Results 181-200 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: When it comes to financial mismanagement in An Garda Síochána, my primary concern is highlighted by what is in the Comptroller and Auditor General's current report. I note the Deputy has referred to issues that took place back in 2016. They are of concern but my primary concern-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----is to ensure that the issues identified in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report are confronted by senior Garda management.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy will have seen the response from the Garda Commissioner and senior Garda management. They accept the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General. That is a very valuable constitutional office because those who are charged with spending public money must be aware that, if they mismanage the spending of that money, it will be exposed, discussed and debated in this House....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Carthy for his question. I did indeed have an opportunity to read the Victims of Sexual Violence Civil Protection Orders Bill he introduced to the House on 26 June. Deputy Carthy's Bill seeks to provide that at the same time as somebody is convicted of a serious sexual offence on indictment the court would impose an order restraining the person convicted of the offence from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I agree with Deputy Carthy when he says we need to empower victims. One issue I may have in respect of his legislation is that the proposal is that at the time of conviction the protection order would be placed on the individual. If we think about it, under the legislation Deputy Carthy proposes the protection order would be put in place at the same time that an individual is sentenced to...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I had actually just finished my contribution.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all Senators for their contributions. We are considering three amendments that have been tabled. I propose to deal with each amendment in the order in which they were raised. I will start with what I refer to as Senator McDowell's amendment No. 5. In this amendment, Senator McDowell and his colleagues propose that we would go back to section 2 of the Act and redefine "defamatory...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: They were given to the Senator by others. Regarding defamation being out of control, I will defer to Senator McDowell in respect of this, but my own assessment from some experience in the courts is that the number of defamation cases is declining. I will come to deal with the amendments about shops in due course. Where real defamation is taking place at present is online, where people...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It could be a last for me as well.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: How are we doing on time?

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will try to answer Senator McDowell's and the other Senators' points quickly. Senator McDowell spoke about the serious harm test. However, I still do not know from listening to him what constitutes a serious defamation. He gave an example of someone saying in the presence of a person's wife that that person was a paedophile. On the Senator's reading, that would not be a serious...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Getting more Gardaí on our streets to prevent crime is my first priority as Minister for Justice. This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. At the end of August, the total Garda personnel strength stood at over 18,000, which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Among other provisions, the General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 provides a comprehensive enabling basis for remote hearings in criminal proceedings and in international co-operation proceedings, such as those under the European Arrest Warrant procedure and the Extradition Act 1965. At present, substantial amounts of Garda time and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána and my Department are continuing to work hard to strengthen trust and confidence in the system so that victims will feel confident in coming forward to report what has happened to them and perpetrators are brought to justice. Actions aimed at improving access to justice for victim and survivors, and strengthening the policing of DSGBV include:Implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Extensive challenges were posed to the State in sourcing international protection accommodation during an unprecedented surge in applications from 2022 to 2024. During this period, over 45,000 additional international protection applicants arrived in Ireland. Prior to this, a typical 3-year period would have seen close to 8,000 or 9,000 arrivals. During the surge period, the State was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling the scourge of drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities across Ireland is a top priority for the Government and my Department. An Garda Síochána continues to implement an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy through Operation Tara. The focus of this operation is to disrupt,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. Returning people who do not have permission to remain in Ireland is undertaken through voluntary returns and deportation. Both types of returns are essential for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. At the end of August, the total Garda personnel strength stood at over 18,000, which included 14,369 Garda Members, 3,494 Garda Staff, and 296 Reserves. I will continue to support An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Racism Measures (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government recognises the importance of meaningful action to address racism and its impacts in Ireland. The 5-year National Action Plan Against Racism, or NAPAR, represents a whole-of-Government approach to achieving this, as racism is a cross-cutting issue that necessitates action by Government, public bodies, private bodies, communities and individuals. I had a constructive meeting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for all operational policing matters, including response by An Garda Síochána to emergency calls. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am advised that GardaSAFE, a new computer aided dispatch system, was rolled out incrementally across the organisation in 2023. The last region, the Dublin Metropolitan Region, went...