Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform ( _ga. An Roinn Dlí agus Cirt, Comhionannais agus Athchóirithe Dlí) is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who is assisted by three Ministers of State. The Department's mission is to maintain and enhance community security, equality and law and order in Ireland.

Departmental Team

*Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform: Dermot Ahern, TD
**Minister of State for Children and Youth Affairs: Barry Andrews, TD
**Minister of State for Integration Policy: Conor Lenihan, TD
**Minister of State for Equality, Disability Issues and Mental Health: John Moloney, TD
*Secretary General of the Department: Seán Aylward

Overview

The mission of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is to maintain and enhance community security and equality through the development of a range of policies and high quality services which underpin:

*the protection and assertion of human rights and fundamental freedoms consistent with the common good
*the security of the State
*an effective and balanced approach to tackling crime
*progress towards the elimination of discrimination and the promotion of equal opportunities and the accommodation of diversity.

The official headquarters and Ministerial offices of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform are in 94 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2. The current title of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform was created in 1997 when the Department of Justice was amalgamated with that of the Department of Equality and Law Reform. Over the years its name has changed several times, however, the role of the Department has remained the same. The Department was known as the following:
*Department of Home Affairs (1919–1923)
*Department of Justice (1923–1997)
*Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (1997–present)

Responsibilities

The Department's main areas of responsibility include:

*Implementing Government policy on crime and protecting the security of the State.
*Providing policy advice in relation to the criminal justice system (An Garda Síochána, the Courts, Prisons and Probation and Welfare Services) and supporting the operation of this system. Continuing reform of the criminal law and updating areas of the civil law.
*Playing a central part in the implementation of core elements in the Belfast Agreement.
*Co-operating in the EU and international fields and promoting Ireland's interests within our areas of responsibility.
*Implementing the Government's asylum strategy and further developing national immigration policy.
*Developing and implementing policy in relation to equal treatment generally, anti-racism, disability equality, human rights and childcare.

Executive Agencies

The Department has four Executive Agencies, which are legally an integral part of the Department but are managed separately.

* Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service
* Reception and Integration Agency
* Forensic Science Laboratory
* Probation Service

There is also an Office of the Minister for Integration.

Affliated bodies

Among the State Agencies and other bodies affiliated to the Department in some way are:

* Garda Síochána
* Courts Service of Ireland
* Equality Authority
* Equality Tribunal
* Garda Síochána Complaints Board
* Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
* Irish Prison Service
* Legal Aid Board
* National Crime Council
* National Disability Authority
* Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
* Irish Film Classification Office
* Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner
* Refugee Appeals Tribunal
* Private Security Authority
* Property Registration Authority

No state-sponsored bodies of the Republic of Ireland report to the Department at present.

External links

* [http://www.justice.ie Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform]

References