Written Answers Nos. 196-217
196. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current strength of An Garda Síochána in the Fermoy and Midleton Districts of County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6201/26]
View answerThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes the distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State.
In the interest of transparency, An Garda Síochána publishes information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí nationally. This includes a breakdown of Gardaí assigned to the Cork Divisions. This can be found at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/.
The Deputy should select the most recently available date and then select the file titled ‘Garda members by Division District Station to the most recent date" to access a breakdown of total Gardaí numbers by Garda station going back to 2009.
197. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the development of Thornton Hall for international protection accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5365/26]
View answerThornton Hall remains an important part of the longer-term strategy to increase State-owned provision of international protection accommodation, and to reduce reliance on higher-cost commercial provision.
Thornton Hall will be the subject of further sectoral planning in the coming period, in the context of the development of further prison service capacity, and IPAS Accommodation.
The use of certain State lands for temporary accommodation solutions, including this site, was initiated as part of an ongoing crisis response during 2024.
At the time, there were large numbers of applicants who could not be offered accommodation, and concerning numbers of single male applicants were rough-sleeping in high-risk circumstances.
In August 2024, the Department put in place a Ministerial Order under Section 181 of the Planning and Development act, to enable establishment of emergency temporary accommodation on the Thornton Hall site. Initial works commenced on the site.
In October of that year, a judicial review was brought by representatives of local residents, into the procedures that were applied in developing the Ministerial Order and this led to any further works on the site being paused.
The Department decided to set aside the Ministerial order in November 2024. Following this and similar judicial reviews of planning arrangement used to progress accommodation at State-owned sites, the Government is considering legislative proposals to update the planning arrangements for such sites.
Security services are being maintained at Thornton Hall, as there have been previous instances of threats, protest and criminal attacks at the site.
Accommodation supply remains constrained for single male applicants, and the State continues to maintain efforts to source accommodation as part of an overall reform of the international protection system, which is well underway.
Ireland has adopted and is now working to implement the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in mid-2026. Reforming and speeding up processing of applications should also serve over time to reduce the scale of the demand for international protection accommodation.
The Department is also working to increase the amount of State-owned international protection accommodation and creating a more stable and sustainable accommodation system overall.
198. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on progress in the Courts Service Modernisation Programme, as referenced in recent justice reform announcements in January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6091/26]
View answerAs Minister responsible for access to justice, I am committed to ensuring a modern and efficient court system that continues to meet the changing needs of those who engage with it. The Courts Service is progressing an ambitious 10-year Modernisation Programme to deliver digitally enabled services designed around the user. This programme commenced in 2020 with the approval of a multi-year business plan and is currently in the third of its four implementation phases. The fourth phase is scheduled to commence this year.
I am advised that the Courts Service values the constructive and ongoing assistance that is being provided by a wide range of stakeholders, including judiciary, legal practitioners, NGOs and advocacy groups, other government departments, and members of the public as part of the many projects underway. These include the introduction of a Unified Case Management System (UCMS), which will enable digital end to end journeys supporting court users and the courts dealing with matters digitally where appropriate. The UCMS is being incrementally rolled out to different areas of court work, and will support a broad range of digital applications, responses, case tracking, and order collection – reducing the use of manually intensive paper-based processes.
The UCMS has been rolled out to many back-office operations and is now in pilot for legal practitioners and lay-litigants to digitally file through an online portal. This portal currently supports circuit family proceedings nationwide and has recently commenced a pilot for online probate applications which will be deployed to the rest of the country shortly. Over time, the portal will be expanded incrementally to support other matters, such as expanding the portal scope to an increasing number of case types in the High Court during 2026.
The Courts Service has continued the expansion of video-link and technologically enabled courtrooms, providing remote courts and digital evidence display functionality. Video technology is now available in 173 courtrooms.
