Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I endorse the sentiments of the previous Deputy. It is appropriate as young Lorcán Miller is laid to rest, the last of the young victims of this tragedy, that we once again send our sympathy and solidarity to each of the families, friends and the young people who were associated with, or caught up in, what has been a nightmare for those families.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions recently published a comprehensive report on the direct provision system which concluded that it is not fit for purpose. Last month, the Ombudsman for Children expressed concerns about children in the direct provision system. The Special Rapporteur on Child Protection has repeatedly raised his concern that the State may well be in breach of human rights treaties because of the length of time children are held in the system. The Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, has also produced a further disturbing report on the same issue. We were told that the report of the working group chaired by Mr. Justice McMahon would be published by the end of May, and then we were told we would have it by the end of June. We are now approaching July. When will that report be published? Will the Minister commit to holding a debate in the Dáil when it is published? When does he expect the International Protection Bill 2015 to be published?

The purpose of the judicial council Bill is to put in place a system for investigating claims of judicial misconduct, which will include lay participation. It will also provide for the formal training of judges. A previous judicial council Bill was published in 2010 and the programme for Government undertook "to legislate to establish a Judicial Council, with lay representation". Consequently, the previous Minister for Justice and Equality said a new Bill was being drafted in 2012. It is now 2015 and that Bill has not been published. The current Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, indicated some time ago that the Department is working with the Attorney General to finalise this Bill. Given the importance of the issue, the length of time it has been promised and the programme for Government commitment, is it possible for the Minister to give a more definitive response and say when it might be published?

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