Results 1,381-1,400 of 8,927 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: No, it does not, if I am answer her question quite frankly. I can give the Deputy a breakdown of the spend if she wants. Staff numbers have also increased by 40 this year.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: No. On the breakdown, approximately 35% of the fees paid out relate to the Central Criminal Court. The Circuit Court accounts for 44%, with half of this relating to the Dublin Circuit Court and the balance to the country Circuit Courts. The balance breaks down as follows: hearings before the High Court and Supreme Court, 10%, before the Court of Appeal, 6%, and before the Special Criminal...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: Yes. As I said, the office is in constant contact with Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform about this, and there is the understanding that it is demand-led.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I can get the Deputy a further note on this, but I have been told that resources in the sexual offences unit have been increased.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: There has been a 28% increase in the number of prosecution files received by the directing division for decision between 2017 to 2022, with 17,359 files received in 2022. Over the same period, there has been a 28% increase in investigation files received for public order offences. There has been a 65% increase in misuse of drugs files received and a 54% increase in files related to criminal...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy. As the person with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, I think your points are extremely valid. There will also be valuable input from the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use which will issue its report to Government and the Oireachtas in the next few weeks. The report contains 36 recommendations. Since I came into this role 11 months ago I have travelled the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I can talk about the pay rates of the State solicitors if the Cathaoirleach wishes or how the service operates. Staff costs, expenses and pension contributions are part of the costs for State solicitors.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: Yes.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: They get an amount every month for a personal element, staff costs, expenses and pension contributions.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: As a contribution towards that, yes. They are self-employed. I can get a detailed note for the Cathaoirleach.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is not audited, it is a lump sum. For background, Section 6 1(a) of the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 transferred to the DPP the administration and control of the business, powers, duties and functions of State solicitors, which had previously been vested in the Attorney General. This provision was commenced on 16 May 2007 and the transfer of responsibility took effect from that...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will find that figure. It is €8.42 million for 2023. It is in the briefing on page 6.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: No.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Chief Prosecution Solicitor oversees it and deals with them regularly in that regard.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: It has always been a round sum State allowance. It is reviewed every three years.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: An external auditor comes in to do an internal audit service. That is under subheading-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: Financial controls. I can get further detail for the Cathaoirleach about that.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: No, in the DPP.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: An accountant in a private practice carries out that function. I can get a note for the Cathaoirleach. I am not up to speed on it. I am here to represent the Taoiseach today so I am not all over that matter.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Supplementary)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2023)

Hildegarde Naughton: We can get details for the Cathaoirleach.