Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Justice Plan 2023, was published earlier this year. It builds on the work outlined in Justice Plans 2021 and 2022, and outlines a wide range of actions under the Department's five strategic goals.

This plan sets out in detail a significant work programme to be undertaken by the Department of Justice this year. Building on work already completed or progressed under previous Justice Plans, it contains updated actions in areas such as policing, anti-social behaviour, DSGBV, civil law, immigration and family law.

In particular, this year, Justice Plan 2023 has delivered on:

• Delivering the Zero Tolerance Strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence
• Progressing the enactment of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which is currently before the Houses
  • to make stalking and non-fatal strangulation standalone criminal offences
  • to increase the sentence of conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in prison, a key measure to tackle gangland crime and those who direct it
  • to double the maximum sentence for assault causing harm – one of the most common offences in domestic violence cases – from five years to ten years
• Progressing the Recording Devices Bill to improve use of CCTV, and to provide for Body worn cameras and Automatic Number Plate Recognition - to be considered at report stage in the Dáil this week.
• Progressing implementation of the National Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025, to create for a family justice system for the future
• The approval of the judicial planning working group by Government and the appointment of new judges
• Published the International Protection Modernisation strategy 2023-2024 setting out a suite of International Protection Reforms and highlighting the significant improvements in processing times for cases.
• Enacted the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 rebalancing the duty of care for businesses, community groups and clubs.
• Commenced the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Act 2022 to facilitate necessary access to certain communications data to protect national security and tackle serious crime.
• Enacted the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 to strengthen monitoring and management of sex offenders.

Progress on delivery of Justice Plan 2023 is monitored and reviewed throughout the year by the Management Board of the Department and by myself and Minister Browne. As committed to in previous years, in keeping with our commitment to transparency and accountability for the vital work we do on behalf of the people of Ireland, progress reports will be published on all actions twice a year.