Results 241-260 of 10,435 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Seanad: EU Regulations: Motions (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Every time I come in here, there seems to be a local constituency group, so I thank the Cathaoirleach for that. I stand here to ask the Seanad to approve these motions to opt in to these three proposals in the field of international and temporary protection. As the Cathaoirleach knows, Ireland is committed to supporting and advancing the development of a common European system of asylum...

Seanad: EU Regulations: Motions (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Article 4.

Seanad: EU Regulations: Motions (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I listened to the Senators very carefully and I thank them for their contributions. I will try to respond to the points they raised but if I miss a point, I apologise. Senator Gallagher asked a couple of succinct questions. He asked how many people have sought international protection in Ireland to date this year. The answer is 6,000 in the first six months of the year. It was...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Carthy for his question. As every Member of the House knows, a visible Garda presence is really essential to ensuring the public feel a sense of safety. It is also essential from the Government's perspective and from the objective within the programme for Government to build safe and secure communities for the public to enjoy. In February, there was the first Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can confirm that it is proposed to use the Old Cork Prison site, as previously announced as part of a larger proposal to accelerate the delivery of six prison capital projects. Using an exemption from the initial approval stages of the infrastructure guidelines is expected to reduce delivery times by 12 to 18 months. This is part of the overall plan to increase prison capacity by 1,595. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice that our immigrations laws are robust and enforced. The EU Migration and Asylum Pact is a new EU framework to manage migration and asylum for the long-term. The overall objective of the Pact is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be done through convergence in asylum practises across the EU. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to protect people from harm and save lives. This includes the rollout of bodycams to help protect frontline Gardaí and to allow them to investigate crime as effectively as possible. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 was enacted in December 2023 and provides a legal basis for the deployment and use of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 61 together. I am acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons, and challenges faced by those who work and live in our prisons as a result. The current Programme for Government commits to increasing the capacity of our prisons by 1,500 spaces. The Irish Prison Service have already begun work to achieve this. Since January 2022, capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As Minister, it is my priority to ensure that the courts are adequately resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively. This past year marks the first full calendar year of supporting a significantly enlarged judiciary and court operations in the wake of the 2023 publication of the report of the Judicial Planning Working Group (JPWG) and the appointment of 24 additional judges....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to the principle that everyone, wherever they live, should be safe and feel safe. Building safe and secure communities across the country by investing in An Garda Síochána is a top priority for me. I want every part of the country to be a safe space for people to live and work in, and the Dublin 13 area is no exception to this. While the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Misuse of Drugs (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am fully committed to helping to significantly reduce the harms caused to families and communities by illicit drug use. While my colleague the Minister for Health leads on policy on drug addiction and recovery, I do recognise that these areas are complex and there is a clear interface between the work of An Garda Síochána and the health and social services in this area.A person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Freedom of Speech (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In Ireland, the right to freely and peacefully assemble and associate, and correspondingly, to freely express one’s convictions and opinions, is guaranteed under the Constitution, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. These are core tenets of any open, liberal democracy, and this Government is committed to their protection. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I would like to assure the Deputy that an increased and a visible Garda presence is central to the Government's aim to build safe and secure communities for all of our citizens to enjoy. In February this year, the first Garda recruitment competition for 2025 was launched. This is the fourth such competition in recent years and despite the challenging labour market conditions, I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: On 03 June 2025, I secured Cabinet approval for priority drafting of the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation Office) Bill 2025, which will establish the Criminal Justice International Cooperation Office and set out its powers in line with the EU e-Evidence Regulation and Directive. This is in line with the Programme for Government commitment to prioritise the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Local Community Safety Partnerships (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which I commenced on Wednesday 2 April 2025, provides for the establishment of Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSP) within each local authority area. Last week I signed the regulations for these Safety Partnerships and these came into operation on Monday 30 June. 36 Partnerships can now be established in local authority areas...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset, it is important to clarify that criminal legal aid and civil legal aid are separate services. As outlined in the Programme for Government 2025, the Government has committed to reforming the operation of Criminal Legal Aid. The general scheme of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill 2023 was published in July 2023. Civil legal aid and advice is provided for qualifying...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Safety (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The whole of Government response to road safety is led by the Department of Transport and is a shared responsibility taken very seriously across Government.While the development and implementation of road traffic legislation and policy falls within the remit of my colleague Mr Darragh O'Brien TD, the Minister for Transport, road traffic laws are enforced by Gardaí assigned to Roads...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to people seeking international protection is part of Irish and EU law. A portion of the Irish Prison Service site at Thornton Hall in North Dublin was identified by the State in 2024 as having potential to assist with delivering emergency temporary accommodation for people seeking international...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Bail laws in Ireland are comprehensive and the Bail Act 1997 has been revised and strengthened several times. However, I am committed to ensuring our bail laws are fit for purpose and have asked Lorcan Staines SC to assess current bail laws and make any recommendations he believes are appropriate, taking into account the requirements of constitutional justice. While our bail laws provide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Freedom of Speech (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 65 together. In Ireland, the right to freely and peacefully assemble and associate, and correspondingly, to freely express one’s convictions and opinions, is guaranteed under the Constitution, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. These are core tenets of any open, liberal democracy, and this...