Latest news with #MattCarthy
Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Matt Carthy: 'Terrifying incidents like this are why our bail laws need an overhaul'
The shooting at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow raises serious questions about the operation of our bail laws. The fact that the person who carried out the shooting at the shopping centre on Sunday was on bail at the time, having been charged with offences associated with purchasing an assault rifle on the dark web, raises many questions. This weapon was seized along with a handgun and multiple types of ammunition, and he was arrested by specialist gardaí from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, who were assisted by armed officers from the Emergency Response Unit. Matt Carthy, Sinn Féin spokesperson on justice, home affairs and migration. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire This tells us just how serious a matter this was. The problem is that it is not an isolated incident. While many crimes committed by those on bail will involve issues such as public order offences, there have been a number of very serious crimes committed over recent months and years by those on bail. Since my appointment as Sinn Féin spokesperson on justice, home affairs and migration, I have repeatedly questioned Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan in relation to the operation of the bail laws. It was through the case of Shane O'Farrell, Zigimantas Gridziuska committed hundreds of bail violations before killing the young man in a hit-and-run, that I became particularly familiar with the flaws in how our bail laws operate. I welcome the fact that the Minister for Justice, as part of the apology to the O'Farrell family last week, announced that he would appoint a senior counsel to examine the conditions under which a repeated offender can be granted bail while awaiting trial. Like myself, many people will find it hard to understand how some people can repeatedly offend while on bail and remain at large, or how dangerous criminals can be released on bail. How does this happen when the Bail Act 1997 (as amended) provides for the refusal of bail in particular circumstances, while An Garda Síochána can also object to bail being granted? Pic: Alan Rowlette/ Existing laws need to be examined to ensure that they are being appropriately enforced where there is a risk of someone committing further crimes while on bail. However, I believe the problems are wider than what the minister is proposing to look at in the review, which he has announced. The problems in terms of the level of crime being committed by those on bail cannot be separated from a wider range of problems within the criminal justice system. Our jails are seriously overcrowded because we are doing such a bad job at cutting reoffending rates, particularly among young offenders. Some 60% of young adults under the age of 21 released from custody in 2020 reoffended within a year. That is simply not good enough and needs to be addressed. We don't have enough gardaí to police our streets or ensure that offenders are abiding by the conditions of bail. Our court system is plagued by unacceptable delays, meaning that people who would otherwise be behind bars remain on bail for longer due to the time it takes for cases to come to court. The result of all of this is that the number of crimes being committed by those on bail is extremely high. In March, I received a reply to a parliamentary question to the Minister for Justice that revealed that 40,348 crimes committed in 2024 were committed by those on bail. Several weeks ago, I received further details regarding a number of very serious crimes committed by those on bail, including sexual assaults, robberies, possession of offensive weapons and possession of firearms. Those figures showed that from 2022 to 2024, 64 crimes involving the possession of firearms were committed by those on bail. In the same period, 2,312 crimes involving possession of an offensive weapon were committed by those on bail, while 49 sexual assaults were committed by people on bail in that period. The Minister for Justice must examine whether the provisions within the Bail Acts dealing with and pre-empting breaches of bail are being properly enforced. D O the Gardaí have the numbers and resources to enforce the bail laws as they stand? Or is part of the problem here that An Garda Síochána is understaffed and over-stretched? All of this needs to be looked at. Our laws must ensure that the most dangerous criminals are behind bars. We are extremely lucky that no one else was seriously injured or killed in Sunday's incident, which has shocked the community in Carlow. Now it is time to review not just the conditions under which a repeat offender can be granted bail while awaiting trial, but how our bail laws as a whole operate and how conditions of bail are actually being enforced. The Minister for Justice must also urgently tackle the delays in our court system, which are allowing dangerous criminals to remain at large.
