Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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513. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the Parole Act 2019 will be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33457/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the establishment of the Parole Board on a statutory footing is a priority action under Justice Plan 2021 which envisages the new Board being established by July 2021. The new Board will replace the interim Board that currently operates on an administrative basis. The Parole Act 2019 puts the Parole Board on an independent statutory footing and it sets out clear and transparent criteria for how the Board will reach its decisions, which will be independent of the Minister of the day.

This will considerably improve the system as it currently operates. A dedicated project team has been put in place to coordinate, track and drive forward the necessary work across the Department and the Sector. 

The Act is expected to be commenced in July and once commenced, the goal is for the full complement of Board members to be available for appointment shortly thereafter. Mr Justice Michael White, a High Court Judge, has been identified as the inaugural Chairperson of the Parole Board on the nomination of the Chief Justice.

Nine other individuals - who will be appointed in accordance with subsections 10(3)(b) to 10(3)(h), inclusive, of the 2019 Act - have also been identified.

An open competition is currently underway, via the Public Appointments Service (PAS), in order to identify candidates suitable for appointment in accordance with subsections 10(3)(i) and 10(3)(j).

It is envisaged that a final list of candidates deemed suitable for appointment will be provided by PAS to Minister Humphreys in the first half of July 2021.