Other key outputs of the Modernisation Programme include:
• providing plain language information about the court system;
• the relaunch of courts.ie as a mobile friendly accessible source of court information (recently achieving a 100% accessibility score in the latest National Disability Authority annual report on public service websites);
• the introduction of a digital jury system where jury summons can be responded to online;
• the rollout of Wi-Fi to court buildings across the country;
• the rollout of an appointment booking service;
• trauma-informed practice training and the roll out of plain language; and
• user-friendly court application forms and standardised processes across all 33 District Family Court offices for high volume applications such as Domestic Violence, Maintenance and Arrangements for Children.
199. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to ensure Gardaí have sufficient powers to tackle the misuse of e-scooters and scramblers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6079/26]
View answerAt the outset, I want to convey my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the young girl who was killed in a collision involving a scrambler last weekend. The incident is being investigated by An Garda Síochána.
It is important to say that Gardaí have significant legislative powers to combat antisocial and dangerous use of scramblers and e-scooters. In June 2023, the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law. The Act, which is under the Minister for Transport, included provisions that aim to tackle the anti-social use of vehicles including e-scooters and scramblers through measures such as granting An Garda Síochána new powers of seizure. The Act also makes dangerous driving an offence in any location, not just on public roads.
Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies, in order to make our roads safer for all.
I can assure the Deputy that Gardaí respond to reports of anti-social behaviour and conduct operations on a continuous basis, targeting people engaged in anti-social activities involving the misuse of scramblers and similar vehicles, and electric motorbikes and e-scooters in public places. These initiatives are supported by campaigns across various media and social media platforms to highlight the dangers connected with the use of these vehicles.
In dealing with this dangerous behaviour, An Garda Síochána also gather intelligence at a local level and targets these areas. Such operations focus on the illegal use of these types of vehicles and involve all Gardaí assigned to operational duties. I am also informed by Garda authorities that there were 958 Fixed Charge Notices issued for E-scooter related offences in 2025 and that there were 817 e-scooters seized or detained in 2025.
Additionally, the Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulations 2024 limit the maximum speed of an e-scooter to 20 km/hr, provide for regulation of safety equipment for their operation and prohibit their use on footpaths and by anyone under 16 years of age. On this important point, I urge parents not to purchase e-scooters for their children, or to allow their children to operate these vehicles.
Operation Meacan is another part of An Garda Síochána's proactive response to this issue, targeting the use of electric vehicles that are being used for criminal activity across the Dublin Metropolitan Region.
200. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the legislative framework governing the use of CCTV in public places; the current status of the commencement and implementation of the Garda Síochána Recording Devices Act 2023, including any associated code of practice; the measures his Department is considering to support the use of CCTV in areas experiencing persistent antisocial behaviour or high public use, in partnership with local authorities and An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6210/26]
View answerCommunity safety is a top priority for my Department and everyone has the right to be safe and to feel safe in their communities. CCTV in public places has a role in giving people a greater sense of security and it is also effective in deterring criminal activity and antisocial behaviour.
The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 provides for a new regime for the authorisation and operation of CCTV schemes. Part 5 of that Act, when commenced, will introduce these new arrangements.
Specifically, there is a requirement under that Act for the Garda Commissioner to develop a Code of Practice for CCTV which will set out the procedures to be followed and I am advised that this work is at an advanced stage.
Officials within my Department are in close contact with An Garda Síochána with a view to assisting them in progressing codes and other issues which need to be finalised for commencement to take place.
I understand that the draft CCTV Code of Practice is being finalised prior to commencing a consultation process as required under Part 8 of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023. This consultation is scheduled to commence in early 2026.
As the Deputy may be aware, since 2017 my Department has administered a grant-aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area, which provides grants of up to €40,000 for capital expenditure and up to €5,000 for maintenance.
The CCTV grant scheme was extended in 2019 to cover not only new CCTV systems, but to also provide funding for the extension or upgrade of existing CCTV systems which are incomplete or obsolete. Grants of over €950,000 have been approved to date for 36 Community CCTV schemes.
