined timeframe, in line with Ireland’s legal obligations. Three mechanisms are proposed for consideration by the Irish government. One is the HIU, which is at question in the PQ. The HIU excerpt for the report is below.
HIU proposal
Establish an independent, time-bound Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) in the South, similar to the one provided for in the North in the Stormont House Agreement (SHA) but never implemented. A HIU would allow for effective and independent police investigations into unresolved deaths and incidents of torture or ill-treatment, based on the procedural obligations in Articles 2 and 3 of the ECHR. It would focus on assigning criminal responsibility for individual cases. A timeframe of 1968 to the 2020s is suggested to allow a HIU to investigate unresolved cases, beginning with violations that emerged during the period of the conflict. More recent and any future allegations of Garda misconduct will be investigated by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and the soon to be established Office of the Police Ombudsman, provided complaints are made within one year of an alleged incident.
While there have been ad-hoc “historical” or “cold case” reviews of cases led by An Garda Síochána in the past, no dedicated independent processes have ever been established. GSOC has not been empowered to effectively investigate historic cases of alleged police misconduct. There is therefore no established pool of cases for a HIU to draw on. What is clear is that there is a need to examine a range of different types of miscarriages of justice and ill-treatment in custody in order to comply with the ECHR, including cases which relate to the Troubles (e.g., the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and the Sallins train robbery) and ones which do not (e.g., the Shane O’Farrell case).
Based on the SHA model, legislation could establish a HIU to address individual outstanding cases of misconduct and criminal offences by both State and non-State actors. Such investigations must establish the facts to an ECHR-compatible standard, identify those responsible and facilitate prosecution if required. The decision to prosecute would be confined to the Director of Public Prosecutions as Gardaí do not have powers to prosecute in such serious cases. In the meantime, any internal investigations within An Garda Síochána such as cold-case reviews of historic cases should cease.
Crucially, a HIU would require the necessary policing powers to fulfil an investigative mandate including powers to compel disclosure of information, and it should be trauma-informed, victim-focused and gender[1]responsive. It could be overseen by the Policing and Community Safety Authority. Statutory cooperation with the British government would be an absolute necessity for its success. The HIU could aim to complete its work within a relatively short timeframe (e.g., five years) to ensure timely investigations, although this could be extended in the event of outstanding cases.
194. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Justice his plans for expanding capacity at Templemore Garda Training College; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12612/25]
View answerThis Government will be resolute in its support of Gardaí. We want to build safe and secure communities, and a well-resourced policing service is critical to achieving that. In Budget 2025 we allocated the unprecedented sum of €2.48 billion which is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, technology and equipment.
The overall Garda workforce, which includes Gardaí, civilian staff and Reserves currently stands at almost 18,000.
My first priority as Minister for Justice is to get more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment.
A number of significant measures have been made to boost recruitment including increasing the Garda trainee allowance to €354 per week, increasing the age of entry from 35 to 50 and increasing the mandatory retirement age to 62. Momentum is continuing to build in the area of recruitment and we can already see the positive effects of these measures.
We can see clearly that there is strong interest in a career in An Garda Síochána. In February the latest recruitment competition took place. It attracted just over 6,700 applicants. This builds on the 5,000 applications which were received in 2023 and the almost 6,400 last year. I would like to commend publicjobs and An Garda Síochána for the innovative and creative recruitment campaign they ran which has resulted in such strong interest.
Last week, we saw 201 trainee Gardaí enter Templemore. This is the largest intake since 2019. It is also the first of four intakes for 2025. I am committed to working with the Garda Commissioner to explore ways of increasing the number of trainees who enter Templemore.
The Programme for Government commits to examining a range of further measures to enable An Garda Síochána recruit 5,000 members across the next five years. This includes reforming the Garda recruitment and training processes to increase capacity.
I can assure the Deputy that nothing is off the table when it comes to examining measures to boost Garda recruitment and I have already had discussions with the Garda Commissioner about how best this can be achieved.
A Recruitment and Training Capacity Group has been established to support the achievement of the increased recruitment to AGS. The group will provide me with a final report in mid-2025 on actions being taking to maximise future intakes and to ensure that recruitment campaigns are as effective as possible.
195. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications for naturalisation that are currently being processed by the citizenship division of his Department; the number of these that have been outstanding for more than eight years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12876/25]
View answerI want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.
I can inform the Deputy that there are approximately 45,000 open naturalisation applications and 321 applications open which are older than 8 years.
Insofar as older applications are concerned, my Department is currently carrying out an exercise to establish whether these applications are still being pursued by the applicant, or whether such applications can be closed. Typically the last action on these cases will have been a request from my Department for further or clarifying information.
Applications can remain outstanding for a number of reasons, including where the applicant has requested their application be suspended or where information has subsequently come to light that requires further investigation.
Where further information is requested from an applicant but has not yet been received, several reminders are sent. Where no response has been received from an applicant for a significant period of time, the application will be deemed inactive.
In just over two years, the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications in 2023, and made nearly 31,000 decisions in 2024.
