Written Answers Nos. 391-421
394. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of cases referred by An Garda Síochána to the Criminal Assets Bureau arising from drug-related debt enforcement and intimidation in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67948/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been advised by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) that it is not possible to provide details on the number of cases referred by An Garda Síochána to the Bureau arising from drug-related debt enforcement and intimidation.
I am informed that cases referred to the Bureau are viewed holistically with a view to identifying criminality which would support a CAB investigation. Many referrals received at the Bureau have their origins in drug trafficking and related offences and may have elements of drug-related debt enforcement and intimidation offences. The Bureau does not extrapolate this specific data.
The Bureau supports initiatives surrounding the investigation of drugs related intimidation offences and has previously presented to Divisional Inspectors with responsibility for drugs related intimidation.
395. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to set out the process by which the Special Rapporteur on Racial Equality and Racism was appointed; the term of the appointment; and whether the role is established on a statutory or an administrative basis. [67966/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra396. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration which Department and Minister currently hold responsibility for the Office of the Special Rapporteur on Racial Equality and Racism; and to set out the reporting and oversight arrangements that apply to the role. [67965/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra397. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the declaration of interest and conflict of interest safeguards that apply to the Special Rapporteur on Racial Equality and Racism, having regard to any concurrent professional, commercial or advocacy activities of the office holder in the area of anti-racism training and consultancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67969/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra399. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether a code of conduct, terms of reference or standards of office apply to the Special Rapporteur on Racial Equality and Racism; and the procedure by which a member of the public may raise a concern or complaint regarding the office. [67968/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra400. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total cost to the Exchequer of the Office of the Special Rapporteur on Racial Equality and Racism in each year since its establishment, including any fees, expenses or supports paid to the office holder; and the source of that funding. [67967/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 395, 396, 397, 399 and 400 together.
The role of Special Rapporteur on Racial Equality and Racism was established on an administrative basis as part of the monitoring, oversight and review framework of the National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) 2023-2027. Dr Ebun Joseph was appointed as the Special Rapporteur for Racial Equality and Racism on 2 July 2024 for a four-year term following an open competition managed by the Public Appointments Service.
The role involves monitoring progress towards the objectives of the NAPAR, considering matters relating to racial equality more broadly, and producing an annual report which may also be submitted to the relevant Oireachtas Committee. The Special Rapporteur also chairs the Advisory Committee on Racial Equality and Racism.
Responsibility for the implementation of the NAPAR, including the Special Rapporteur function, transferred from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to my Department on 1 May 2025.
The Special Rapporteur operates independently of my Department. As with other public appointments, the Special Rapporteur is required to comply with the applicable Terms of Reference of the role, including disclosing any potential conflicts of interest.
In relation to costs to the Exchequer, total cost to date was provided to the Deputy on 7 September 2026 (PQ60899/26).
398. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a county by county breakdown of the payments made to barristers in criminal legal aid payments for the individual months of May, June, July and August this year; and the amount paid out in criminal legal aid payments by county to barristers for the corresponding four months in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67895/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra403. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide a county by county breakdown of the payments made to solicitors in criminal legal aid payments for the individual months of May, June, July and August this year; and the amount paid out in criminal legal aid payments by county to solicitors for the corresponding four months in 2025, in tabular form; and if will make a statement on the matter. [67891/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra404. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amounts that have been paid out to barristers in criminal legal aid payments for the individual months of May, June, July and August this year; and the amount paid out in criminal legal aid payments to barristers for the corresponding four months in 2025, in tabular form; and if can make a statement on the matter. [67889/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra405. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amounts that have been paid out to solicitors in criminal legal aid payments for the individual months of May, June, July and August this year; and the amount paid out in criminal legal aid payments to solicitors for the corresponding four months in 2025, in tabular form; and if will make a statement on the matter. [67886/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 398, 403, 404 and 405 together.
My Department significantly simplified the procedures for Criminal Legal Aid panel membership both for solicitors and barristers last year by waiving the requirement to apply yearly to be retained on panels, with the commencement on 26 November 2025 of S.I. 539 of 2025.
Solicitors may apply to the Court Service to be placed on the Criminal Legal Aid panel for any county using a single application form, which is processed by a centralised courts office in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. This system, introduced in 2021, replaced the previous requirement to apply separately to individual local court offices. In order to be added to the Barristers panel, a barrister will advise the Bar Council of their willingness to accept instructions and the Bar Council in turn informs my Department.
As the Criminal Legal Aid panel is considered national, the information requested by the Deputy is not recorded by my Department in a manner that provides for a ‘by county’ breakdown.