I am further advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána are currently working on a new CCTV Strategy which will outline how CCTV infrastructure utilised by Gardaí can be modernised and integrated with other CCTV infrastructure throughout the State. It is hoped that implementation of a modernised CCTV platform for An Garda Síochána can commence in 2026.
201. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the work underway to develop and implement the Voice of the Child Report Template and accompanying guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6092/26]
View answerIn October 2024, my Department established a Voice of the Child Working Group with membership comprising both statutory and voluntary stakeholders in the family justice system. The group was set up in line with the commitment in Goal One of the Family Justice Strategy, that of “supporting children”.
The group is taking forward some of the recommendations in the Review of Expert Reports, including the development of the Children’s Court Advocate Pilot Project and the development of a Voice of the Child report template and guidelines. The aim of the Voice of the Child Report Template and Guidelines is to ensure consistency of approach by experts in supporting children to have their voices heard.
As part of its work, the Voice of the Child Working Group commissioned a consultation with children and young people to inform the development of the pilot and the report template and guidelines. The Working Group has made significant progress on drafting the template and guidelines and I expect them to be published in the coming months.
My Department will shortly establish the Children’s Court Advocate Pilot Project in two locations, Waterford and Clonmel. The pilot will test a new way of hearing the voice of children in private family law cases. Running alongside the Pilot Project will be a comprehensive evaluation to assess its effectiveness in achieving its aim of improving how the voice of the child is heard and considered in private family law proceedings. A tender for this Evaluation has now been published by my Department and will be open until 4 February 2026.
202. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of convictions made under, and the number of ongoing Garda investigations into, cases where the allegation includes a breach of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, per Garda division, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6180/26]
View answerThe Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, also known as Coco’s Law, was enacted in 2021. This Act provides for offences relating to the recording, distribution or publication of intimate images and for the anonymity of victims of those offences; and for an offence involving the distribution, publication or sending of threatening or grossly offensive communications.
The Act creates a serious offence of distribution or publication of an intimate image without consent with intent to cause harm to the victim, attracting a maximum penalty of up to 7 years imprisonment. The Act makes it an offence to threaten to distribute or publish such an image. It also provides for a strict liability offence, with a lower penalty, for engaging in the recording, distribution or publication of an intimate image without consent, with no requirement to prove an intention to cause harm.
An Garda Síochána have provided a table in the attached document which details the information sought by the Deputy with regard to incidents recorded on the PULSE system.
The management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the Constitution. However, to be of assistance to the Deputy I have sought the relevant information from the Courts Service, which is provided in the tables below, for the period 2023 to 30 September 2025.
203. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the new Communications (Interception and Lawful Access) Bill will permit An Garda Síochána, or any State body, to use covert surveillance software or spyware, including tools capable of accessing encrypted messaging services such as an app (details supplied); the specific technologies that will be authorised under the Bill; the safeguards and oversight that will apply; and when the general scheme will be published. [6131/26]
View answerI recently announced that the Government had approved my policy proposals for a new Communications (Interception and Lawful Access) Bill which will update and replace the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993.
This legislation is needed to ensure that the law in this area is up-to-date and can yield intelligence that is vital for dealing with serious and organised crime, terrorism and threats to the security of the State. A key principle of the legislation is that it will encompass all forms of modern communication.
The proposals include a legal basis, subject to strict legal safeguards, for the use of covert surveillance software for the investigation of serious crime and security threats.
These technologies can play a legitimate role when used in a lawful manner that is consistent with respect for human rights.
A 2024 report from the European Commission for Democracy through Law, “Report on a Rule of Law and Human Rights Compliant Regulation of Spyware” considered the safeguards required for the use of such powers. These safeguards included clear legal provisions, prior authorisation before a court or other independent body and exclusion, subject to exceptions, of persons whose interactions may be protected by professional privilege. These are all matters to be considered as work continues on developing the General Scheme.
The Office of the Independent Examiner will, in due course, also have a role in monitoring the use of all of the measures to be included in the legislation.
