Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has announced that she will publish and begin to implement a new strategic plan for her Department by the end of the year.
The minister has today opened a public consultation on the plan and called for interested parties and organisations to submit their ideas.
The plan will set out the goals and values of the Department and a course for how the Minister and the Department will drive reforms and improve public services across the justice sector. The action plan will be reviewed annually.
The minister's priorities for the Department will be in the following key areas:
- Tackle crime, preserve national security and transform policing
- Improve access to justice and modernise the courts system
- Strengthen community safety, reduce re-offending, support victims and combat domestic, sexual and gender based violence
- Deliver a fair immigration system for a digital age
- Accelerate innovation, digital transformation and climate action across the justice sector
- Speaking about the development of the plan, Minister McEntee said: "I will lead a programme of change and reform across the justice sector, to make our communities safer by reducing re-offending and harm."
She vowed to "support the victims of crime, reform the law and how our the system works, and use the power of digital technology to overhaul the experience people have when they use our services.
"In this consultation, I want to hear from people and organisations across the country.
"And after we publish our plan, regular implementation reports and listening to people through ongoing consultation will be key parts of the process."
The strategic plan will also outline how the Department of Justice will work across Government to drive reform and further its core vision of "a safe, fair and inclusive" Ireland.
The Department of Justice's responsibilities include crime prevention, national security, civil and criminal law reform, the administration of justice and the effective operation of the immigration system.
