The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee T.D. has today (20th October 20th 2023) launched a wide-ranging consultation to inform the development of proposals for comprehensive reform of the Coroner Service in Ireland.
The consultation is an opportunity for members of the public and stakeholder groups to express their views, observations and proposals on how the Coroner Service might be enhanced into the future.
While the Coroners Act of 1962 has undergone a number of amendments, the structure of the Coroner Service remains largely as it was originally established by that Act. The Government wants to ensure that the Coroner Service is positioned to provide a comprehensive service into the future. Issues such as driving innovative change and enhancing customer service have been identified as areas in need of examination.
This consultation marks a significant step forward in that process – the aim of which is to ensure that the many positive elements of the Service are maintained, while introducing improvements and enhancements where they might be required.
Responses to the consultation process will be captured through two separate questionnaires, which aim to capture the views and opinions of both individuals, latter who have engaged with the Coroner Service and those of stakeholder groups, who support the service. All interested parties are encouraged to take part in this process over the coming months, where views will be a key part of the review and reform process.
The public consultation will be open until January 19th, 2024 and following its conclusion, it is intended that proposals on a renewed Coroner system, including a proposed plan as to how this will be achieved, will be brought to Government.
Further information on the public consultation, along with the two associated questionnaires, can be accessed HERE.
Training launched to help security workers identify child victims of trafficking.
New Action Plan to combat human trafficking to be published within weeks.
EU Anti-Trafficking Day is being marked by emphasising the importance of raising awareness of the crime, and confirming that a new action plan to combat human trafficking will be published within weeks.
With over 7150 human trafficking victims registered in 2021, the number continues to rise in Europe.
EU Anti-Trafficking Day is marked each year on October 18th and among the events in Ireland today is the launch of a training module around child trafficking awareness, same aimed at relevant sectors within the security industry, and developed by the Private Security Authority (PSA) and the training provider, MECPATHS.
Separately, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is launching research, funded by the Department of Justice, on human trafficking on the island of Ireland, with a focus on the border with Northern Ireland.
Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee has stated, “Human trafficking is an exploitative and particularly heinous crime that preys on some of the most vulnerable, and is committed with no regard for life, dignity or for the most basic of human rights. It has no place in a modern and civilised society. Victims can be found anywhere, often hidden in plain sight and we need wider society to recognise the signs and to contact An Garda Síochána if they have concerns. We are determined to combat this insidious crime and to support those who are victims of it.“
Minister McEntee will shortly publish the third Action Plan to combat human trafficking, with the key goals of this plan focused on creating a more victim-centred approach to identifying and supporting victims; raising awareness; and providing training for those who need it.
Introducing the revised National Referral Mechanism (NRM) will be a key action. The National Referral Mechanism is the framework through which the State identifies and supports victims of human trafficking.
An Garda Síochána is currently solely responsible for identifying victims. The reality is that some victims of trafficking, because of interactions they may have had with law enforcement officials in other jurisdictions, have a perception that police cannot be trusted. The new approach acknowledges other State bodies and NGOs have a role in identifying victims of human trafficking and referring them to the NRM. Legislation to introduce the new NRM is currently before the Dáil.
The development of training, through NGOs, targeting front line staff in industries such as hospitality, airline, shipping and security, latter who may come into contact with trafficked persons is also key to the new plan.
Today sees the launch of the PSA online training module around Child Trafficking awareness. The training will become mandatory for all new applicants for a PSA licence in the Door Supervisor and Security Guarding sectors.
Further information can be found on the Department of Justice’s dedicated anti trafficking website HERE.
Week beginning November 20th, 2023: Some 46,500 households will receive the Working Family Payment of an extra €400. Some 214,000 people in receipt of the Disability Support Grant will also receive a bonus of €400. A €300 Fuel Allowance lump sum will also be paid to some 409,000 households.
Week beginning November 27th 2023: Persons in receipt of the Carers Support Grant will receive a bonus of a €400 payment. Some 237,0000 mostly those older people who receive the living alone allowance will receive an extra €200. A €100 bonus will be paid in respect of 370,000 children in receipt of Qualified Child Benefit. More than 2,000,000 households will have €150 taken off their electricity bill with effect from December 1st, 2023.
