Law « Thurles Information

€98m Additional Funding For 2024, To Build Safer Communities.

€61m for Garda overtime to increase high visibility policing.
Prisons budget reaches €500m for the first time, funding additional staff and the construction of new prison places.
A second new helicopter to be purchased for An Garda Síochána.
Additional investment in 100 Garda vehicles and 2 Water Canon to maintain public safety.

Additional funding of €98m of taxpayer funding has been secured for allocation across the Justice Sector up to the end of this year.

This increased funding will enable An Garda Síochána to bolster high visibility policing and support serious crime investigations throughout the country. A further €61m has been provided for Garda overtime to increase high visibility policing. This has been funded by way of €32m of additional funding and €29m from within the Garda vote.

Key highlights of the Garda capital investment for 2024 include:–

€5.8 million for the Rosslare Euro Port project, strengthening border security and operational efficiency at this strategic location.
€6 million to acquire approximately 100 new vehicles, including public order vans and high-powered vehicles for serious crime units, enhancing the Garda fleet’s capacity to respond to a variety of operational needs.
€8 million will mean that on top of a new helicopter being delivered in Q1 of 2025 a second helicopter can be purchased for the Garda Air Support Unit, improving aerial surveillance and response capabilities.

In addition, An Garda Síochána will procure two ‘water cannon’ to further enhance Public Order tactical capacity, with delivery scheduled for 2025. This equipment is expected to be a key asset in maintaining public safety.

Armed Gardaí Attend At Scene Of Serious Assault In Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.

Gardaí at Nenagh Garda Station are today appealing for witnesses, following a serious incident involving a series of assaults at Tullahedy, south west of Nenagh town, in North Co. Tipperary yesterday.

Armed Gardaí and Emergency Services personnel attended at the scene, shortly after midday yesterday, Friday October 18th, where we understand that four individuals sustained non-life threatening injuries; two of whom were reportedly hospitalised with suspected stab wounds.

All parties involved had hastily removed themselves from the scene, prior to the arrival of Gardaí. However, Gardaí confirm that four of the individuals involved subsequently sought medical treatment, of their own accord, for their injuries.
Further enquiries are ongoing.

Legislation To Streamline, Strengthen & Modernise Gambling Regulation.

Legislation will Establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.
Introduce a modern and robust licencing and regulatory framework for both in-person and online gambling.
Establish a National Gambling Exclusion Register.
Introduce tight restrictions on gambling advertising.
Introduce a Social Impact Fund to support educational measures and problem gambling treatment activities.
CEO Designate of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland has been progressing important preparatory work.

The Gambling Regulation Bill, 2022, has passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas. The legislation sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new, independent statutory body, Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, (the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland) and for a modern and robust licencing and regulatory framework for both in-person and online gambling.

**Painting by Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio** *(1571-1610)***, “*The Cardsharps*.”** *(painted c.1594)*.

The Bill provides for the establishment and operation of the National Gambling Exclusion Register and introduces tight restrictions on the advertisement of gambling activities.
It also provides for the creation of a Social Impact Fund to support awareness–raising and educational measures and to support problem gambling treatment activities.

With regard to black market operators, the Bill contains a suite of measures to address illegal or criminal gambling activity and includes explicit prohibitions on illegal activity or practices, some of which could result in significant custodial sentences.

Once the Bill is enacted, the GRAI will be established with a seven-person authority. A Programme Board has been established in the Department of Justice to ensure that the legislation and the operational preparations are progressed in parallel, allowing the Authority to commence operations, on a phased basis, as soon as possible, after enactment and appointment of the Authority members.
Ms Anne Marie Caulfield has been appointed to the role of CEO Designate of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland and has been progressing important preparatory work.

As part of Budget 2025 announced on October 1st last, the GRAI will receive €9.1m in 2025, including €4m of ICT capital investment.

Establishment Of A New Judicial Appointments Commission Announced.

New independent Commission will select and recommend candidates for all judicial offices in Ireland and in EU and international courts.
A new application and interview process will apply to all judicial vacancies.
Candidates will be required to undergo continuous professional development.

Legislation providing for the establishment of the Judicial Appointments Commission on 1st January 2025 has commenced today. This marks the most substantial reform in the way judges are chosen for appointment in almost thirty years.
The Judicial Appointments Commission Act establishes a new, independent Judicial Appointments Commission to select and recommend persons for all judicial offices in Ireland; in the EU and International courts.

The new reforms provided for, include:

Reduction in the number of recommendations: 3 candidates to be recommended for a vacancy and an additional 2 recommendations for a second and additional vacancies. For example, this would mean 7 recommendations for 3 vacancies.
Only candidates recommended by the Judicial Appointments Commission to be nominated by the Government for appointment by the President.
All judicial posts, whether a first appointment or a promotion from another court will be governed by the procedure.
Interviews: For the first time, all nominees will have been interviewed.
Diversity: The Commission will have the objective that membership of the judiciary should reflect the diversity of the population as a whole.
Continuous Professional Development: Candidates will be required to show they have undertaken judicial training or continuous professional development.
The Judicial Appointments Commission will set out best practice selection procedures including interviews and the knowledge, skills and attributes required of judges.

Commission Membership.
Membership of the Judicial Appointments Commission, which will be chaired by Chief Justice, The Hon. Mr. Justice Donal O’Donnell and will include:-
The Hon. Ms. Justice Caroline Costello, (President of the Court of Appeal).
Attorney General Rossa Fanning (SC).
The Hon. Ms. Justice Mary Rose Gearty, (High Court).
Judge Alan Mitchell, (District Court).
Ms. Bernie Gray, (Human Resources and Governance expert).
Dr. Eleanor O’Higgins, (Adjunct Associate Professor, College of Business, University College Dublin and Associate, London School of Economics and Political Science).
Dr. Rónán Kennedy, (Associate Professor in the School of Law, University of Galway).
Dr. Terrence McWade, (Former CEO of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland).

The Judicial Appointments Commission will be established from January 1st, 2025.

Government Appoints Deputy Garda Commissioner.

Mr Justin Kelly, Assistant Commissioner, (Organised & Serious Crime), appointed new Deputy Garda Commissioner.

The Government yesterday approved the appointment of a new Deputy Commissioner to An Garda Síochána, with immediate effect.

Following a recent open competition, run by Public Jobs on behalf of the Policing Authority, the appointment of Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly was announced.

Mr Kelly has previously led the fight against organised and serious crime, as Assistant Commissioner.
In this role, he has led the further development of An Garda Síochána’s capabilities and international partnerships in tackling drugs and organised crime, cyber and economic crime, as well as prioritising and combatting crimes against vulnerable people and responding to the needs of victims.

His career is marked by achievement and results and he is expected to bring his vast experience, skill and huge personal commitment to this new important senior role.
This skill is crucial in the effective day to day management and strategic direction of An Garda Síochána; as well as supporting the current Garda Commissioner, in leading the implementation of the organisation’s ongoing programme of reform.

Garda Commissioner Mr Drew Harris and the Chairperson of the Policing Authority, Dr Elaine Byrne, have both publically welcomed the appointment.