Results 101-120 of 1,121,587 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:John Carty OR speaker:Roderic O'Gorman OR speaker:Kieran O'Donnell OR speaker:Seán Fleming OR speaker:Mary Lou McDonald OR speaker:Darren O'Rourke OR speaker:Martin Heydon OR speaker:Francis Noel Duffy OR speaker:Imelda Munster OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:Ivana Bacik OR speaker:Jennifer Whitmore OR speaker:Helen McEntee OR speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice OR speaker:Neale Richmond OR speaker:Norma Foley OR speaker:Réada Cronin OR speaker:Martin Browne OR speaker:Richard O'Donoghue OR speaker:Patrick Costello OR speaker:Cathal Berry OR speaker:Michael Creed OR speaker:Maurice Quinlivan OR speaker:Dessie Ellis OR speaker:Seán Haughey OR speaker:Aindrias Moynihan OR speaker:Jennifer Carroll MacNeill OR speaker:Bríd Smith OR speaker:Thomas Pringle OR speaker:Michael Ring)

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)

Helen McEntee: It has been approved by Cabinet but it has not been officially published. I cannot speak to the report until it has been 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)

Helen McEntee: It is important that we have a uniform system and that people have clarity as to the structure and oversight of the payment. The report, as I said, was brought to Cabinet only in the past two days. It sets this out clearly and creates a pathway for legislation that is required, among other things. I asked that the report and the review would look at not just the structures but also how we...

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)

Helen McEntee: It can be improved and is being improved. To try to ensure we have the capacity, 30 additional judges have been appointed in the past two years through the judicial planning working group. One of the requirements for the additional judges was that there would be reform and changes to have them sit at times when they were not sitting, and that is already happening in some of the courts. I...

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)

Helen McEntee: I think we can look at ways in which all the courts could potentially sit longer, while acknowledging that, obviously, there has been a structure there for some time. We need our courts to be as productive as possible while allowing our Judiciary and legal professions to have the time they need. Particular courts operate in different ways. Some will require time for writing up judgments,...

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)

Helen McEntee: There are already increased numbers of sittings across all the courts, including in the Circuit Court. Regarding any changes to how they currently operate, as I said, we will need to keep all options open and look at all the ways in which our courts can operate most effectively.

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)

Helen McEntee: I believe, where possible, our courts should be sitting as much as possible, but at the same time-----

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)

Helen McEntee: Where possible, yes. Again, the recommendations from the Brigid McManus judicial planning working group look at where all our courts could potentially sit longer, where they can sit on days when they are not sitting and at how we can assist them through technology to be as effective as possible. I refer as well, though, to support through an increase in staff, not only in the numbers of...

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)

Helen McEntee: The majority of the amount is staff-related. It is about getting staff throughout the year. Of the €5 million, then, I think that aspect accounts for at least €4 million.

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)

Helen McEntee: It is staff-related. In a full employment environment, there are challenges right across all sectors in hiring 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)

Helen McEntee: Yes.

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)

Helen McEntee: We have a review concluding now. It is looking at legal aid, our overall structures and the types of people who can access legal aid, as well as other elements in this regard. This will probably propose several recommendations or changes. In recent years, however, I have tried to assist where there have been blockages in certain categories or at certain levels, be these in relation to pay...

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)

Helen McEntee: We obviously have to work within certain pay levels. Where there have been challenges with recruitment, I have tried to increase pay levels. We are, though, competing with the private market and this in itself can create a challenge. Certainly, however, every effort is being made to support the Legal Aid Board and to work with it to recruit as many staff as possible. On the Deputy's...

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)

Helen McEntee: Well, it is a €5 million increase on the base funding. If it was possible for the board to spend the €5 million on top of the €5 million not spent this year, then that would be a change of €10 million. It is, though, only an increase of €5 million on the base amount from 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: 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?