I hope to publish the General Scheme this year.
204. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on Garda numbers, new recruits and any retention strategies that are in place in the force. [6165/26]
View answerGetting more Gardaí on our streets to prevent and detect crime remains my priority as Minister. This Government is fully committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with Budget 2026 providing unprecedented funding of €2.74 billion to support recruitment, training and staffing.
At the end of November 2025, the latest date for which figures are available, the total Garda workforce stood at over 18,200, which included 14,462 Gardaí, 3,486 Garda Staff, and 308 Reserves.
Recruitment into An Garda Síochána is now gathering real momentum and interest in a career as a Garda remains high, with over 11,000 applications received last year. Overall, I am informed by the Garda authorities that just under 800 trainees entered the Garda College in 2025, the highest number since 2018.
This demonstrates that there is a strong and sustained interest in a career as a Garda amongst the public and further recruitment competitions will be run, as required, to ensure that there is a steady pipeline of new recruits ready to enter the Garda College.
There will be four intakes to the Garda College in 2026 and intake numbers will also be supported by ongoing capacity expansion works at the College.
Significant measures have been made to boost recruitment and retention in recent years including by increasing the Garda trainee allowance to €354 per week; increasing the age of entry from 35 to 50; and raising the mandatory retirement age to 62.
In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division, Station and rank, is publicly available and can be found at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/
The Deputy should select the most recent month and access the file titled “Garda Members by Division District Station 2009 to the most recent date” for a breakdown of total Garda numbers by Garda station going back to 2009.
To find the information in relation to the allocation of Probationer Gardaí by Division and Station, The Deputy should access the file titled “Allocation of Probationer Gardaí by Division and Station 2015 to the most recent date” for a breakdown of total Probationer Garda numbers by Garda station going back to 2015.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.
205. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline the provision of youth diversion projects for Macroom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6184/26]
View answerYouth Diversion Projects are community-based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives. These projects provide young people with suitable activities to facilitate their personal development, promote civic responsibility, encourage pro-social behaviour in their communities and improve their educational outcomes and long-term employability prospects.
Macroom falls in the catchment area of West Cork Youth Diversion Project which received an allocation of €581,331 for 2026.
This funding allows for a staff allocation of one Senior Youth Justice Worker, five Youth Justice Workers, one specialist Family Support Youth Justice Worker and one specialist Early Intervention Youth Justice Worker across the West Cork Youth Diversion Project which covers Bantry, Macroom and Skibbereen.
The budget allocation for Youth Justice measures has increased by 144% from 2020 to 2026 with a significant allocation of €7.3 million in additional core exchequer funding for Youth Justice measures announced as part of Budget 2026.
206. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware that there is currently no specific offence for drug-related intimidation. [6189/26]
View answerI am fully committed to helping to significantly reduce the harms caused to families and communities by the illegal drugs trade, including drug-related intimidation.
Drug-related intimidation is a pervasive issue that inflicts profound harm on individuals, families, and communities nationwide. I am conscious that such intimidation can be a terrifying experience for families, who may already be dealing with the trauma of seeing a loved-one in addiction. For the wider community, it can negatively impact their sense of safety and security. Unfortunately, we have seen several incidents of this serious and reprehensible criminal behaviour recently.
An Garda Síochána have legislative powers available to them to tackle the issue of drug related intimidation. These include, but are not limited to:
• Coercion pursuant to section 9 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997,
• Harassment pursuant to section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997,
• Blackmail, extortion and demanding money with menaces pursuant to section 17 Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 and;
• Section 15 Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977, as amended.
I can assure the Deputy that tackling drug intimidation is a major priority for An Garda Síochána and they are successful in securing convictions and putting those responsible behind bars. The Garda Commissioner has tasked an Inspector in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug-related intimidation. An Garda Síochána encourage those affected to come forward and report all instances of drug-related violence and intimidation as early reporting can help them to intervene earlier and prevent such attacks.
207. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he, his Department and the Courts Service will ensure the inclusion of a new courthouse in Portlaoise on the National Development Plan, in order to fast-track it to the next stage so as to replace the current courthouse on Main Street, Portlaoise, which is inadequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5966/26]
View answerAs Minister I am committed to ensuring that resources are in place to deliver efficient and timely access to justice. Budget 2026 provides for an increase of €11m or 8.3% in funding for day-to-day court operations and the development of services.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Courts Service purchased a site for a new courthouse at Kylekiproe in 2020. Portlaoise Courthouse, among other venues, forms part of the Courts Service pipeline of projects at Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case stage. The size, geographical spread and age of the Courts estate means that its renovation, maintenance and management is a multi-annual programme of work which requires to be phased and progressed based on delivery capacity, and affordability.
Although funding has not been included in this phase of the National Development Plan, I fully expect that there will continue to be further investment in this programme of work over future iterations of the NDP, subject to overall budget considerations.
208. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will establish a historical investigations unit to allow for independent police investigation 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. [6083/26]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Historical Investigation Unit structure was a proposal contained in the Stormont House Agreement 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.
The Deputy will also be aware that the expertise of the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT), established in 2007 to provide for independent review of historical investigations, including homicides, is available where appropriate. 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 can also 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. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government at its meeting on 1 October formally approved the Joint Framework on the Legacy of the Troubles agreed with the British Government and announced on 19 September. As part of this, the Government has committed to facilitating the cooperation of the relevant Irish authorities with the UK Legacy Commission, once established, to the fullest extent possible. The UK Government also commits to reciprocal cooperation by the UK authorities with investigations, inquests and inquiries on the same basis and in the same spirit.
As recognised in the Joint Framework, investigations into Troubles-related incidents should be victim-centred. It includes a commitment to establish a single point of contact in An Garda Síochána for cross-border cooperation on Troubles-related cases and to act as a central point of contact and co-ordination for victims and families in relation to Troubles-related investigations undertaken by An Garda Síochána. The unit, known as the Troubles Legacy Liaison Unit, has been established within An Garda Síochána since the start of the year. On 23 January, the Garda Commissioner and I formally announced the establishment of the unit. Further information including contact details are available on the Garda website through the following link: []Troubles Legacy Liaison Unit - Garda - www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/garda-national-crime-security-intelligence-service1/troubles-legacy-liaison-unit/.
The full operation of the unit in line with what is envisaged in the Joint Framework will depend on the progress made by the UK Government in enacting the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and the reformed Legacy Commission becoming fully operational.
This unit will operate alongside the commitment of An Garda Síochána to continue to investigate all unresolved Troubles-related incidents within its jurisdiction and ensure that any potential investigative opportunities are proactively pursued. The investigation of such cases will continue to be undertaken by the relevant Garda Division in which the incident occurred with the support of national units as required.
In circumstances where historic offences have not been resolved, I am assured that the investigations remain open and the Garda Authorities 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.
210. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his Department's plans to address the need for a domestic abuse refuge centre in County Laois; to provide a timeline for such a centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5965/26]
View answerThis Government has taken unprecedented actions to tackle the scourge of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV), including by increasing funding to almost €80 million under Budget 2026, to support Cuan and services working to tackle DSGBV and the implementation of the Zero Tolerance Strategy. The increased funding for Cuan and community organisations that support victims and survivors will accelerate the delivery of safe accommodation, while also providing stronger supports for victims. Cuan is collaborating with various stakeholders, including domestic violence services, Approved Housing Bodies, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Agency and Local Authorities to facilitate local action and support service development and delivery of safe accommodation and ancillary services.