The Journal
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Re-Turn says plastic-to-plastic bottle recycling in Ireland is not 'financially viable'
THE COMPANY OVERSEEING Ireland's Deposit Return Scheme has defended itself following criticism made in the Dáil claiming that almost 90% of the plastic that is collected is being 'needlessly' shipped around the world rather than recycled domestically. Scheme operator Re-Turn said the vast majority of the plastic currently has to be transported abroad because it has not been financially viable to recycle plastic bottles into new drink containers in Ireland. A spokesperson for the company said that Ireland 'does not have the facilities to fully recycle' plastic bottles and aluminium cans that are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material into new, 'food-safe' drink containers. It's because – until the scheme was established last year – there was no central operator handling recycled plastics and 'no facility in Ireland' can recycle a higher quality type of the raw material. But the company hopes that the Deposit Return Scheme is creating 'steady supply of high-quality' material, which it said is 'essential for setting up the necessary infrastructure in Ireland'. Re-Turn made its comments in response to a statement by Sinn Féin TD for Cavan Monaghan, Matt Carthy, who said this week that it was a 'scandal' that the vast majority of waste leaves Ireland as part of the recycling process. 'By June of this year 17,000 tonnes of plastic will have been collected under the scheme,' Carthy said. 'But only 3,400 of that will have been recycled in Ireland. That means that 88% of plastic collected under this 'environmental' scheme is actually being shipped off to locations across the world.' Carthy instead proposed a company in his own constituency of Cavan-Monaghan as being in a position to collect and recycle the material. Advertisement 'Creating local employment, contributing to the Irish economy – providing an environmentally sound point to recycle plastic collected in Ireland,' he added. The Deposit Return Scheme sees people pay extra for their drinks in bottles and cans but they can reclaim this afterwards in machines in supermarkets. In February , it hit a milestone of one billion returned drinks containers. Carthy said the amount shipped abroad was 'madness' and also 'ran contrary' to the environmental objective that the scheme is meant to address. The TD's office said he had received the figures from industry sources. When contacted by The Journal , Re-Turn did not dispute Carthy's figure of 88% plastic shipped abroad and outlined that most of the material currently goes to the UK and Europe. A spokesperson for Re-Turn said that Ireland 'does not have the facilities to fully recycle' plastic bottles and aluminium cans made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material into new, food-safe drink containers. The flakes from these recycled plastics are regarded as of higher quality and can be used as a raw material in various industries for creating new products, such as polyester fibres, new bottles or packaging materials. 'A key step in fully recycling PET plastic bottles is turning them into food-grade plastic pellets, but no facility in Ireland can currently do this,' the Re-Turn spokesperson told The Journal . The spokesperson added that while some facilities in Ireland can partially recycle plastic from the Deposit Return Scheme by processing it into PET flakes, the machinery required to turn these flakes into new drink bottles are not currently in operation in Ireland. This means that the 'majority of material is sent to fully licensed recycling facilities in Europe and the UK', the spokesperson said. 'The best way to change this is by making local bottle to bottle recycling financially viable. The Deposit Return Scheme is contributing to this by ensuring a steady supply of high-quality recylate material, which is essential for setting up the necessary infrastructure in Ireland and meeting EU recycling targets,' the Re-Turn spokesperson said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Opposition challenge removal of juries in High Court defamation cases
Opposition parties have tabled a series of amendments opposing the removal of juries in High Court defamation actions. Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy told the Dáil that he is opposed to what is the centrepiece of the Government's Defamation Bill, and said that many in the legal profession shared his party's concerns. He proposed deleting the entire section dealing with the measure, and asked to know whether the current Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, plans to proceed with the bill as it is, as it had been prepared by his predecessor. Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said that juries play an important role and "ensure fairness", especially where "powerful entities" are concerned. Abolishing them "would make Ireland an outlier", he said, and insisted that there is no evidence that jury trials are more costly. Independent TD Catherine Connolly asked if the Government is "intent on ramming this through", and called on Minister O'Callaghan to show "moral courage" in dropping the measure. "I wouldn't like to be sitting in your position now and having to eat my words," she said, and quoted remarks the minister had made during an earlier stage of the bill - and before his appointment as minister - where he said: "the decision to abolish juries in the High Court would be short-sighted". Sherlock warns that bill is 'now out of date' Labour's Marie Sherlock expressed "serious concerns with key elements of this bill", and warned that it is "now out of date". She said that legal fees in defamation cases are higher than in any other civil action, and said the bill should be used to change that practice. The Defamation Bill was published last year, and aims to reduce costs for those seeking to defend their good name, including in relation to anonymous online trolls. Currently, this can only be done in the High Court. The bill would also introduce protection against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, or "SLAPPs", which are often taken against individual journalists and are widely seen as a threat to press freedom. Minister O'Callaghan defended the measures in the bill, and said he would be opposing the various amendments tabled this evening. He noted the remarks of his which Deputy Connolly had quoted, and said that since then, there has been a General Election, during which his party's manifesto had promised to enact the bill. He said that being in a political party requires compromise, unlike being an independent, and rejected the suggestion that the removal of juries was a moral matter. The minister said that he is "bound by the terms of the Programme for Government."
