Results 9,801-9,820 of 14,127 for speaker:David Stanton

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Justice Strategy (24 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: I can assure the Deputy that policy in this area is kept under ongoing review. The Children Act 2001 (as amended) provides the legislative framework for the Youth Justice system, and is underpinned by key principles which include using detention as a last resort and diverting children away from involvement in criminal activity. A National Youth Justice Strategy, 2008-2010,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (29 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: In January of 2018, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department published a call for expressions of interest in the national press for premises to meet the increasing demand for accommodation for persons in the protection process (asylum seekers). This call sought expressions of interest from parties who may be interested in providing accommodation and related services on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (29 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 to 261, inclusive, together. As I have previously outlined, it is completely unacceptable that crimes were not properly pursued in many cases. This situation must be thoroughly addressed, not only for the victims and the proper administration of Justice, but also for the future welfare of children who are often themselves quite vulnerable and who may...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications Data (29 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: The statistics Deputy Ó Caoláin requested are compiled in the following table. Families represent the following: couples with no children, one parent families and two parent families. Location Current Occupancy Number of children Number of families Number of single females Number of single males Cavan 37 5 7 1 24 Dublin 15 0 8 2 5 35 6 14 5 10 Monaghan 120 9 11 23 77 18...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: I share the Deputy’s concerns about the very serious issues outlined in the Garda Commissioner’s interim report on youth crime cases from 2010 to 2017. In that period, almost 160,000 youth crime incidents were referred for consideration under the Garda diversion programme. Roughly one third of these incidents were deemed unsuitable for inclusion in the juvenile diversion...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: The Garda authorities have taken a number of technical and organisational steps to prevent the recurrence of the failures outlined in the Garda review of cases from 2010 to 2017. I am advised that these measures have led to substantial improvements in case management. More work is under way within An Garda Síochána to verify the full details of the treatment of youth crime during...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Deputy for his support and sincerity on these matters, which I welcome. With respect to victims, and in addition to the sincere apology issued by the Commissioner, gardaí have commenced a process to contact victims and provided a helpline for anyone affected by the failure to process these cases. Clearly, all relevant information must be made available to victims, including...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: I agree with the Deputy on this matter and thank him for raising it. It is very serious indeed. These issues arise from the Garda Commissioner's interim report on the handling of youth crime cases. As such, it was gardaí themselves who discovered the issues and sought to address them. The issues will be addressed through the implementation of the recommendations contained in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Deputy for his questions and comments on the youth diversion programme and its projects. While it is correct to ask these questions, we must bear in mind that these issues related to juveniles who were under 18 and not adults. However, the question has been asked on adults and the Commissioner has indicated that he will look into it. As the Deputy said, it is very concerning...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: I am aware, as is the Deputy, that members of the Policing Authority asked whether similar issues could arise in the context of the prosecution and management of adult crime cases. The Commissioner acknowledged it would be necessary to examine the question further, which is where it lies at present. The authority has indicated that it will assess how the wider implications for Garda crime...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gambling Sector (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: The Deputy will be aware that I have previously addressed the issue of loot boxes and whether they constitute a gambling or e-commerce offering. A licence is required under the Betting Acts 1931 to 2015 or the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 to sell gambling products, and gaming, as defined under the latter Act, is covered in that regard. While the Minister for Justice and Equality has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gambling Sector (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: That was one of the reasons we supported the declaration I mentioned. Parents have primary responsibility to protect their children in the purchase and use of video games, particularly those played online. The declaration to which I referred will serve to alert parents of potential issues and costs involved and encourage them to exercise greater control over purchase decisions. That the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gambling Sector (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter, which is important because children are possibly being groomed by using the games before progressing to gambling. He is correct that people with gambling problems or addictions are the responsibility of the health authorities because it is a health matter. The Deputy made reference to the group that we established to review the main provisions...

Juvenile Crime: Motion [Private Members] (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: Deputy Rabbitte made a huge amount of sense in her remarks. I thank Fianna Fáil for bringing forward this important motion and I acknowledge the contributions made by Deputies on this serious issue. As stated earlier by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, we are treating this matter seriously. I acknowledge the motion. The Government's counter motion provides a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision Data (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: Since April 2017, residents in direct prison accommodation centres can make complaints to the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children in relation to the services and facilities provided in their accommodation centre.  A record of all complaints received from the Ombudsman is kept by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department. In 2017, the Ombudsman...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: In September of last year, the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department published a call for expressions of interest in the national press for premises to meet the increasing demand for accommodation for persons in the international protection process (asylum seekers). This call sought expressions of interest from parties interested in providing accommodation and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Support Services (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: The State is legally obliged to offer accommodation services to those persons who enter the state seeking international protection and who request accommodation. The accommodation services for those persons is managed within my Department by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA).  There has been a sustained rise in demand for accommodation services in recent years. At...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Legislation (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: I am happy to update the Deputy on the work of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Gambling, established as a result of the Government Decision to review the 2013 General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill and all relevant developments since.  I chaired this group, comprising all stakeholder Departments and the Office of the Attorney General. The Group met 6...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (30 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. I am happy to inform the House that my Department has funded research in the form of The Greentown Report, undertaken by the REPPP Project, (Research Evidence into Policy, Programmes and Practice), at the School of Law in the University of Limerick (UL). This research identifies crime networks as a separate and plausible risk...

Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (31 Jan 2019)

David Stanton: I am pleased to have the opportunity to join this debate on the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2017. I thank the Deputies opposite for bringing this matter to the floor of the House for debate. As Deputy Rabbitte said, it is an important issue and I know that other Deputies also agree with that. As the House is aware, the Bill seeks to prohibit discrimination on the...