I am informed by Cuan that in 2025 the number of domestic violence refuge units increased by 13, of which four are located in Louth and nine in Dublin, bringing the total number to 172. A further 9 units are being developed in Dublin and are expected to be operational early this year. A 12-unit refuge located in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Council area is scheduled to be completed and become operational later this year. This will bring the total number of refuge units to 193 by the end of the year. Furthermore in 2026, Cuan is also working towards having a minimum of 50 new refuge units under construction nationally, across multiple sites. Last year, the number of Safe Home units increased by 8. This has increased total Safe Home capacity to 60. Cuan is working to increase that capacity to 94 this year.
With regard to the provision of a refuge centre in County Laois, I am informed by Cuan that, while a site has been secured, Capital Assistance Scheme stage 1 funding was not approved by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH). Cuan is working with the service and all key stakeholders to identify an alternative Approved Housing Body (AHB) partner. I am advised that there are ongoing meetings with key stakeholders on this matter.
211. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of the legislation needed to allow An Garda Síochána to use drones as part of their operations. [6164/26]
View answerThe use of recording devices by An Garda Síochána, including those that are mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) is provided for under Part 2 of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023.
It should be noted that there is a requirement under the Act for the Garda Commissioner to develop a Code of Practice which will set out the procedures and standards to be followed, as well as the new rules around confidentiality, security, storage, access and retention of data and data subject rights. I am advised by the Garda authorities that work is ongoing with respect to the development of this Code of Practice.
No identified need for additional legislation has been communicated to my Department, however, officials in my Department will consider any such request if received from An Garda Síochána.
212. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for an update on the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce stronger laws to combat the spiking of drinks. [6089/26]
View answerSpiking is a crime that preys on vulnerability, that undermines consent and that can have devastating consequences for victims. As Minister I am committed to fostering a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV). Spiking a person’s drink or spiking someone by injection are, in effect, poisoning, and are criminal offences under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, that can result in a three-year prison term.
Depending on the nature of the substance that is administered, it may be possible to charge a perpetrator with endangerment under section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997. This provides that it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly engage in conduct which creates a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another. The offence of endangerment carries a maximum penalty of 7 years imprisonment. An Garda Síochána takes all reports of spiking seriously and thoroughly investigates to determine the exact nature of each incident including results of toxicology reports in each case. I would advise any victims of similar incidents or any form of spiking to come forward and report to local Gardaí.
All civil and criminal legislation is kept under review.
Last September, my colleague, Minister O’Donovan launched new safety training for the country’s Night-Time Economy workers. The ‘Safe & Sound’ campaign aims to make Ireland’s nightlife safer for customers and staff, and includes new policy templates for a wide range of businesses in the Night-Time Economy such as pubs, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, theatres, cultural venues, festivals, gyms, taxi services, and more. This training, which is available free for 12 months in the nine Night-Time Economy Pilot areas (Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick City, Galway City, Kilkenny City, Drogheda, Sligo, Buncrana, and Longford Town), looks into the various aspects of vulnerability after dark. It is specifically tailored and developed for those working at night, providing workers with an increased awareness of their responsibilities and duty of care, and training in actions that must be taken to reduce identified risks.
Among the training modules on offer is ‘Drink Spiking Awareness – prevention and response strategies’.
My Department has previously run an awareness campaign on spiking, in conjunction with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
213. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the steps being taken to ensure the required security, land, sea and air are in place to protect Ireland in view of the EU Presidency in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72036/25]
View answerIreland will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December this year. This will involve an extensive programme of meetings and events in Dublin and across the country, including a number of major summits.
My Department is committed to ensuring a successful Irish Presidency and is working closely with other Departments and State agencies in the planning and delivery of Ireland’s programme. Central to the Irish Presidency is the vital role of An Garda Síochána, which is charged with supporting the safe and secure delivery of the Presidency.
A dedicated Garda operation, Operation Brehon, is in place and detailed planning is taking place through a dedicated EU Presidency Coordination Office established to oversee all aspects of operational planning, logistics, and interagency engagement. This work is led by Deputy Commissioner, Policing Operations, and supported by a High-Level Working Group comprising members of the Garda Senior Leadership Team. The Garda National Crime and Security Intelligence Service will also play a central role.
