Questions

351. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of IPAS accommodation contracts terminated since 1 January 2025 on grounds relating to the integrity, conduct or criminal associations of the provider, as distinct from cost or capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75237/26]

352. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether checks on the directors, beneficial ownership and financial standing of IPAS accommodation providers are now carried out before contracts are awarded; whether those checks include engagement with An Garda Síochána or the Criminal Assets Bureau; the date from which they have applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter…

353. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total amount paid to the operator of the former IPAS centre at Georges Street, Drogheda, from the award of its contract to the termination of that contract in November 2025; whether any sums remain due to or recoverable by the State following the company's entry into voluntary liquidation; and if he will make a statement on the mat…

357. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of protected disclosures received by the Minister in each year since 2019 concerning Garda firearms, holsters, armoury management or the procurement of related equipment; the number transmitted to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission or Fiosrú in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75291/26]

358. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the criteria he will apply in deciding whether to establish a public inquiry into the procurement, issue and replacement of Garda holsters; the expected timeframe for that decision; and whether he will meet a family (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75264/26]

361. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will offer, or will request the Garda Commissioner to offer, an apology to the family of a person (details supplied) in respect of the absence of official contact with the family following the publication in November 2023 of concerns about Garda issue holsters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75288/26]

363. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of letters received by him from a family (details supplied or from their representatives, since March 2025; the dates on which each was received and replied to; the commitments given by him at a meeting with the family in March 2025; and the action taken on each since; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [75285/26…

364. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of investigations commenced by An Garda Síochána since 1 January 2024 involving suspected money laundering through retail premises selling vaping or tobacco products, nationally and in the Cork City and Cork North Garda Divisions; the number of actions taken by the Criminal Assets Bureau in respect of such premises; and if h…

366. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will ascertain from An Garda Síochána the number of leather holsters withdrawn from use since June 2020; the date by which every member authorised to carry a firearm was issued with a replacement holster; the type and retention standard of the holster now in use; and the total cost of the replacement programme; and if he will mak…

676. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of thefts of companion animals, including cats and dogs, recorded by An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2020 to 2025 and to date in 2026, by Garda division, with particular reference to the Cork city Garda division; whether such thefts are separately identifiable on PULSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

691. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether the Department has a written procedure for assessing material furnished by members of the public to him which may give rise to a relevant cause of concern within the meaning of section 205 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024; the timeframe within which such material is assessed; whether the person who furnis…

692. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of requests made by him to the Police Ombudsman under section 205(2); and the number of referrals made under section 205(3), of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 since the commencement of the Act on 2 April 2025, by year; the number of occasions on which the Police Ombudsman notified him under section 205(…

694. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the total cost to the Exchequer of the office of the special rapporteur on racial equality and racism since its establishment on 1 July 2024, broken down by year and by remuneration or fees, expenses, secretariat and administrative support, and any other costs; the budget allocated for 2026 and 2027; and if he will make a statement on …

698. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the process by which the special rapporteur on racial equality and racism was appointed in July 2024; whether the post was publicly advertised; the selection criteria applied; the number of applicants; who made the final decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73849/26]

699. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the terms of reference and terms of appointment of the special rapporteur on racial equality and racism; whether the office holder is subject to a code of conduct or standards regarding public commentary; the mechanism for reviewing or ending the appointment before its scheduled end in mid 2028; and if he will make a statement on the m…

708. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of reports received by him and the Minister of State at his Department under section 8 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to date in 2026; the number transmitted to the Protected Disclosures Commissioner within the ten day period required by section 8(3)(a) of the Act; the number tran…

710. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average time taken by An Garda Síochána to close a protected disclosure in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of protected disclosures closed in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74345/26]

713. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the date on which responsibility for the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 will be transferred to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, as committed to in the Programme for Government; the steps that remain outstanding before the transfer of functions order can be made; the reason for the delay to date; and if he wil…

714. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of protected disclosures made to An Garda Síochána that, as of 1 October 2026, have remained open for more than one year, more than two years and more than three years, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74344/26]

751. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether, where a person convicted of a sexual offence is an asylum seeker, if the confidentiality provisions of international protection legislation prevent that person being named in reports, even in cases where the victim has requested that they be named; and the legal basis for the position. [74050/26]

540. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration notwithstanding operational security considerations, whether there is a formal mechanism whereby information indicating that an applicant for international protection has links to a prescribed terrorist organisation is communicated to the authority responsible for determining or reviewing their protection status; and whether such infor…

541. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of international protection applicants accommodated by IPAS who are currently serving custodial sentences; the duration of their sentences; the number whose IPAS accommodation remains allocated during imprisonment; the number whose accommodation was withdrawn; and the annual cost of retaining accommodation for applicants who…

542. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether an international protection applicant residing in IPAS accommodation who receives a custodial sentence retains their allocated accommodation for the duration of their imprisonment; whether their daily expenses allowance continues during imprisonment; whether the accommodation is available to them automatically on release; and i…

546. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in light of his Department's ongoing review of the role and functions of peace commissioners, whether the review is examining the responsibilities and protections of peace commissioners when certifying copies of passports, identity and residency documents for citizenship or immigration purposes; and if consideration is being given to p…

547. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration given the increasing use of certified copies of passports and other identity and residency documents in citizenship and immigration applications, the guidance provided to peace commissioners on verifying documents presented to them; whether peace commissioners are expected to establish the authenticity of an original document or solely…