RTÉ News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
What can be expected from the Government's overhaul of asylum laws?
The Government has announced a major overhaul of asylum laws, billed as the most significant reform of the area in the history of the State. So what is it all about? Here we look at the International Protection Bill 2025 and what it entails. New proposed law Ireland is already obliged to redraft its immigration laws to bring them into line with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. The pact involves the implementation of agreed procedures across the EU to provide more aligned and more effective processing of asylum applications. It also specifies mandatory shorter timeframes along with enhanced screening and security checks on those arriving at borders. Ireland agreed last year to opt into the agreement. The pact comes into force on 11 June 2026 and Ireland is required to change its immigration laws by then to align asylum processes across the EU. Today, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan published the outline of the International Protection Bill 2025 to give effect to these measures. Tighter decision making The Bill will make it unlawful if a decision is not made on an asylum border application within a period of three months, in the vast majority of cases. This deadline will apply to applicants from countries of origin with a recognition rate of 20% or less across the EU, or who have no documents or false documents, or who pose a security risk. The three-month deadline will also apply to appeals for these applicants. Some applications, however, may stretch to six months. Fewer oral hearings The other new plank to expediting decisions is the proposal to remove an automatic right to an oral hearing in an appeal. Applicants are still entitled to an oral hearing in the first instance and that hearing will be recorded with the transcript preserved. New appeals lodged after the Bill becomes law will be decided by a new entity called the Second Instance Body. This body will have access to the transcript of the first hearing. The Second Instance Body will replace the existing International Protection Appeals Tribunal for new appeals lodged after the Bill becomes law. Oral hearings at appeal stage will only be allowed under limited specific circumstances with the aim of saving time and costs. Opposition reaction Sinn Féin has accused the Government of delaying in reforming the asylum area. The party's Spokesperson on Justice Matt Carthy said the Government's migration policy was all over the place. He said: "Minister Jim O'Callaghan is talking tough, but processing is still taking far too long and deportations are not being enforced for those who do not have a right to be here. "The recent deportation flight to Georgia was simply a propaganda exercise to cover for dysfunction across the system, particularly when it comes to enforcement." However, Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said the new three-month deadline was cruel and lacked compassion. He said: "Imposing a three-month deadline for asylum decisions prioritises bureaucratic speed over human fairness. "International protection claims involve trauma, persecution, and complex histories. Arbitrary deadlines will inevitably lead to rushed, wrongful refusals - and the real risk of deporting people back into danger." The minister said he disagreed, adding: "What is cruel is asking someone to come into the country and then processing their application over a period of up to three years, that's where the real cruelty arises. "What we need to have is a process that gives people a quick decision. If you succeed, and are entitled to asylum you can stay, if you don't, you must leave." Detention Centres The Bill provides for the detention of applicants as a measure of last resort. The minister said today he hoped that detention centres would not become necessary but he said the proposed law was required to provide for them. Next steps The general scheme of the Bill is published today and it will go to pre-legislative scrutiny over the next few months. It is expected that the full Bill will be published in November and it must be passed into law by June 2026 in order to comply with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.