Key strands of Operation Brehon include:
• assessment of security and policing requirements across all planned venues and events;
• engagement with national and international partners on threat and risk analysis;
• development of operational and resourcing plans; and
• planning for VIP protection, venue security, transport management, cyber resilience, and public order contingencies.
Planning is informed by current best practice in large-scale event security and interagency coordination. Preparations have escalated over the past year, particularly as regards training and procurement, and I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that operational planning is underway across all policing and enabling functions.
Gardaí continue to liaise with national and international partners, and have visited countries which have recently held the Presidency to observe and learn from their experiences.
Oversight and reporting structures are in place to ensure alignment with the broader Government planning process led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. There is ongoing interdepartmental engagement through established coordination forums, as well as regular bilateral meetings with key Departments and State agencies.
The Deputy will appreciate for security reasons it is not appropriate to comment further on operational details. However I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána is committed to ensuring that the 2026 Presidency is delivered safely, efficiently, and in full partnership with other State agencies.
214. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is satisfied that the current statutory powers available to An Garda Síochána and the courts to address anti-social behaviour are sufficient; the assessment, he has made has made of the effectiveness of anti-social behaviour orders in preventing repeat offending; if he intends to bring forward proposals to strengthen or amend the current powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5961/26]
View answerAddressing anti-social behaviour requires a collaborative inter-agency and community based approach. While Anti-Social Behaviour Warnings and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders provide a response to the behaviour of an individual, they do not address the reasons behind the behaviour. The newly established Community Safety Partnerships can potentially provide a collaborative approach which may assist in identifying gaps as perceived by each stakeholder in the local area.
In terms of the legislation available to An Garda Síochána, Anti-Social Behaviour Warnings and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders are legislated for in the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The legislation is outlined in Part 11of the Act for adults and in Part 13 for children. These allow members of An Garda Síochána to issue Anti-Social Behaviour Warnings to adults and children and allows for senior members of An Garda Síochána to apply for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders before the District Court. A Senior member of An Garda Síochána means a member of An Garda Síochána not below the rank of Superintendent.
The Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 amends the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and the Children Act 2002 to reduce the minimum rank of Garda that may apply to court for anti-social behaviour orders in respect of adults and children from Superintendent to Inspector. This will bring increased flexibility to the making of applications for such orders. The Bill was published on 9 January 2026 and the Dáil Second Stage debate on the Bill took place on 22 January 2026.
215. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he intends to introduce legislation which would ensure that responsibility for the prosecution of offences would be removed from the Gardaí so that all court proceedings would be conducted by legal professionals, as recommended in the report on the operation of bail in Ireland prepared by Senior Counsel Lorcan Staines entitled ‘An Assessment of the Efficacy of Bail Laws in Ireland’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6080/26]
View answerThe report completed by Mr Lorcan Staines SC ‘An Assessment of the Efficacy of Bail Laws in Ireland’ was published by my Department in November 2025. I would like to express my thanks to Lorcan Staines for his work in compiling this comprehensive report.
This examination of our bail laws and subsequent proposals underlines the need for additional actions to be considered to ensure the criminal justice system effectively mitigates against risks that may be associated with individuals on bail. A number of the recommendations are under active consideration or in progress across the Department.
Regarding the report’s recommendation that the "responsibility for the prosecution of offences should be removed from the Gardaí and all future Court proceedings should be conducted by legal professionals", this was previously recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI). It was accepted in principle by the Government subject to a further evaluation of the implications, including resources.
That subsequent evaluation, which was undertaken by a ‘High-Level Review Group’ (HLRG), concluded that the CoFPI change was not appropriate and recommended instead, the implementation of what they termed the “Reform Model”.
A Summary Prosecution Reform Steering Committee was then established to drive forward the detailed design and implementation of the Reform Model. Under the Reform Model, the HLRG recommended that An Garda Síochána (AGS) retain responsibility for the conduct of prosecutions in court. The HLRG also recommended that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) be supported in substantially enhancing quality assurance of the prosecution functions by AGS in the name of the DPP.