Week beginning December 4th 2023: Each person in receipt of welfare payment will receive a double Christmas bonus payment. They will also receive a double Child Benefit payment of €280 per child.
Week beginning January 29th, 2024: A second double payment of all welfare payments will be paid to recipents of State Benifits. Weekly rates of qualified child payments will increase by €4 in January 2024 bringing them to €54 for those aged 12 and over and €46 for under 12s. Income thresholds for the Working Family Payment will increase by €54 per week regardless of family size from January 2024. Hot School Meals will be extended on a phased basis in 2024, to all non-DEIS primary schools, latter who applied as part of the expression of interest. Cost of living bonus for people with disabilities, pensioners, carers, and those unemployed. Social welfare payments will increase by €12 each week with effect from the beginning of January.
Please note* The once off payment of €400 to those people getting Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension and/or Carer’s Support Grant, is only payable in respect of one payment, even if people qualify for more than one of the payments or are caring for more than one person.
The phrase ‘Now is the winter of our discontent’; taken from William Shakespeare’s play Richard III, is widely used to label social and political unrest, as is witnessed at this sad time, particularly in Israel, Gaza, Ukraine and Russia. The word ‘winter’ stands as a powerful metaphor for a bleak and discouraging interval currently being experienced; while the word ‘discontent’ suggests a sudden restlessness, which for many, was not bargained for, yet now is an emerging threat to the aspirations of those who long for world peace on this planet.
The song, with lyrics shown hereunder, clearly forms the opinion, “We’re fools to make war”, while hoping for future peace.
Lyrics: By British guitarist and singer-songwriter Mark Knopfler.
Vocals: Former British rock band formed in London in 1977, by the same Mark Knopfler, and more popularly known as ‘Dire Straits’.
Brothers In Arms.
These mist covered mountains, Are a home now for me. But my home is the lowlands, And always will be. Someday you’ll return, To your valleys and your farms, And you’ll no longer burn to be, Brothers in arms. Through these fields of destruction, Baptisms of fire, I’ve witnessed your suffering, As the battle raged high. And though they did hurt me so bad, In the fear and alarm, You did not desert me, My brothers in arms. There’s so many different worlds, So many different suns, And we have just one world, But we live in different ones. Now the sun’s gone to hell, And the moon’s riding high, Let me bid you farewell, Every man has to die. But it’s written in the starlight, And every line in your palm, We’re fools to make war, On our brothers in arms.
Some 45 persons, currently resident in Co. Tipperary, were amongst the 3,000 New Irish Citizens who attended at Citizenship Ceremonies in Dublin’s Convention Centre, today.
The Ceremonies saw applicants from 131 countries around the world; living in all 32 counties on the island of Ireland, conferred as Irish citizens.
Speaking ahead of the first Ceremony today, Minister Mrs Helen McEntee TD said, “Attending Citizenship Ceremonies is always a unique privilege as Minister for Justice and I would like to warmly congratulate and welcome our newest citizens on this milestone day in their lives. Today marks the end of one journey and the beginning of an exciting new one, for them. The richness of our nation is not measured in our wealth, but in our people, in our differences, our similarities and our shared home here on this island. Our new citizens enrich Ireland with their presence and our society reaps the benefits which they bring. By sharing their own unique cultures and traditions with us, our newest citizens become part of our communities and we are all the better for it.”
The Citizenship Ceremonies today follow three ceremonies held in Killarney in July last and two ceremonies held in the RDS in Dublin, last March. This means that over 11,000 people have now been conferred with citizenship this year with further ceremonies planned before the end of 2023.
Minister McEntee continued; “I encourage each new citizen to embrace their civic duty and to become more engaged in Irish civil society. It is an essential aspect of life in Ireland. Active involvement in our local communities will ensure everyone has a voice and will help strengthen our democracy. I give my best wishes to our new citizens and to their families as they embark on the next steps of their lives in Ireland and I look forward to meeting as many of them as possible today.”
The Presiding Officer at the Ceremonies was retired Irish High Court Judge Mr Bryan MacMahon, who administered the Declaration of Fidelity to the Irish Nation and Loyalty to the State.
The new Irish citizens also undertook to faithfully observe the laws of the Irish State and to respect its democratic values.
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