Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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359. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her Department's priorities for the remainder of this Dáil; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29589/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The commitments and priorities set by Government form the main priorities for the work of my Department for the remainder of this Government's term of office. My Department's Statement of Strategy published in April last also provides an overview of priorities for the period 2015-2018 inclusive. Completing delivery of the comprehensive Reform Programme aimed at enhancing the administration and oversight of policing is a key priority. Much of this has been achieved, including the enactment of the Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No 3) Bill 2014 enhancing the powers of GSOC, and the introduction of the Bill to establish the Policing Authority, the Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015, which was recently passed by the Seanad. It is my intention that this legislation will be enacted as quickly as possible and I look forward to debating it with Deputies.

Other priorities include introducing the necessary legislation to amend the Constitution following the referendum on marriage equality; progressing the recommendations of the Working Group on the Protection Process, and advancing the International Protection Bill to introduce a single protection procedure thus reducing the length of time applicants spend in the Direct Provision System; implementing new rules for student migration and for colleges operating in the Sector; taking further steps to ensure that all State boards have at least 40% of each gender; continued implementation of the Government’s reforms around personal insolvency; supporting implementation of the Fines Act 2014; publication of a reformed and consolidated Domestic Violence Bill and completing the review of judicial appointments. I also hope to introduce the Prisons Bill, which will facilitate the complete closing of St Patrick's Institution and to secure Government approval in the very near future for the General Scheme of a Bail Bill to modernise and improve the law on bail.

I also hope to implement a number of the key recommendations of the Penal Policy Review Group; to progress, jointly with the United Kingdom Home Office, the worldwide rollout of the British Irish Visa Scheme and complete the Legal Services Regulation Bill. As regards criminal law, the priorities include strengthening the law on corruption and sexual offences (including grooming) as well as implementing the EU Directive on Victims following the recent publication of the heads of the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill. My Department is also developing a new strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence for 2015 onwards. I am committed to ensuring that the Charities Regulation Authority is in a position to fulfil its important mandate in the charities sector.

Burglary is a persistent and highly damaging crime. I am committed to tackling it on a number of fronts, including through a focus on interagency measures in relation to the management of prolific offenders, visible policing, crime prevention support for communities, and an examination of legislative issues and through a partnership approach between criminal justice agencies and the community. I hope to publish the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill very shortly. This Bill will address issues in relation to bail and sentencing for prolific burglars. I am also taking forward the recommendations of the 2014 Garda Inspectorate Report on Crime Investigation, including crime statistics, and its report on the Fixed Charge Processing System. I expect to receive the review of An Garda Síochána under the Haddington Road Agreement.

The resumption of Garda recruitment will make an important contribution, not only to the reform of An Garda Síochána, but to the ongoing task of protecting our communities. Garda reform will involve substantial investment in ICT and other support infrastructure and I will continue working on this matter with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Government has committed to the ending of slopping out in the prison system and the number of prisoners slopping out has been reduced by 71% since 2010. The opening of a new prison in Cork later this year will eliminate slopping out in that prison. You may wish to note that the Irish Prison Service is also advancing plans for the redevelopment of Limerick Prison. All of this work is supported by the process of organisational renewal underway in my Department, the continuing implementation of which is itself a priority.