Results 141-160 of 1,119,781 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Máiría Cahill OR speaker:Catherine Byrne OR speaker:Richard O'Donoghue OR speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan OR speaker:Niall Collins OR speaker:Pa Daly OR speaker:Catherine Byrne9 OR speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett OR speaker:Simon Harris OR speaker:Darren O'Rourke OR speaker:Sorca Clarke OR speaker:Mairead Farrell OR speaker:Duncan Smith OR speaker:Paul Donnelly OR speaker:Imelda Munster OR speaker:Seán Haughey OR speaker:Gary Gannon OR speaker:Chris Andrews OR speaker:Denis Naughten OR speaker:Bríd Smith OR speaker:Louise O'Reilly OR speaker:Seán Fleming OR speaker:Willie O'Dea OR speaker:Pauline Tully OR speaker:Danny Healy-Rae OR speaker:John Lahart OR speaker:Patrick O'Donovan OR speaker:Eamon Ryan OR speaker:Catherine Byrne8 OR speaker:Catherine Byrne1 OR speaker:Mary Butler OR speaker:Chris Andrews8 OR speaker:Chris Andrews6 OR speaker:Mattie McGrath OR speaker:Helen McEntee OR speaker:Jim O'Callaghan)

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)

Pa Daly: Is it the Minister's view, though, that they should be opening in September?

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)

Pa Daly: Including in September.

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)

Pa Daly: I thank the Minister.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Helen McEntee: It is €64 million. The base we are talking about now is €59 million. It went down to €54 million because there was the underspending of €5 million. Next year, the base will be €64 million, so it will be a difference 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)

Helen McEntee: Well, it is an increase of €5 million, but if the board was to spend all €64 million next year, then it would be €10 million more than it spent this year, so 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)

Helen McEntee: I hope not.

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: To show the Deputy this is certainly not the case any year, every effort is made, whether we are talking about the Legal Aid Board or any other element of the justice system, to ensure money allocated is spent. Nobody likes giving money back or not being able to spend it. When it comes to staffing, however, this can be a challenge across many different agencies or sectors. Certainly,...

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: Regarding the International Protection Office on Mount Street, I welcome the fact, as the Minister has told us previously, that applications can now be made in Citywest. As the Minister will be aware, though, there has been a significant increase in the numbers of people applying. Yet all of them, aside from those people who go to Citywest, must apply in Mount Street. If we look at the...

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 two places now. About 48% of people are going to Citywest, which is a significant proportion. It is families with children in particular going there. We have, therefore, two significant bases. Dublin is our capital city and perhaps easier to access for people than other parts of the country. As well as opening up the office in Citywest, however, we are also providing for...

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: It is demonstrably the case that the Mount Street office needs further assistance in terms of dealing with the numbers of applications being made to it. I thank the Minister very much for coming before the committee. Would the Minister like to come back in on anything?