Results 201-220 of 10,435 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have been informed by Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána are not yet in a position to issue Fixed Charge Notices (FCNs) for registration plate offences. They are currently incorporating amendments from the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 into Garda ICT systems which will allow Gardaí to issue FCN’s for these offences directly from their mobility devices. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset, it is important to clarify that the matter to which the Deputy is referring concerns rights to identity in the context of illegal birth registrations, which falls under the remit of Department of Children, Equality, and Disability. Having said that, I wish to advise the Deputy that under Section 38 of the Status of Children Act 1987 (as substituted by section 82 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Programmes (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 675 and 676 together. The Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. Only the project proposals currently on hand will be processed to completion, and by default, the individual investor applications associated with them. Since the closure of the programme, my Department has continued to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating nearly 33,000 residents who have applied for international protection, as provided for in Irish and EU law. Of our nearly 33,000 residents, approximately 5,300 people have completed their application process and have received a positive decision. This means they have a legal status that allows them to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) is a national Bureau that is responsible for the prevention, detection and investigation of illegal immigration. They are responsible for the enforcement of deportation and removal orders. They also provide assistance, advice and support to Immigration Officers located in Garda Divisions around the country. In addition to the members of GNIB, there...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Airport Security (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 681 to 683, inclusive, together. It is a central priority for me that our immigration system is robust and enforced. An Garda Síochána has responsibility for airports and other ports of entry in the State with the exception of Dublin Airport, where the Border Management Unit of my Department has responsibility for frontline immigration duties. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to ensuring that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that the public has confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. If a person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: While I cannot comment on individual cases, I can confirm to the Deputy that officials in my Department are aware of this case and it is receiving attention. In order to protect the privacy of people applying for international protection, the Department does not provide operational information about relocations between International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres. During...

European Union Regulations on International and Temporary Protection: Motions (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Joint Policing Committees (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for the question. As he is aware, last week, I signed the regulations for the local community safety partnerships, which came into operation on Monday, 30 June. A total of 36 partnerships can now be established across the country, with partnerships in each local authority administrative area. That means there will be five in Dublin. Each LCSP will be led by a voluntary...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Joint Policing Committees (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I note what the Deputy has said about the JPCs, which did a lot of good work. Like me, the Deputy is a former member of a local authority. At stages, they could become very formulaic, with many gardaí, including senior gardaí, sitting there and just engaging directly with local elected councillors on very specific issues. Many of the issues raised at JPCs were issues the Garda...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Joint Policing Committees (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: When they are set up, we will look at them. We should not say in the first instance, "Let us start reviewing them." Let us get them up and running. Let us get them operating effectively and successfully. Everyone here wants them to succeed and I know that the partnerships themselves will want to succeed. If we manage to get this right, it will be a major step forward in terms of just...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Community Safety Partnerships (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I agree with the Deputy regarding the K district in Blanchardstown. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, I went to Blanchardstown Garda station and had the pleasure of meeting the gardaí there. They do excellent work. It is a very demanding and busy station. The Deputy mentioned that I needed to get involved in directing the Garda Commissioner as to where Garda numbers should go. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Probation and Welfare Service (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy. He Deputy put that very sensitively and appropriately. I am aware of the allegations made against Scouting Ireland. I recall the "RTÉ Investigates" programme and, indeed, I very much recall the very powerful work done by Joe Duffy on his programme in interviewing people who had been subject of abuse while they were in the scouts. On the Probation Service, there...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Probation and Welfare Service (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will make inquiries in respect of the case that is ongoing at present. If it is the case that there is clearly liability on the part of the State, I would like to see that case resolved in a mediated fashion. I will speak to the Attorney General in respect of that case. Obviously, the Deputy is correct that it puts many burdens on people to sue the State, but a couple of years ago the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Community Safety Partnerships (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Currie. I am pleased to be able to answer the Deputy's question this time as opposed to the previous time.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Community Safety Partnerships (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: If I am answering the wrong question, my very vigilant Ministers of State will tell me I am doing something wrong. The Deputy is correct in stating that last week, I signed the regulations giving effect to the local community safety partnerships, LCSPs. They came into force on Monday of this week. As the Deputy will be aware, much work has already been done in respect of local community...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Community Safety Partnerships (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will be taking an active role. It is an important time and occasion, now that these regulations have been signed and are being rolled out. The community partnerships will not be on their own trying to formulate their own guidance because, as I said, there will be a National Office for Community Safety, which is a statutory office that will be based within my Department. That office will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legal Aid (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I accept there is an issue in terms of solicitors being available to do this very important work. Part of the problem is that because the Irish economy is doing so well, it is attractive for solicitors to get work elsewhere, other than in the areas the Deputy is discussing here or other areas such as criminal legal aid under the criminal legal aid scheme. We need to ensure the fees that are...