Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure him of my continued endeavours in that regard. This question relates to a new statement of strategy. The current strategy statement for the Department of Justice and Equality covers the period from 2016 to 2019. In accordance with section 4 of the Public Service Management Act 1997, the Department is preparing a new strategy statement to cover the period from 2017 to 2020. This process will be completed by the end of this year. The strategy will then be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published.

The strategy statement will set out the key strategic objectives of the Department of Justice and Equality and the priority actions needed to achieve those objectives, including actions to support access to justice, gender equality, crime reduction and a fair and balanced immigration and protection regime.

The consultation process that is under way will inform the development of the new strategy for the period 2017 to 2020. I acknowledge the role of this Parliament in the public consultation process. The Joint Committee on Justice and Equality has participated in the process, as it did when previous strategy statements were being compiled. Correspondence with respect to the strategy statement was sent to the joint committee earlier this year. I have not seen the response, but I look forward to receiving it and giving appropriate consideration to any recommendations or observations that might be made.

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