Written answers

Wednesday, 12 July 2017

Department of Justice and Equality

Ministerial Responsibilities

Photo of James LawlessJames Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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70. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the responsibilities between him and the Ministers of State at his Department; and his views on whether an additional Minister of State with responsibility for equality and law reform would be useful for his Department. [32676/17]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Ministers of State are appointed by the Government, on nomination of the Taoiseach.

In accordance with the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No.2) Act 1977, the Government may delegate, by way of an Order, to a Minister of State any of the powers and duties of the relevant Minister of the Government under any particular Act or any particular statutory power or duty.

As you will appreciate the Department of Justice and Equality has a broad remit and my responsibilities include:

- the security of the State

- the protection of life and property

- the prevention and detection of crime

- maintaining and promoting fairness and equality

- services for the buying and selling of property

- managing inward migration to the State

- providing a Courts Service

- updating our criminal and civil laws

- developing the Insolvency Service

- various other regulatory services

Mr. David Stanton TD was recently reappointed Minister of State for Justice at the Department of Justice and Equality with special responsibility for Equality, Immigration, and Integration.

I am currently in the process of securing formal Government approval to delegate powers and duties to Minister Stanton, in line with the powers previously delegated to him under .

The role and functions of Ministers of State may of course extend beyond those powers formally delegated under statute, and Minister Stanton's responsibilities include human rights and equality (excepting disability policy) matters, matters relating to the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, reception and integration matters, various EU finding matters and matters relating to youth justice that fall under the responsibility of the Department of Justice and Equality.

Mr. Finian McGrath TD remains Minister of State attending Government and Minister of State at the Departments of Social Protection, Justice & Equality and Health with special responsibility for Disabilities.

Mr. Pat Breen TD was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Employment and Social Protection, the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Justice and Equality with special responsibility for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection in June 2017, having served as Minister of State for Employment and Small Business from May 2016. Minister Breen's responsibility within my Department is in respect of Data Protection matters.

The potential nomination of any additional Ministers of State is a matter for the Taoiseach and the Government to determine; I am satisfied that the Ministers of State attached to my Department have important and appropriate responsibilities and I am looking forward to working with them to progress the priorities in the Agreed Programme for Government.

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