Results 201-220 of 9,148 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I recognise the significance and sensitivity of the coronial investigation process for loved ones of the bereaved, and that delays in coronial investigations can cause distress for families of the deceased. The coroner is an independent office holder, charged with the investigation of those deaths reportable to him or her by law under the Coroners Acts 1962-2024. The Department of Justice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Common Travel Area (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy is aware, CTA is an arrangement between the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland which gives Irish and British citizens the right to move freely within the CTA. Additionally, there are associated reciprocal rights and privileges including access to employment, healthcare, all levels of education, and social benefits on the same basis as citizens of the other State, as well as the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Apr 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. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1559 and 1560 together. Through the Programme for Government and the Youth Justice Strategy, I am committed to improving outcomes for young people at risk of a life of criminality through investment in youth justice services. The Children Act 2001 provides the legislative framework for youth justice in Ireland. The Act provides for a criminal justice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Following engagement with legal representatives of the families of the victims of the Stardust fire, the Government, last August, approved a two-phased approach to redress arrangements. The first phase focused on the families of the 48 victims who tragically died in the fire. It was developed in consultation and agreement with the families' legal representatives. It provided for a single,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to the principle that everyone, wherever they live in Ireland, should be safe and feel safe. Building safe and secure communities across the country by investing in An Garda Síochána is a top priority in the Programme for Government. I want every part of the country to be a safe space for people to live and work in, and the Clongriffin area in Dublin 13...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Public procurement is governed by EU and national rules and my Department ensures that appropriate procedures are followed for procurement activity. Departments are obliged to ensure that public procurement is discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and that contracts awarded represent best value for money. Public procurement practices are subject to audit and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, particularly considering the current processing times. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My first priority as Minister for Justice is getting more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment. I am committed to building stronger, safer communities, and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We can see clearly that there is strong interest in a career in An Garda Síochána. In February the latest recruitment competition took...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Firstly, I want to assure the Deputy I recognise the enormous contribution to the Irish health service and Irish society made by healthcare workers from outside the EU. At all times the staff of my Department's Visa Division process visa applications in an impartial and consistent manner in line with the relevant policy document. Without specific visa application numbers, I am unable to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1568 and 1576 together. While I cannot comment on individual cases, I can provide information on the Irish Prison Service Victim Liaison Service, which provides victims who have opted into the service with general information on the prison system. They will also provide victims with information regarding any form of temporary release; information...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation application processing times of individual nationalities are not recorded by my Department. I can assure the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, however, Citizenship Division have taken a significant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I understand that the Deputy's query relates to visa applications. Extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible. In 2024, approximately 201,000 visa applications, of all types, were received by the Visa Division of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department is fully committed to reforming the family justice system in Ireland and as part of the Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025, which was published in November 2022. This ambitious Strategy outlines the steps needed to create a more efficient and user-friendly family justice system that puts the family and children at the centre of its work. As the strategy was developed, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a join family visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible. The entitlement to family reunification varies depending on the permission granted to the sponsor of the application. My Department aims...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that our people have confidence in the application of our laws in this area. My Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department, where necessary, will assign additional resources to the Registration Office to handle the seasonal demands around the academic term and the high volume of international student registering. Following their arrival in Ireland, any new non-EEA national students have up to 90 days to register their immigration permission. All first-time registrations nationwide are being...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is unable to publish any information that would identify any person as being an international protection applicant. This is a separate matter to the law dealing with data protection matters more generally. My officials and I are legally obliged, under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, to ensure that the identity of any person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. This application is based on Section 16 'Irish Association', which can take longer to process than applications based upon residency. Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be granted....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The presiding judge is entirely independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, and the decision to grant or refuse bail in a particular case is solely a matter for the court. However, I have made enquiries to the Courts Service regarding the information you have requested. The Courts Service cannot provide a report on “the number of occasions between 2015 and 2025 where...