Extra.ie
25-04-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
Thousands of Ukrainian refugees getting Irish pension
Over 5,500 Ukrainian refugees are getting an Irish pension, costing the State in excess of €14million so far, can reveal. Under the Temporary Protection Directive, triggered by the Russian invasion in March 2022, Ukrainians fleeing to Ireland could avail of a number of social assistance payments, including the non-contributory State pension of €278 per week. By comparison, the average pension in Ukraine is around €150 per month, but many earn less than this, with some 43% of pensioners receiving less than €90 per month. Over 5,500 Ukrainian refugees are getting an Irish pension, costing the State in excess of €14million so far, can reveal. Pic: Shutterstock Ireland was widely seen as one of the most generous countries among EU members for Ukrainian refugees, prompting concerns over a 'pull factor' as accommodation spaces dried up. Last September, the Government moved to cut off or reduce benefits for Ukrainians in a bid to save money and to reduce the incentive to move to Ireland – responding to public pressure in relation to immigration. This included the ability to access the non-contributory State pension. Under the Temporary Protection Directive, triggered by the Russian invasion in March 2022, Ukrainians fleeing to Ireland could avail of a number of social assistance payments, including the non-contributory State pension of €278 per week. Pic: Getty Images However, more than 5,500 refugees who arrived before the benefit was slashed last year are still collecting the payment, at a total cost of €14.2million to the State so far, according to figures from the Department of Social Protection. The department did not answer directly when asked by if those receiving the pension would continue to be paid indefinitely. A spokesman said: 'All recipients of State pension non-contributory are obliged to report any change in circumstances and may be subject to periodic review to ensure they continue to receive the correct entitlement. By comparison, the average pension in Ukraine is around €150 per month, but many earn less than this, with some 43% of pensioners receiving less than €90 per month. Pic: Getty Images 'The department cannot estimate the future cost of payment to this cohort.' Sinn Féin foreign affairs spokesman Matt Carthy said that it is time for those supports to be unwound. He told us: 'The Irish people responded with generosity to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. 'However, since the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) was introduced, Ukrainians have received a range of benefits that international protection applicants are excluded from, creating a two-tier system. 'Some measures such as the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) have distorted the rental market and are unfair as, unlike other housing benefits, no means test is applied. 'While these additional supports were introduced as part of an emergency response when the war broke out, three years on it is now time to unwind special supports for beneficiaries of temporary protection that exceed the requirements of the Temporary Protection Directive.' Mr Carthy said the discrepancy between the Ukrainian pension and the Irish pension meant there was no incentive for these Ukrainians to go back to their home country once the war ends. 'The changes that need to be made need to be done in a planned way,' he said. 'I don't think anyone would be advocating a cliff-edge scenario. You need certainty in place We need to be very clear about what changes are coming down the road.' Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said the Government should not provide 'pull factor' welfare rates. He said that people are 'rational actors' and would stay or move to a location that was more generous with its welfare rates. He said people shouldn't be able to make 'financial decisions' to come here and we should 'equalise' it to other European rates. 'The immediate response was the humanitarian response and that was all well and good, but the Government didn't think of the outcomes in terms of the number of people coming into the country,' he added. He acknowledged that the Government had reversed course on many policy issues, but said it had 'left some gaps there'. In addition to the withdrawal of access to the State pension for new arrivals in September last year, the weekly allowance for those who lived in State-provided accommodation was reduced from €232 to €38.80. The cut in payments meant that as many as 19,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection who arrived during the first two years of the war – and who were not working – received higher payments than those who have arrived since March of 2024, when the first cuts were introduced. A spokesperson for the Department of Social Protection explained: 'Under the EU Temporary Protection Directive, those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine have a right to reside in the State under the habitual residence provisions. 'From September 9, 2024, beneficiaries of temporary protection who live in a designated accommodation centre where meals and utilities are provided no longer qualify for certain social assistance payments including the non-contributory State pension. 'At end March 2025, 5,514 people with a Ukraine nationality were paid the non-contributory State pension.' She said the cost was €14.2million to the end of February 2025. The non-contributory State pension is available in Ireland from age 66. There are different rates of payment depending on the person's contribution record and other circumstances. Mariya Starukh, of the Association of Ukrainians in Republic of Ireland (AURI), said she had not received any complaints when the payments were cut. She said: 'The Irish nation has looked after us very well. I am going very regularly to the Ukrainian church, and I am dealing with them regularly. There are no complaints. They took the cut well, they didn't complain.'
