Results 21-40 of 1,108,719 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:John Lahart OR speaker:Aindrias Moynihan OR speaker:Verona Murphy OR speaker:Denis Naughten OR speaker:Martin Kenny OR speaker:Johnny Mythen OR speaker:Thomas Pringle OR speaker:Hildegarde Naughton OR speaker:Pearse Doherty OR speaker:Jennifer Carroll MacNeill OR speaker:James O'Connor OR speaker:Seán Haughey OR speaker:Alan Kelly OR speaker:Ossian Smyth OR speaker:Danny Healy-Rae OR speaker:Róisín Shortall OR speaker:Jim O'Callaghan OR speaker:Willie O'Dea OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:Stephen Donnelly OR speaker:Patrick O'Donovan OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Cathal Berry OR speaker:Patrick Costello OR speaker:Cormac Devlin OR speaker:Alan Farrell)

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: So the Minister is basically saying that at the time of the Estimates last year, she did not foresee that the prison population was going to increase this year.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Did the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform say to the Minister it knew it was going to increase but was not going to give her the money and she could plan for a Supplementary Estimate this year?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Surely last year, the Minister would have been able to predict that the number would hit 5,000 this year. The Minister put a figure to the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the Department of Finance last year, they did not accept it and they gave her an under-budget figure so she knew at the start of last year that she was under budget and...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: But she would have said that for last year.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: This is a discussion for the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform but I would imagine that the Minister can say that next year, there will be 5,100 prisoners or thereabouts and know what that will cost. The Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform can say it will cost X amount but will only give the Minister 90%...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: When the Minister looks at our rising population, it is unsurprising that the prison population has increased quite significantly. I welcome the fact that the capital budget for the Prison Service recognises that we need 1,100 more prison spaces between now and 2030. Where are they going to be built? Where in Dublin will they be built? I know the Minister is talking about a location...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: Even by way of remand prisoner or convicted prisoner.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: We will move on to consider Vote 22 - Courts Service.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: There was one question about the Prison Service I forgot to ask. It relates to the drafting of legislation to facilitate Ireland's ratification of the UN Convention Against Torture and the optional protocol. I understand that the convention was passed by the UN in 1987, yet the Government is only now preparing legislation to pass the optional protocol. Is that correct?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: That will be almost 30 years after it was published.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Are there other UN conventions and so on that have been sitting within the Department for years without having been adopted or ratified?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: The final Vote we will consider is Vote 24, governing the Department of Justice.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: I call Deputy Pringle.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Regarding the Legal Aid Board, there is underspending of €5 million. It is stated this relates to recruitment shortfalls and delays in fit-out and refurbishment projects. How much of this €5 million relates to recruitment shortfalls? Turning to access to justice for people who cannot afford it, what impact will this situation have for them?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Therefore 80% of the underspending concerns a lack of staff.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Yes, but these would be very specific staff and not general staff. I presume they would be solicitors and people with legal qualifications.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Does the Minister perceive that this issue will be ongoing? What can be done to improve it? It impacts directly on people who cannot afford the legal system and their access to it. What can the Minister do in this regard?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Should having full employment, however, impact people having access to justice? Should the Department not be stepping up to ensure this does not impact on people's access to justice and their rights? There is a budget line for the Legal Aid Board for next year. Does the Minister expect this level of spending will be met at this stage?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: The increase of €5 million for next year means it is effectively €10 million of an increase overall because of €5 million being returned this year.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Thomas Pringle: Is the base the Estimate before today or after today? Is it €10 million in effect? As of today, will it be €10 million extra?