The work of the Steering Committee is ongoing and good progress has been made on the design and implementation of the new model.
216. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current strategy, and programmes, in place to address antisocial behaviour, including Garda-led initiatives; the way in which the effectiveness of these measures is being assessed; the additional actions or policy developments planned to tackle persistent antisocial behaviour, particularly in urban and rural communities such as Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6172/26]
View answerThe Government is committed to the principle that everyone, wherever they live in Ireland, should feel safe and be safe. Building safe and secure communities across the country by investing in An Garda Síochána is a top priority for this Government. I want every part of the country to be a safe space for people to live and work in.
Anti-social behaviour is a broad term often used to describe a range of actions and behaviours that violate social norms in specific contexts. I am conscious of the very damaging impact it can have in our communities.
The Government is committed to tackling the scourge of anti-social behaviour and crime to build safer streets and stronger communities through a number of ongoing measures, including:
• Getting more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment;
• Continued expansion of youth justice and youth diversion measures;
• New laws which criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime;
• The deployment of body-worn cameras, with nationwide roll-out to follow the current pilot project;
• Proposing solutions to public order and anti-social behaviour through the Local Leadership Programme which brings together local stakeholders in a structured manner;
• Over €4 million allocated to 42 projects through the Community Safety Fund, which re-invests the proceeds of crime into local safety projects.
A number of actions are also contained in the Programme for Government to reduce instances of anti-social behaviour. These include a commitment to enact legislation to combat anti-social behaviour through enhanced use of Anti-Social Behaviour Warnings and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. Work to progress these commitments has commenced.
The introduction of Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSP) around the country also represents a significant step towards a more collaborative, responsive, and locally driven model of public safety. They will bring together a broad range of relevant stakeholders to address community safety issues in their area which will include residents, local councillors, community representatives business and education representatives, and a range of public services including the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána and the local authority. A core part of their work will be to draft a Community Safety Plan tailored to the community's needs.
217. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the plans his Department has this year to deal with the scourge of drugs and drug-related crime, including drug debt intimidation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6076/26]
View answerTackling the scourge of drug dealing and targeting organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities across Ireland is a top priority for the government and An Garda Síochána.
I am fully committed to significantly reducing the harms caused to families and communities by illicit drug use. The three main policy objectives my Department are seeking to achieve in this area are:
• tackling organised crime;
• minimising the harms caused to those with addiction issues; and
• diverting people from involvement in crime and illicit drug-related activity.
A number of key actions have been taken as part of our plan to tackle organised crime and the illegal drug trade, including:
• 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;
• New laws have been enacted which criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime;
• Drafting new laws which will provide for the use of biometric recognition technology in the investigation of certain drug offences;
• Further investment in youth justice initiatives that divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in criminal behaviour.
The Government is fully committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to fight organised crime and the illegal drugs trade. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.74 billion in Budget 2026.
Operation Tara aims to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels – international, national and local – involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs. Under Operation Tara, individuals and groups involved in the drug trade are the target of enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest crime trends.
In terms of minimising harms, the Garda Commissioner has tasked an Inspector in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug-related intimidation. Information on the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme and a list of the nominated Inspectors countrywide is available on the Garda website.
In May, alongside my colleague Minister Murnane O’Connor, I launched the DRIVE (Drug related intimidation & violence engagement) project. DRIVE’s primary goal is to establish effective systems and structures for a unified, timely, and sensitive response to drug-related intimidation. It focuses on responding to incidents, supporting those affected, and preventing future occurrences.
DRIVE promotes interagency collaboration by bringing together law enforcement, health services, social services, and community organisations to tackle Drug Related Intimidation from multiple perspectives. It operates on a national scale across Ireland, ensuring consistent and comprehensive support in all regions.
