Results 121-140 of 1,153,946 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Rory O'Hanlon OR speaker:Joan Collins OR speaker:Colm Burke OR speaker:Seán Sherlock OR speaker:Kieran O'Donnell OR speaker:Peter Burke OR speaker:Pearse Doherty OR speaker:Duncan Smith OR speaker:Darren O'Rourke OR speaker:Emer Higgins OR speaker:Mary Lou McDonald OR speaker:Brendan Griffin OR speaker:Patrick Costello OR speaker:Réada Cronin OR speaker:Michael Collins OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív OR speaker:Pippa Hackett OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív14 OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív1 OR speaker:Joe Flaherty OR speaker:Helen McEntee OR speaker:Heather Humphreys OR speaker:Seán Fleming OR speaker:Roderic O'Gorman OR speaker:Louise O'Reilly OR speaker:Mark Ward OR speaker:Jackie Cahill OR speaker:James Browne OR speaker:Matt Carthy OR speaker:Jennifer Whitmore OR speaker:Thomas Pringle OR speaker:Martin Browne) in 'Committee meetings'

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)

Helen McEntee: I cannot think of anything off the top of my head. There are often reasons certain matters are not progressed or ratified, but if we give a commitment to ratifying something, we tend to do so, and the objective is always to do it as quickly as possible, whether it is the Istanbul Convention or any other convention. It often takes longer because there can be different strands that include...

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 have just this week brought the review of the Coroner Service to Cabinet. I have not yet published it but I intend to do so probably early next week, so I will be able to outline that then.

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: No, it will, but the report and the review have to be published first. That will allow for the legislation to progress.

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: Again, I can speak to the Deputy about that once the report 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 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...