Written Answers Nos. 642-661
642. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when a decision will be made on a retention of residence EUTR5 application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44906/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application referred to by the Deputy was received on 11 March 2026.
The EUTR application continues to be processed and once a decision is reached the applicant will be informed.
To be fair to all applicants, applications are dealt with in strict chronological order that they are received in. The EU Treaty Rights Division endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the number of applications on hand, individual circumstances, the complexity of an application and whether or not further information is required.
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.
643. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he or officials from his Department have met with representatives of a company (details supplied) where discussions included the suppression of hate speech, disinformation or misinformation during the period 2022 to date; if so, the number of such meetings that were held both virtually and in-person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44933/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that no such meetings have taken place between myself as Minister or officials from my Department and the company referenced, during the period 2022 to date, where discussions included the suppression of hate speech, disinformation or misinformation.
644. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied) who has applied for an extension to their 90-day holiday visa; and if they can remain in the State pending a decision being made [45003/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that the application cited has been approved.
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.
645. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applications to the Garda Reserves in 2024, 2025 and so date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45018/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra646. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applications to the Garda Reserves that were successful in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45019/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra647. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda Reserves that were attested in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45020/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra648. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Garda Reserves currently operational, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45021/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 645, 646, 647 and 648 together.
The Programme for Government commits to examining a range of further measures to enable An Garda Síochána to increase the Garda Reserve and ensure new intakes annually. This is in addition to recruiting 5,000 Garda members as well as increasing Garda staff numbers. These commitments are supported by successive increases in the Garda Vote, including unprecedented funding of €2.74billion in Budget 2026.
Established in 2006, Garda Reserves play a vital role in their communities. The position presents a unique opportunity for anyone wishing to support policing and give back to their communities. It offers people from all backgrounds a policing experience. I would like to acknowledge the important contribution made by all members of the Reserve who volunteer their time for the community's benefit.
The most recent competition to recruit Garda Reserves opened in June 2024 and received over 1,800 applications. In addition, to support the development of the Reserve, the maximum stipend a Reserve member receives for voluntary service in a given year has been increased from €1,000 to €3,000.
I am advised that the first cohort of 19 successful candidates from the Garda Reserve competition entered Templemore in 2025 and 17 of these attested in November 2025.
A further class of 15 trainee reserves entered training in March 2026 and attested earlier this month.
Information in relation to the allocation of Garda Reserve members by Division is publicly available and can be found at the following link:
https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2026/april-2026.html.
649. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will review the €360,000 statutory total prize cap applying to District Court-licensed lotteries, including house draw competitions; whether consideration will be given to increasing this cap in line with current housing market values and construction costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45082/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Gambling Regulation Act 2024 (‘the 2024 Act’) was enacted on 23 October 2024 and established a new, independent statutory body – the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (‘the Authority’). Last year, I signed orders to commence the first provisions of the Act and to establish the Authority from 5 March 2025.
The provisions of the Act including the powers of the Authority are being rolled out on a phased basis, and in that context, I signed an order on 3 February 2026 to commence those parts of the 2024 Act that allow the Authority to begin accepting applications for the issuing of betting licences. As the Authority builds up its resources, commencement of the licensing of the remaining sectors of the gambling industry, including lotteries such as the ones described by the Deputy, will take place in due course.
The Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 (‘the 1956 Act’), provides for once-off lotteries up to the value of €360,000 in a twelve month period, for a charitable or philanthropic purpose. I have no plans to amend the 1956 Act given it will be repealed as the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 is commenced. However, the Deputy may be interested to note that the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 provides for a new type of licence to allow for once-off lotteries (to be operated once every 12 months) for prizes of up to €360,000 for both commercial and charitable/philanthropic purposes.
Those applying for this type of licence will need to apply to the Authority in the future. The Authority, having regard to certain considerations, and with my consent, may vary the maximum payment and winning limits specified in the 2024 Act, by regulation.
650. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has conducted an assessment since 2020 of attitudes towards LGBT persons among applicants for international protection and other recent arrivals to the State; if risks relating to anti-LGBT prejudice have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45090/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra651. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the information, training or orientation programmes provided to applicants for international protection and other new arrivals regarding Irish laws on equality, discrimination, same-sex relationships, marriage equality and LGBT rights; and if he will provide details of the content, delivery mechanisms and annual expenditure associated with such programmes. [45091/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra652. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department maintains, collects or reviews data on incidents involving anti-LGBT harassment, threats or violence in international protection accommodation centres or State-contracted accommodation facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45092/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 650, 651 and 652 together.
In line with commitments under the National LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy II 2024-2028, a comprehensive trauma informed training programme, Supportive Spaces, has been developed by UNHCR and has been delivered to IPAS staff and is being rolled out to IPAS accommodation centre staff, the training has a specific section on the experience of LGBTI residents.
