Written Answers Nos. 576-585
576. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Justice the number of reported incidences submitted through the Garda traffic watch online reporting system; the number of reported incidences that resulted in a caution being issued to the offender; and the number of reported incidences that resulted in a fine being issued to the offender. [15689/25]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
577. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice if he plans to introduce Clare’s law provisions into Irish law, to address the issue of domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15692/25]
View answerTackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice.
The 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 officials to 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.
This would apply to individuals convicted on indictment of an offence against an intimate partner, or former intimate partner, subject to court discretion and victim consent.
My Department is consulting with relevant stakeholders as careful consideration is required regarding the legal and policy implications of how the proposals would work in practice.
578. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the details of all his meetings with the Garda Commissioner since he took office, by the date, location and all attendees of each meeting. [15695/25]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that, to date, I have held three meetings with the Garda Commissioner since taking office. All these meetings were held in my Department's offices at 51 St. Stephen's Green and were attended by senior officials from my Department as well as from An Garda Síochána. The relevant dates are as follows:
• 24 January 2025
• 7 February 2025
• 6 March 2025
In addition to these formal meetings, I have also met the Commissioner on several occasions in the normal course of performing our respective roles. I have visited a number of Garda stations and attended with the Commissioner at a passing out ceremony in the Garda Training College in Templemore. I have met at various times with members of the Commissioner's senior team and with the Garda senior leadership team in Dublin.
The Commissioner and I travelled to Belfast for a meeting on cross border crime with my counterpart Minister for Justice Naomi Long and senior officers from the PSNI.
Finally, I met with all the Garda representative associations.
579. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 558 of 18 February 2025, if the information provided personally by him is an accurate reflection of all DNA non submissions from 3 April 2019 to date as sought; and if not, if he is merely providing details of current non-submissions-outstanding samples and not full details of all non-submissions. [15731/25]
View answer580. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 558 of 18 February 2025, if the information provided personally by him can be amended to provide a response that aligns with the specific period enquired of that, being, all DNA non-submissions from 3 April 2019 to date, rather than December 2024, which was not what was sought (details supplied). [15732/25]
View answer581. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 558 of 18 February 2025, if the information provided by him can be augmented to provide a comprehensive response to the portion of the original question which sought the full extent of the impact of each non-submission in regard to the investigation of crime and the infringement of the data protection and human rights of the donor and of the victim. [15733/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 579, 580 and 581 together.
It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.
I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
582. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 558 of 18th February 2025, if he can now also provide similar data in respect of all fingerprint non-submissions both wet-ink and livescan fingerprints from 3 April 2019 to date. [15734/25]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
583. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Justice the circumstances in which a person residing in Ireland (details supplied) can remain living and working here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15745/25]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the Working Holiday Authorisation Programme (WHA) allows non-EEA nationals from certain countries to come to Ireland to experience living and working for a certain period of time, normally one year, without the requirement of a formal work permit.
Applications for the Programme are processed and approved by the Department of Foreign Affairs. My Department is solely responsible for the granting of a Stamp 1 immigration permission consistent with the terms and conditions set out in the WHA.
All persons who are undertaking a WHA are required to sign a declaration that they will leave upon its expiry. Therefore, a person to whom this permission is issued must leave the State on or before the expiry of their current WHA, and may not apply for a change of immigration permission.
Should an individual who has left the State upon the expiry of their WHA and who wishes to re-enter the State under a working permission through the employment permits system, to continue their studies, or for other immigration reasons, will need to have made the necessary arrangements before attempting to re-enter the State.
Further information on the legal pathways for migration to the State is available on my Departments Immigration Service website at https://www.irishimmigration.ie/
584. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice when a stamp 4 visa renewal will issue for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15752/25]
View answerThe application from the person referred to by the Deputy was approved 27 March 2025. They can expect to receive their new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card in the next 10-15 working days.
The person concerned can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s new Digital Contact Centre (DCC). They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
585. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice the rationale for increasing the fees required for student visas from €4,680 to €6,665; if he will provide a detailed account of the publicity from his Department to make relevant persons and the public aware of this upcoming change; his plans to make the public aware of the change before it comes into effect; if his Department has engaged with English language institutions in respect of the change; if his Department has carried out an impact assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15831/25]
View answerI understand that the Deputy's question relates to the requirement for proof of finance available to a Non-EEA national student seeking residence in the State to study.
One of the key conditions applicable to a student coming to Ireland is that they must be able to support themselves without claiming state benefits. As such, proof of available finances is a requirement for all relevant non-EEA national students, both visa and non-visa required.
Following a review by my Department in 2022, it was concluded that the level of funds required should be increased to more accurately reflect the average annual living expenses for students in Ireland. This was agreed in consultation with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), and in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
With effect from 1 July 2023, the financial requirements for students from visa required countries increased from €7,000 to €10,000 and, for students from non-visa required countries, from €3,000 to €4,500. It was also agreed that the difference in funds required for students based on visa requirements would be gradually removed.
To this end, the level of funds required for non-visa required students was further increased in 2024, from €4,500 to €7,000. Relative adjustments were also made to the monthly requirements for non-visa required students on shorter courses, with the maximum duration increased from 6 months to 8 months to allow more courses to benefit from this derogation.
A further increase is scheduled to take effect on 30 June 2025, with a notification of this published on my Department's Immigration service website on 24 March 2025: Information on Student Finances - Immigration Service Delivery.
This increase will bring the level of funds required for non-visa required students from €7,000 to €10,000, in line with the level for visa required students. For non-visa required students on shorter courses of 8 months in duration, this will bring the level of funds required from €4,680 to €6,665. For visa required students on courses of 6 months in duration, this will bring the level of funds required from €4,200 to €4,998, and they may also avail of the derogation for courses of up to 8 months, with proof of €6,665 in available funds.
DFHERIS has notified the representative bodies for Ireland’s higher education institutions, as well as English language schools, of this change.
