Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024

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Steering Group

107. (1) As soon as may be after the coming into operation of this section, the Minister shall establish a group which shall be known as An Grúpa Stiúrtha Náisiúnta um Shábháilteacht Pobail (in this Act referred to as the “Steering Group”) to perform the functions conferred on it by this Act or any other enactment.

(2) The Steering Group shall have the following functions:

(a) to promote and monitor compliance by public service bodies with their duties under this Act;

(b) to foster collaboration between public service bodies in the provision of services to improve community safety;

(c) to provide direction to the National Office in relation to the implementation of the national strategy;

(d) to monitor the implementation of the national strategy;

(e) to address obstacles to timely progress on the implementation of the national strategy;

(f) to review and evaluate the effectiveness of the national strategy;

(g) to oversee the National Office in the performance of its functions;

(h) to review and evaluate the effectiveness of the National Office in the performance of its functions;

(i) to approve annual programmes of work prepared by the National Office pursuant to section 108 (3)(b);

(j) to provide to the designated committee of the Government such information and reports on the implementation of the national strategy and any other matters relating to the functions of the Steering Group as may be requested from time to time by the committee;

(k) to provide to the Minister such information and advice with regard to matters connected with improving community safety as may be requested from time to time by the Minister;

(l) to establish such subgroups of the Steering Group as it considers necessary to support the implementation of the national strategy.

(3) The Steering Group shall have all such powers as are necessary or expedient for the performance of its functions.

(4) The Steering Group shall consist of the following members:

(a) a chairperson who shall be appointed by the Minister having consulted with the other relevant Ministers;

(b) the following ordinary members, each of whom shall be appointed by the Minister having consulted with the other relevant Ministers:

(i) an officer of the Minister;

(ii) an officer of each of the other relevant Ministers;

(iii) representatives from such public service bodies as may be prescribed in accordance with subsection (6)(a);

(iv) a representative of the Authority;

(v) such other persons as the Minister considers appropriate;

(c) the Director, who shall be an ex officio member.

(5) The Minister shall, having consulted with the other relevant Ministers, make regulations concerning the operation and procedures of the Steering Group.

(6) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (5), regulations made under that subsection may—

(a) prescribe the public service bodies from which representatives may be appointed to the Steering Group pursuant to subsection (4)(b)(iii),

(b) prescribe the experience, expertise or other criteria to apply in respect of persons who may be appointed to the Steering Group pursuant to subsection (4)(b)(v),

(c) make provision in relation to the terms and conditions of office of the chairperson and ordinary members of the Steering Group,

(d) make provision in relation to the procedures to apply to the conduct of the business of the Steering Group, or

(e) make provision in relation to the procedures to apply to subgroups of the Steering Group established pursuant to subsection (2)(l), including in relation to the membership and terms of reference of such subgroups.

(7) The Steering Group shall, not later than 2 months after the end of each calendar year, prepare and submit to the Minister a report on the performance of its functions during the preceding year or, in the case of the first such report, the performance of its functions since the date it was established up to and including 31 December of the preceding year.

(8) A report under subsection (7) shall be prepared in such form and contain such information as may be specified from time to time by the Minister.

(9) The Minister shall cause a copy of a report under subsection (7) to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable after he or she receives it.

(10) The Steering Group shall ensure that, as soon as practicable after a copy of the report under subsection (7) is laid before each House of the Oireachtas, the report is published on a website maintained by or on behalf of the National Office or in such other manner as the Minister may specify.

(11) The Steering Group shall, where requested by the Minister to do so, provide the Minister with a report on any matter connected with the functions of the Steering Group as may be specified by the Minister in the request.

(12) A report under subsection (11) shall be in such form and be made within such period as the Minister may specify.

(13) The Steering Group shall report to the designated committee of the Government for such purposes, and at such intervals, as may be requested by the committee.