The IPAS House Rules, updated June 2026, explicitly prohibits sexual harassment, racism, homophobia and intimidation of any kind, and note that such conduct is illegal under Irish law. The IPAS Code of Practice 2025 is binding on all centre staff and explicitly names sexual orientation, among others, as a protected ground.
IPAS does not conduct surveys of residents in the manner outlined.
IPAS policy is to record all incidents, however minor. Please note Department records are not collated to allow the breakdown specified by the Deputy by those related to LGBTIQ+ people.
Incidents that arise in centres are defined and set out in IPAS policies, from a broad scale of general, minor issues related to complaints about behaviour or noise, to incidents considered critical in that they relate to mental health or self-harm incidents, including the unexpected death of a resident.
When any incident occurs, IPAS teams engage with centre management to resolve the issue at hand. In this regard, the Department routinely engages with all providers in relation to incident response and policy compliance.
The Department also carries out regular inspections of centres to ensure policies and procedures are in place that comply with the Critical Incident Policy.
Please see the following table updated to include statistics on incidents recorded in IPAS accommodation centres, dating back to 2021.
|
Year |
Incidents |
Critical Incidents |
Warning Letters |
Transfers |
|
2021 |
5 |
14 |
3 |
0 |
|
2022 |
766 |
37 |
659 |
110 |
|
2023 |
2,109 |
50 |
1,559 |
177 |
|
2024 |
4,168 |
55 |
3,170 |
521 |
|
2025 |
5,725 |
62 |
4,127 |
544 |
|
2026 to date |
2,568 |
27 |
1,909 |
239 |
It should be noted when reviewing the statistics above that the number of people living in IPAS accommodation has increased very significantly over the last 5 years.
Current resident numbers are approximately 33,000. Resident numbers at the end of 2021 were just over 7,000.
Centre management in all IPAS centres have an ongoing working relationship with the local Gardaí. If there is ever any concern in relation to acts of violence or other criminal activity in any IPAS setting, An Garda Síochána are contacted.
653. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of individuals that the State has sought for extradition from other jurisdictions; to identify those jurisdictions; and the number that were subsequently extradited for each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45152/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra654. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of individuals that were sought to be extradited from Ireland to other jurisdictions; to identify those jurisdictions; and the number that were subsequently extradited for each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [45153/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 653 and 654 together.
Extradition is an important element of the criminal justice system. It is the formal, legal process by which a country surrenders a person to another country for prosecution for a criminal offence or to serve a sentence which has been imposed following conviction.
From Ireland’s perspective, extradition is generally operated under two broad categories:
• extradition undertaken in accordance with the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003; and
• extradition undertaken in accordance with Part II of the Extradition Act 1965.
European Arrest Warrant Act 2003
The European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 came into operation on 01 January 2004. The 2003 Act has been amended on a number of occasions including, most recently in 2024. The Act gives effect to the 2002 Council Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant and the surrender procedures between Member States. The purpose of the Framework Decision is to simplify extradition procedures between Member States of the European Union.
Following Brexit, extradition between Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK) is no longer processed under the European Arrest Warrant system and has, instead, been replaced by a similar extradition arrangement under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Warrants issued under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement are referred to as Trade and Cooperation Agreement warrants (or “TCA warrants”).
On 30 March 2021, the 2003 Act was amended to use the term “relevant arrest warrant” in respect of:
• a European Arrest Warrant;
• an arrest warrant issued in accordance with the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (i.e. by/to the UK); or
• an arrest warrant issued under a separate agreement of the European Union (EU) with Iceland and Norway.
Section 6(6) of the 2003 Act provides that I, in my capacity as Central Authority for the European Arrest Warrant, shall:
“in each year, prepare a report on the operation, in the preceding year, of Part 2, and shall cause copies of each such report to be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is so prepared”.
Part 2 of the 2003 Act relates to European Arrest Warrants received in the State as well as European Arrest Warrants issued by the State. In the interests of transparency and completeness, such reports also include statistics related to Trade and Cooperation Agreement warrants and to arrest warrants issued under the agreement of the EU with Iceland and Norway. The annual reports for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively, are attached.
The Deputy may wish to note that I intend to bring the annual report for 2025 to Cabinet shortly to signal my intention to lay the report before the Houses of the Oireachtas; my officials will send a copy of the annual report 2025 to the Deputy shortly thereafter. I am advised that the trends to date for 2026 are largely similar to previous years.
Extradition Act 1965
Extradition between Ireland and countries other than EU Member States, the UK, Iceland and Norway, is undertaken in accordance with the Extradition Act 1965. The details requested by the Deputy could not be compiled in the time available; however, the relevant information will be transmitted to the Deputy by my officials shortly.
655. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether for procurement spend, a purchase order can be raised within his Department's financial management systems without reference to a contract, framework agreement, procurement process or other authorising arrangement; if so, the circumstances in which this may occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45169/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra656. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether an invoice can be paid by his Department without an associated purchase order having first been raised; if so, the circumstances in which this may occur; the number and value of payments made during quarter one of 2026 which were not associated with a purchase order; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45187/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 656 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.
657. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of concerns regarding the potential misuse of interim protection orders within the Family Law Court system in the context of high-conflict parental disputes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45209/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra658. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the legal threshold and evidential basis required for the granting of an interim protection order in the Family Law Courts; the safeguards in place to ensure such orders are proportionate and necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45211/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra659. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether consideration has been given to introducing consequences or deterrents in cases where the Family Law Court process is found to have been knowingly misused, including through the making of false or misleading allegations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45213/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra660. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the measures in place within the Family Law Court system to ensure that children are protected from the potential negative effects of prolonged or high-conflict parental disputes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45214/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra661. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department is considering any review of the operation of interim protection orders or broader Family Law Court procedures to ensure an appropriate balance between safeguarding individuals and protecting parental relationships where safe to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45215/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 657, 658, 659, 660 and 661 together.
The determination of individual applications is a matter for the courts, which are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and subject only to the Constitution and the law. My Department keeps all relevant legislation under review to ensure that it is achieving its intended purpose.
As provided for in section 10 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018, a protection order may be made on an application for a safety order or a barring order, or between the making of that application and its determination, where the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the safety or welfare of the applicant or a dependent person so requires. The assessment of the Court is based on the evidence presented. Where a protection order is sought ex-parte, the application must be grounded on an affidavit or information sworn by the applicant. The Act also contains safeguards to ensure that such orders are proportionate and necessary. A protection order may only be made where the statutory threshold is met, may be made subject to such exceptions and conditions as the court specifies, and is of limited duration pending the determination of the substantive application for a safety order or barring order. The Act also provides for variation of a protection order, where appropriate.
I believe the legislation allows for the rights of all parties to be considered and for the Courts to make an appropriate decision in the circumstances of each individual case.
In relation to measures in place within the Family Law Court system to ensure that children are protected, my Department is fully committed to reforming the family justice system in Ireland through implementation of the Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025. This is an ambitious programme of reform which sets out a vision for a system refocused on the needs and rights of children, who are central to many family justice matters. Many key actions have been completed and a final report on the implementation of strategy is in development.
The Family Courts Act 2024 is a key component of my Department's Family Justice Strategy and contains a number of provisions designed to make the family court process more focused on the needs of children, safer and less costly. On 22 April 2026, I published the Implementation Plan for the Family Courts Act 2024 that will result in some of the most significant reforms of the family justice system in the history of the state. The Act provides for the establishment of family courts as divisions within the existing court structures, namely a Family High Court, a Family Circuit Court and a Family District Court, each dealing with family law matters as appropriate to its jurisdiction. Judges who have specialist training or experience in dealing with family law matters will be assigned to the Family Court divisions on a full-time basis, providing for improved levels of judicial expertise in family law matters as well as the streamlining of proceedings. The Act also provides for ongoing professional training in the area of family law.
The Act includes a set of guiding principles for the family court system which the courts, legal practitioners and parties to family law proceedings will be required to have regard to. The principles include, but are not limited to:
- Ensuring that the best interests of the child are a primary consideration in the conduct of the proceedings where the welfare of a child is involved or likely to be affected; the child is informed in an age-appropriate manner about the proceedings; and the views of the child are ascertained and taken into account having regard to the age and maturity of the child.
- Minimising risk to the safety of any party to family law proceedings, including of a child to whom the proceedings relate, in cases where this is a concern.
- Conducting proceedings in a manner which is user-friendly, accessible, efficient and minimises conflict between the parties as far as possible.
- Encouraging and facilitating the use of alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation, to resolve family law disputes without recourse to the courts, in so far as is possible and appropriate.
- Operating in an efficient manner which is likely to minimise the cost of the proceedings and encouraging active case management by the courts.
In line with these guiding principles, key changes being introduced by the Act will include an applicant or respondent being restricted from personally cross-examining a child unless the Court considers it in the interests of justice to do so. The Act also puts in place safeguards for the personal cross-examination of the other party by an applicant or respondent, making the examination subject to the court’s direction. Instead, provision is made for a legal representative to conduct the cross-examination, and legal aid can be provided.
Primary legislation already provides for consequences where false evidence is knowingly given in court proceedings. Under the Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Act 2021, it is an offence to make, on oath or affidavit, a statement that is false and known to be false for the purpose of judicial proceedings. More generally, it is a matter for the court concerned to assess the credibility and reliability of the evidence before it in any individual case. Any proposal for additional measures in this area would require careful consideration so as to avoid unintended consequences, including any deterrent effect on persons who may have a legitimate need to seek the protection of the courts.
