# Department of Justice

Last week

21st May 2023 - 27th May 2023

# parental alienation

Significant recommendation to make children's voices a 'priority' in family justice system

The recommendation suggests that by including the voice of the child it ensures they are “heard and considered”.

3.6k

Fri 12:15 PM

This month

May 2023

# Afghanistan

Over 400 approvals issued to Afghan refugees through Government's Admission Programme

The programme was set up in the immediate aftermath of the Taliban seizing power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

15.1k

May 8th 2023, 6:00 AM

Last month

April 2023

# Prison Overcrowding

Head of prison officer group says overcrowding is putting staff and prisoners 'at risk'

‘We once again have single cells doubled up, mattresses on floors, prisoner population going through the roof,’ POA leader Tony Power said.

9.5k

Updated

Apr 27th 2023, 1:16 PM

This year

2023

# defamation laws

Govt aims to reform defamation laws to protect public-interest journalism and reduce costs

Ireland’s libel and slander laws have been criticised for creating a chilling effect on public-interest journalism.

16.4k

Updated

Mar 28th 2023, 3:00 PM

# Dáil

Legislation that would allow gardaí to wear body cameras set to be tabled today

The Bill will allow for recording from body worn cameras, helicopters, aircraft, Garda dogs, drones, mobile devices and tablets.

7.3k

Feb 1st 2023, 2:03 PM

Last year

2022

# Poor box

Court poor box donations raise close to €17m for charities over 10 years

A 2004 review by the Law Reform Commission described the system as unfair for offenders who cannot afford to pay for donations.

5.9k

Dec 30th 2022, 6:30 AM

# Cabinet Reshuffle

Justice portfolio will be my priority in the coming months, says Harris

Harris will serve as Minister for Justice until Helen McEntee returns from maternity leave, as well as retaining his Higher Education brief.

18.5k

Dec 18th 2022, 1:57 PM

THE MORNING LEAD

'We had to eat leftover meat and fish': Modern slavery in the Irish fishing industry

A report by

Maria Delaney and Geela Garcia

Migrant fishers who left vessels due to exploitative treatment ‘ignored’ in recent cross-departmental review.

Inspection reports reveal potential trafficking and deficiencies relating to hours of work and rest

Researcher: "The problems in Ireland can be traced to very specific policies and laws here"

25.7k

Dec 2nd 2022, 12:30 AM

THE MORNING LEAD

Irish justice system 'failing' migrant fishing workers who report exploitation

A report by

Maria Delaney and Geela Garcia

Our investigation finds 35 referrals of human trafficking in sector – but no prosecutions.

US report states Ireland has systemic deficiencies in victim identification, referral and assistance

Alleged trafficking victim: "It hurt. I felt the punch land. I told him if he did that again I’d report him."

9.3k

Dec 1st 2022, 12:05 AM

# LGBT

Consultation launched on scheme to disregard historic convictions of gay and bisexual men

The criminalisation of consensual sexual acts between men remained in place until 1993.

13.8k

Nov 4th 2022, 12:45 AM

THE MORNING LEAD

No Afghan refugees accepted through Admissions Programme due to 'insufficient information'

A report by

Tadgh McNally

The Department of Justice has asked for DNA testing in some instances.

28.9k

Oct 27th 2022, 12:05 AM

# Helen McEntee

All recommendations from report on cancelled 999 calls will be implemented, says McEntee

The report found that there were issues where call takers did not properly assess the vulnerability of some callers.

8.6k

Sep 30th 2022, 8:50 AM

# Department of Justice

Ireland's 'onerous' Afghan refugee programme has zero decisions in year since Taliban takeover

The scheme was designed to help Afghans travel to Ireland to stay with family members who are already living in the State.

Humanitarian workers say those waiting to hear about applications feel left behind.

The Department of Justice said decisions will be issued “in the coming months”.

18.5k

Aug 18th 2022, 12:05 AM

# Consent

Stronger laws on determining consent in rape cases agreed by Cabinet

McEntee is currently seeking approval to publish a general scheme of the bill and then begin drafting the proposed legislation.

22.5k

Updated

Jul 27th 2022, 2:06 PM

# Hate Crimes

McEntee says planned new hate crime laws will carry more severe penalties

The new Incitement to Hatred and Hate Crime Bill is planned for the autumn

8.4k

Jul 13th 2022, 4:01 PM

# Ukraine

Ukraine refugees to be allowed register at regional immigration hubs under new law

The new legislation will remove the current requirement to travel to Dublin.

12.0k

Jun 9th 2022, 11:41 AM

# scam accounts

Warning of scammers impersonating women on Instagram and posting links to pornography

“But when I saw that it followed my dad, my heart sank. And he was like ‘who did this?’ And obviously I didn’t know, I still don’t know.”

Three women tell their stories of how this happened to them

The harmful phenomenon is so under-researched that it doesn't have an official name, but it's been happening on Instagram for several years

"At the start I thought it was a joke, but then it started to follow my family members," one woman told Jamie McCarron

33.2k

Apr 19th 2022, 12:05 AM

# judicial appointments

McEntee says diversity will be a focus of new process for appointing judges

The new Bill was approved by Cabinet earlier this week and will be published shortly.

12.2k

Mar 31st 2022, 11:56 AM

# Courts

High Court president's comments on judge shortage were 'most unfortunate', senior official said

There was an “implicit criticism” of the government and Áras an Uachtaráin in the comments, senior officials noted.