Citizenship Division have taken a significant number of steps to speed up the process for applicants. These included introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are dramatically reducing processing times. The median processing time for a decision on an application in 2024 was 8 months, down from 15 months in 2023, and 19 months in 2022.
I expect that going forward, the vast majority of applicants will continue to receive a decision within one year, however, it is important to note that no two naturalisation applications are the same and some take longer than others to process. Given the importance of citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks must take place on each application. Some international checks can take a considerable amount of time and these are largely out of the control of my Department.
196. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice if he will report on the recent meeting in Brussels with ministerial representatives from 12 Latin American countries to discuss ways to further co-operation in fighting drug trafficking, trafficking in arms and trafficking in human beings. [12721/25]
View answerOn 5 March 2025 Ministerial representatives from 12 Latin American Countries attended a working lunch with the Home Affairs Ministers of the EU Member States. At the working lunch Ministers discussed how the EU and the Latin American Committee on Internal Security (CLASI), might further co-operate in the fight against drug trafficking, trafficking in arms and trafficking in human beings. A Joint Declaration and a roadmap to implement operational co-operation priorities in 2025 to 2026 were agreed at this working lunch, which Minister of State Collins attended on behalf of Ireland.
Serious and organised crime knows no borders, and the only way to stop the devastation that those who engage in such activities cause, is to continue to work effectively with our international partners and it is very welcome that EU-CLASI co-operation continues to deepen and grow. The CLASI Ministers will next attend a working lunch of the EU Home Affairs Ministers in 2026 under Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union where it is hoped that we can agree a new declaration and roadmap to implement our co-operation priorities which will build on what has been achieved to-date.
197. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Justice if he is satisfied that the system whereby members of the public are now encouraged not to phone their local Garda station but to always to use the 999 emergency call line is a process that is functioning well; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12883/25]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for all operational policing matters, including the allocation of Garda resources and responses by An Garda Síochána to emergency calls.
In addition, responsibility for the 999/Emergency Call Answering System (ECAS) is under the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. Section 58B of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 (the 2002 Act) enables the Minister for Communications to enter a contract for the operation of the ECAS. As Minister for Justice, I have no role in these matters.
I very much appreciate the service of everyone in the 999/ECAS and the resultant inter-agency co-operation when responding to calls to the service.
An Garda Síochána encourages members of the public to always call 112 or 999 in an emergency. An emergency is any incident which requires an immediate Garda response, for example:
• A danger to life
• Risk of serious injury
• Crime in progress or about to happen
• Offender still at scene or has just left.
Calls for service, whether received through a local Garda station or the 112/999 ECAS system, are routed through the Regional Control Centres and prioritised for response. Higher priority calls will always take priority over lower priority calls.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána operates a Regional Control Room strategy which ensures that Garda resources are available to respond to calls for service from the public, including situations where a local resource is not immediately available.
The Garda authorities inform me that An Garda Síochána aim is to answer 80% of 999 calls within 7 seconds and deploy resources immediately giving an estimated time of arrival. An Garda Síochána will take appropriate steps to deal with all incidents and ensure that emergency and life threatening calls receive priority. They will endeavour to get to callers within 15 minutes in urban locations and as soon as possible, given the distance to be travelled, in more rural areas.
GardaSAFE, the new computer aided dispatch system in An Garda Síochána, was rolled out incrementally across the organisation in 2023. The last region, the Dublin Metropolitan Region, went live on GardaSAFE in late November 2023.
This new modern system is tailored to fit the specific needs of AGS and to provide a better response to victims of crime. The system is integrated with the mobility devices and other Garda apps, enhancing overall effectiveness. This new system provides improved governance, addressing a number of the recommendations of the Penman report.
Whilst the focus remains on the operational implementation of the system nationwide, there are some reports available to monitor performance. These are focused on live operational aspects, for example for the Control Centres to monitor call volumes. Over time, and as the amount of data available from GardaSAFE increases, there will be additional reports available within GardaSAFE itself, and also the ability to utilise the data for bespoke queries and analysis, including the development of Key Performance Indicators.
198. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contribution the Government has made to the decisions by the EU to retaliate to the threatened US tariffs; the contribution the Government has had to the selection of targets for this retaliation; the selection of US bourbon manufacturers that has put the Irish whiskey sector in danger of further retaliatory tariffs from the US; and the way in which the Government has fed into, contributed or influenced these decisions. [13141/25]
View answerThe EU has taken a decision on limited rebalancing measures in relation to US steel and aluminium tariffs. The Government made clear its sensitivities regarding the inclusion of bourbon and dairy and I welcome that the Commission has removed these products from the list of countermeasures.
The Government welcomed the fact that the US President has announced the suspension of the higher tariffs signalled on 2 April for a period of 90 days. It was equally welcome that Commission President von der Leyen has confirmed that EU countermeasures would be put on hold for 90 days.
Ireland’s consistent position remains that we need a substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue with the United States. This is also the position of the EU.
The Government remains in close ongoing contact with EU counterparts, including President von der Leyen and Commissioner Šefcovic, on the evolving situation.
