Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1272. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if Deputy Humphreys will receive a Garda driven car and Garda security during her period as temporary Minister for Justice; if she will receive additional advisory staff for the six months in this extra role; if she received briefings from An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces or other security details in preparation for the role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15485/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Justice is provided with Garda transport and drivers, for security reasons.  During the period of my maternity leave, this support will be available to Minister Humphreys as Minister for Justice. I will not have access to Garda transport or Garda drivers during this time.  

The two people appointed as my special advisers will remain in the Department of Justice to support Minister Humphreys with her additional responsibilities and to support the continued implementation of the justice related commitments in the Programme for Government and the Justice Plan 2021. There will be no increase in the number of staff as a result of my maternity leave but I have also worked to ensure that no staff will lose their jobs as a result of my absence. For this reason the two people concerned will be technically assigned to the Department of the Taoiseach during this period. 

As Minister for Justice, Minister Humphreys will have responsibility for the security of the State and as such will receive all appropriate briefings as I do at present.  

As set out in my statement of 11 March outlining the arrangements that will be in place while I am on maternity leave, I recently published Justice Plan 2021 and Minister Humphreys together with Ministers of State Naughton and Browne will focus on the implementation of the Plan’s actions during my leave.