19.6k

Mar 1st 2022, 6:00 AM

# Undocumented

McEntee confirms opening date for long-term undocumented scheme

The new scheme will see undocumented migrants get a chance to apply for citizenship.

38.9k

Jan 13th 2022, 6:30 AM

All time

# Afghanistan

Temporary residence to be offered to 500 Afghans under new admissions programme

Priority for the scheme will go to the most vulnerable, like the elderly, women, girls and people with disabilities.

19.4k

Dec 14th 2021, 7:43 AM

THE MORNING LEAD

'Revolving door': Traveller women imprisoned for minor offences such as driving without tax

A report by

Maria Delaney and Michelle Hennessy

Noteworthy and The Journal examine the impact of the justice system on Travellers, with a focus on children.

Noteworthy and The Journal examine the impact of the justice system on Travellers, with a focus on children

Reporters Michelle Hennessy and Maria Delaney found young Travellers detainee numbers jumped last year

Children who spoke to the investigation team said they felt fear and anxiety around interactions with gardaí

49.8k

Oct 22nd 2021, 12:05 AM

# stardust

Stardust funding row to be resolved in coming days

A pre-inquest hearing was told that, while the issue is not entirely finalised, an agreement is expected soon.

6.5k

Oct 13th 2021, 5:40 PM

# third inquest

Majority of victims’ families could be excluded from Stardust inquest, TD warns

Labour’s Aodhan Ó Ríordáin cited a row over promised free legal aid.

8.6k

Sep 22nd 2021, 7:08 PM

# Stardust fire

Calls for urgent resolution to legal fees impasse for Stardust families

Campaigners said this morning that the Department Of Justice has reneged on its “past promises” to pay for work undertaken by their legal representatives.

5.1k

Sep 16th 2021, 4:38 PM

# New Rules

Garda promotions to be handled by Public Appointments Service under new regulations

Promotions to the ranks of sergeant and inspector had previously been managed internally.

20.3k

Jul 19th 2021, 11:27 AM

# student visas

Criticism as international students told to enroll in a course to extend their visas

The Department of Justice has said that they will take a pragmatic approach to the situation.

19.2k

Apr 30th 2021, 7:07 PM

# Fáilte

Frontline workers among 1,200 people granted Irish citizenship since January

Citizenship ceremonies have been temporarily replaced by signing a declaration of loyalty.

29.3k

Apr 9th 2021, 3:32 PM

# covid-19 pandemic

Non-EU doctors call for all frontline workers' citizenship applications to be fasttracked

Doctors have written to all TDs and senators asking for their citizenship to be fasttracked as a gesture for their work during the pandemic.

23.2k

Apr 3rd 2021, 12:05 AM

# Naturalisation

Justice Minister aims to reduce waiting time for children born in Ireland to gain citizenship

Currently, children born in Ireland whose parents are not Irish citizens – and haven’t met residency requirements – must live here for at least five years before they can gain citizenship.

41.7k

Updated

Mar 23rd 2021, 7:02 PM

# Asylum

€2.2 million spent on deporting people from Ireland in last three years

Figures from the Department of Justice show 601 people were deported between 2018 and 2020.

22.7k

Mar 15th 2021, 6:30 AM

# application backlog

Justice Department says it can't fast-track healthcare workers' citizenship applications

The Department said it can’t fast-track the healthcare workers’ applications specifically, as it doesn’t segregate applicants by their work.

23.0k

Mar 13th 2021, 10:30 AM

# Stardust fire

Stardust: Government urged to solve legal aid logjam that is delaying start of inquests

Opposition parties have urged the Taoiseach and the government to prevent any further delay right after the 40th anniversary of the disaster.

10.3k

Feb 16th 2021, 12:05 AM

# protection

Waiting time for asylum seekers to seek permission to work reduced by three months

Asylum seekers will need to wait six months instead of nine before they can apply for permission to work in Ireland.

11.4k

Jan 28th 2021, 2:16 PM

# Travel

Over 100 breaches of PCR test rule at Dublin Airport recorded under new rules

The Department of Justice said the breaches were a mixture of people failing to provide a test result and others providing a test result from beyond the 72-hour limit.

67.0k

Jan 28th 2021, 12:05 AM

# squeezed students

'I'm not sure my friends can afford it': International students face hike in health insurance costs

There has been no clarity from immigration authorities about when rules will be enforced.

26.0k

Oct 10th 2020, 12:10 AM

# Frozen Assets

Irish government to return €5.5m in funds misappropriated by former Nigerian leader

The government said the funds were frozen in a Dublin-based bank account.

37.3k

Aug 13th 2020, 8:22 PM

# Deportation

'These orders have us heartbroken': Protest planned against deportation of Athlone students

The couple live in a direct provision centre in Athlone.

36.7k

Aug 11th 2020, 4:36 PM

# INspections

'Mould, fire hazards and damp' identified at Direct Provision centres as new Minister aims for independent inspections

No inspections of centres have taken place since late March due to Covid-19.

17.7k

Jul 25th 2020, 12:05 AM

# direct provision

'Our friend was badly let down by the State': Calls for transparency around deaths in Direct Provision one year after Sylva Tukula's burial

The CSO is aiming to collect data on Direct Provision deaths but the Justice Department says it has no role in collecting this.

14.0k

Jul 3rd 2020, 6:05 AM