The below table outlines the fees paid to Solicitors and to Barristers under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme for the months May, June, June and August for the years 2025 and 2026. Payments related to expenses are not included. Under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, claims for payment for expenses including and not limited to, mileage, travel, parking, accommodation etc. are received from any number of individuals associated with a case including, solicitors, barristers, interpreters, translators and witnesses. Therefore, the information is not available in such a way to include payments related to expenses by one type of profession only.
|
Solicitors |
Barristers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2025 |
2026 |
|
2025 |
2026 |
|
May |
€6,572,745.36 |
€5,616,083.92 |
May |
€4,927,515.08 |
€6,384,943.85 |
|
June |
€4,268,542.52 |
€4,251,088.11 |
June |
€3,742,735.07 |
€3,447,731.89 |
|
July |
€6,337,373.04 |
€4,357,688.48 |
July |
€6,337,745.99 |
€4,367,734.56 |
|
August |
€3,301,325.80 |
€2,120,839.12 |
August |
€3,177,974.50 |
€1,658,043.32 |
401. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to urgently issue visas to Gaza students (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67882/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra407. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration when the outstanding visa appeals for Palestinian nationals seeking to study in Ireland will be processed, given that third-level courses have already commenced for the current academic year and students risk losing their placements; and the specific criteria or differentiating factors that distinguished the 46 applications from Palestinian nationals that were recently granted visas from those that remain pending or have been refused. [67867/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra410. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration his plans to ensure that students who have had their visas rejected coming from Palestine will have any appeals to this refusal looked at in as little time as possible. [67834/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 401, 407 and 410 together.
I am aware of the exceptionally difficult circumstances facing applicants from Gaza and the profound disruption caused by the ongoing conflict.
In common with the position applying to all non-EU nationals, the entry of Palestinian nationals is facilitated through the existing legal immigration pathways available. Palestinian nationals are visa-required and must hold a valid Irish visa before seeking to enter Ireland. Palestinian nationals may apply for a visa and for permission to remain in Ireland for a variety of reasons, including employment, education, or joining a family member in the State. Details of these legal pathways can be found on the Department's Immigration Service website: www.irishimmigration.ie/.
It is important to note that visa applications form part of a screening process designed to establish that a person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel, and all such applications undergo this process.
Each application is considered on its own merits, having regard to all of the information and documentation submitted, the circumstances of the applicant, the purpose of the proposed travel, previous immigration history, where relevant, and the requirements of Ireland's immigration policy and legislation.
Visa applications from Palestinian nationals are examined by the Embassy of Ireland in Tel Aviv, which processes certain visa applications under delegated sanction on behalf of my Department. Officials in my Department's Visa Division are in regular contact with the Embassy regarding visa applications from residents of Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Both Departments work together to ensure that visa applications from Palestinian nationals who meet the criteria for the granting of a visa are, wherever possible, processed as swiftly as possible.
All visa applicants are advised that responsibility rests with them to provide as much information in support of their applications as they consider necessary. Guidelines in this regard are available on our website. Applicants who carefully follow these guidelines have a greater prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.
Visa appeals are processed by my Department in accordance with established procedures and are considered by a Visa Appeals Officer following a full examination of all information and documentation submitted in support of the appeal. Each appeal is assessed on its individual merits, having regard to the particular circumstances of the applicant and any information provided in support of the appeal.
Visa appeals are generally processed in chronological order to ensure fairness and consistency for all applicants. My Department is conscious of the importance of these applications for the students concerned and will continue to process appeals as expeditiously as possible. Decisions are communicated directly to applicants as soon as full consideration of the appeal has been completed.
406. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will consider and reply to correspondence from an organisation regarding the points relevant to his Department (details supplied). [67977/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested information in respect of the matter raised. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.
408. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has considered the suspension of visa free travel for Israeli citizens; and the mechanisms by which he ensures that individuals who may have committed war crimes in Gaza in the course of Israel's genocide do not pose a risk to the safety of Irish communities. [67866/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that Ireland's visa requirements, including the list of countries whose nationals are required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland, are kept under review.
At present, there are no plans to suspend visa free travel for Israeli citizens.
When a non-EEA national presents at a port of entry, an Immigration Officer must determine whether that person should be granted leave to land and gain entry to the State. In performing their duties, an Officer is required to consider all of the circumstances of the individual at the time of entry and may grant leave to enter for a maximum period of three months. They may also refuse entry to the State or grant permission for a period of less than 3 months. Section 4(3) of the Immigration Act 2004 sets out the full range of grounds on which a person may be refused entry.
As the Deputy is aware, Ireland implements UN and EU Sanctions, under which a large number of individuals are subject to travel bans under a range of sanctions regimes.
409. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of arrests made for public order offences within Galway city in each month for 2025 and to date in 2026. [67842/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration does not collate or publish crime statistics or data on arrests..
The 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. I continue to engage regularly with him to ensure that An Garda Síochána have the resources they need.
An Garda Síochána have provided the following quarterly breakdown of custody logs for the Galway Division where the arrest reason is recorded as ‘Public Order Offences':
|
Quarter |
Arrests for Public Order Offences |
|
Q1 2025 |
246 |
|
Q2 2025 |
286 |
|
Q3 2025 |
273 |
|
Q4 2025 |
214 |
|
Q1 2026 |
245 |
|
Q2 2026 |
259 |
The Garda authorities have further advised data provided is as available on the PULSE system on 23 September 2026 and is operational and liable to change. The data is provided in line with Garda Administrative Boundaries.
