Press release
Ministers Harris and Browne publish Justice Plan 2023
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Justice Simon Harris and Minister of State James Browne have today published Justice Plan 2023, outlining over 140 actions to continue building stronger, safer communities.
Justice Plan 2023 is the third in a series of annual plans, building on the work already delivered under Justice Plans 2021 and 2022, which were published by Minister McEntee. The annual Justice Plans contain objectives and actions to deliver on the strategic goals set out in the Department of Justice’s Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, which are focused on ensuring safe, fair and inclusive Ireland.
To ensure that progress on delivery of actions under the Justice Plan is measurable and transparent, the department is committed to publishing two reports on progress against the Plan annually, mid-year and at the end of the year.
As was also the case with the previous Plans, actions contained within Justice Plan 2023 are grouped within five overarching strategic goals:
1. Tackle crime, enhance national security and transform policing.
Actions under this goal include:
2. Improve access to justice and modernise the courts system.
Actions under this goal include:
3. Strengthen community safety, reduce reoffending, support victims and combat domestic, sexual and gender based violence.
Actions under this goal include:
4. Deliver a fair immigration system for a digital age.
Actions under this goal include:
-Ensuring accelerated/priority International Protection cases receive a first instance decision within 3 months
-Identifying additional measures that can be put in place to prevent travel (working with relevant stakeholders) by those with no permission to enter Ireland
-Secure Additional Resources to support IPO process improvements
5. Accelerate innovation, digital transformation and climate action across the justice sector.
The department will prepare and implement a Smarter Travel Action plan to encourage a move away from car as primary travel means.
Launching Justice Plan 2023 today, Minister Harris said:
“Justice Plan 2023 sets out a significant work programme to be undertaken by the Department of Justice this year.
"It is also as the third and final year of delivering the priorities outlined in our Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, which was first published by my colleague Minister Helen McEntee in February 2021.
"This Plan contains an ambitious number of actions to be achieved over the course of the year as we work to continue to build stronger, safer communities that will make a real difference for people in Ireland in both the short and long term.
"A key priority will be to continue to support An Garda Síochána in protecting our communities from crime through increased resources and a stronger and more diverse Garda service. We will invest in recruitment, training and technology and progress new legislation to help An Garda Síochána as they do their vital job protecting us.
"I and Minister McEntee will also lead implementation of Zero Tolerance, the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence across Government and work across society to achieve zero tolerance of this appalling violence and abuse.
“The actions set out in this Plan are far-reaching and ambitious but, given the progress that we have seen under the two previous Justice Plans, I am confident that the department is a capable of realising the goals set out within it.”
Minister of State James Browne added:
“Justice Plan 2022 delivered significant progress across the justice system and in particular, it delivered one of my key priorities, to publish the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022.
"As committed to in the Programme for Government, this Bill is a true milestone and long awaited legislation. It is an important and necessary Bill and reform, designed to meet the challenges of gambling responsibly in 21st century Ireland.
"The primary objective of the Bill is to present the framework for a robust regulatory and licensing regime for the gambling sector in Ireland. Justice Plan 2023 commits to bringing this Bill through the Oireachtas to allow for the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland.
“I will also continue to further progress implementation of the Youth Justice Strategy, which provides a developmental framework to address key ongoing challenges, as well as new and emerging issues, in the youth justice area. A major change contained in this Strategy is a new and expanded mandate for the Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) across the State.
"There are currently some 105 YDPs in operation and the intention of this year’s Justice Plan, under the Youth Justice Strategy, is to provide full geographic availability of youth diversion services throughout the State by the end of 2023. I am especially enthusiastic about the establishment of new projects, which will mark a significant achievement of this objective.”
Other actions in Justice Plan 2023 to be implemented by Minister Harris and Minister of State James Browne will include:
It is important to note that the milestones and achievements reflected upon from 2022, as well as the actions and objectives for the year ahead, provide just a snapshot of the substantial programme of work being delivered on by the Department of Justice and across the sector comprising 29 bodies and agencies.
The plan deals largely with legislative and policy initiatives and these actions will be delivered in addition to the wide-ranging, significant and valued day-to-day work of all staff across the department who deliver crucial services for members of the public and agencies in the justice sector.