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Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Annual Report 2004

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Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Annual Report 2004 Annual Report 2004 Contents Page No Mission Statement and Values................................................................................................2 Foreword by Minister Michael McDowell, T.D.........................................................................3 Part 1 - Introduction Introduction by Secretary General ..........................................................................................7 Department’s Mandate ............................................................................................................8 Structure of Department ........................................................................................................8 Part 2 Progress on 2003-2005 Strategy Statement High Level Goals and other developments during 2004 Tackling Crime (HLG 1) ........................................................................................................11 Security (HLG 2) ..................................................................................................................21 Garda Síochána (HLG 3) ......................................................................................................22 The Courts (HLG 4) ..............................................................................................................26 Prisons & Probation and Welfare (HLG 5)............................................................................30 Criminal and Civil Law Reform (HLG 6)................................................................................34 Human Rights (HLG 7) ........................................................................................................46 European Union and International (HLG 8) ..........................................................................48 Northern Ireland (HLG 9) ......................................................................................................56 Asylum, Immigration and Citizenship (HLG 10)....................................................................58 Equality and Disability (HLG 11) ..........................................................................................69 Childcare (HLG 12) ..............................................................................................................79 Legal Aid (HLG 13) ..............................................................................................................81 Business Support and Customer Service (HLG 14) ..............................................................83 Part 3 - Appendices Appendix 1 Organisation Chart ..........................................................................................101 Appendix 2 Overview of Divisions of the Department ........................................................102 1 Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Mission Statement To maintain and enhance community security and equality through the development of a range of policies and high quality services which underpin: ● the protection and assertion of human rights and fundamental freedoms consistent with the common good; ● the security of the State; ● an effective and balanced approach to tackling crime; and ● progress towards the elimination of discrimination and the promotion of equal opportunities and the accommodation of diversity. Values We are guided by a set of core values in seeking to deliver on our mission. These values are founded on an analysis of the environment in which we operate, the expectations of Government and the community, and the resources at our disposal. These values are the guiding principles informing our work. We aim to: ● ensure access to justice; ● apply fair and equal standards of treatment to all groups in society; ● demonstrate accountability for our actions; ● show courtesy, integrity and openness in our dealings; ● provide excellent services to the public; and ● value the individual. 2 Annual Report 2004 Foreword Brian Lenihan, T.D. Frank Fahey, T.D. Minister of State Minister of State Michael McDowell, T.D., the new Corp from its current strength of Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform approximately 500 to 1,200 in 2008. Foreword by Important pieces of legislation successfully brought Minister Michael McDowell, T.D. through the Houses of the Oireachtas during 2004 includes the Private Security Services Act 2004 which I am pleased to present this report on the activities and provides for the establishment of a Private Security achievements of my Department during 2004. The Authority to control and supervise individuals and Annual Report sets out the progress achieved on the firms providing private security services and to goals and objectives included in the Department's investigate and adjudicate on any complaints against 2003-2005 Strategy Statement as well as other them. I was pleased to launch the Authority at its new important developments in 2004. headquarters in Tipperary Town in October. A particular focus during the first half of the year was The Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 is a major plank Ireland's Presidency of the European Union. The in this Government's efforts to tackle insurance costs Department responded well to this additional and insurance fraud and I believe that it will challenge and contributed significantly to the success dramatically change the way in which personal injury of the Presidency. Alongside this role, our on-going actions are processed. In a very real way, the Act work programme continued apace during 2004 with tackles the "compensation culture" which has good progress made across all facets of the developed in this country. The new Act provides for, Department's wide range of responsibilities. I was among other things, the swearing of affidavits in particularly pleased to get Government approval to personal injury claims. A person who makes a false or increase the size of An Garda Síochána to 14,000 misleading statement in an affidavit, if found guilty on officers. Over 1,100 new officers will be recruited for indictment, faces a penalty of up to 10 years each of the next three years and between attested and imprisonment and/or a fine of up to €100,000. trainee officers we will reach our target strength of 14,000 officers by the end of 2006. This progress would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of the staff of the I was also pleased to obtain Government approval for Department, its agencies and associated bodies. On the provision of an additional Assistant Commissioner my own behalf and on behalf of my colleagues post in An Garda Síochána to head the new Garda Ministers of State, Brian Lenihan, T.D. and Frank Traffic Corp. We will increase incrementally the size of Fahey, T.D., I would like to thank everyone. 3 Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform I would also like to thank Willie O'Dea, T.D. for all his hard work during his time as Minister of State in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and to congratulate and wish him well on his appointment as Minister for Defence. Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise and pay tribute to the dedication, commitment and achievements of former Secretary General, Tim Dalton who retired in 2004 after over 40 years of service to the Department. I would particularly like to acknowledge his unique role in the Northern Ireland peace process and to wish his successor, Sean Aylward, every success as Secretary General of the Department. Michael McDowell, T.D., Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 4 part one Introduction Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform 6 Annual Report 2004 Part one international matters in 2004 and its significant role in Ireland’s EU presidency is covered in chapter 8 under a number of headings. Progress on the Department’s modernisation agenda under “Sustaining Progress”, the Social Partnership Agreement 2003 – 2005 is covered by chapter 14. This chapter sets out the progress achieved during 2004 in areas such as strategic planning and performance Sean Aylward management, training and development, financial Secretary General management, customer service, equality of opportunities and IT and e-Government. Our progress Introduction by Secretary General in this respect was independently monitored and verified by the Civil Service Performance Verification This year’s Annual Report of the Department of Group established under Sustaining Progress. Justice, Equality and Law Reform sets out the progress achieved in implementing our Strategy Finally, some details on the structure and staffing of Statement 2003 - 2005 objectives in accordance with the Department are set out by us and an organisation section 4 of the Public Service Management Act chart and overview of the functions of the various (PSMA), 1997. It also reports on other developments divisions of the Department are included as in our Department during 2004. appendices at the end of this report. Without the professionalism, loyalty and commitment to their work Each of the main areas of the Department’s work is the of hundreds of civil servants at all levels, this vital subject of a separate chapter under its related High government Department could not hope to provide the Level Goal heading. Each chapter begins with a report core service to our Government and people which they on progress on relevant Strategy Statement objectives rightly expect of us. I want to acknowledge this human and then covers other developments relating to the factor which underpins all the activities and outcomes area during
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