Results 261-280 of 10,435 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

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

Jim O'Callaghan: One of my top priorities as Minister is to get more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment and appropriate civilianisation where possible. The overall Garda workforce, which includes Gardaí, Garda Staff and Reserves currently stands at over 18,000. As of the end of May 2025, the latest date for when figures are available, there are 3,507 whole time equivalent...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Organised crime groups may think they can evade justice by crossing borders; they cannot. It is essential that they see there can be no hiding place from the law. I would like to assure the Deputy, that this Government is taking all necessary steps to dismantle organised crime groups, and that the State will do everything in its power to bring criminals to justice. Over the past number...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Gardaí have significant legislative powers to combat antisocial and dangerous use of mopeds and electric motorbikes including under the Road Traffic Act 1961, the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, and the Criminal Law Act 1997. In June 2023, the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law. The Act included provisions that aim to tackle the anti-social use of...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will appreciate, the allocation of court business are matters for the Presidents of the Courts and the presiding judges who are, under the Constitution, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. Furthermore, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in the...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy, it is absolutely my intention that the Local Community Safety Partnerships will be established as soon as practicable. The Partnerships are the cornerstone of our policy on community safety and so it is vital we get them up and running so that they can begin work on the development of a community safety plan for their respective areas. Last week I signed the...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Strengthening An Garda Síochána is one of my main priorities and retention of experienced qualified Gardaí is of course an important element of this. The Government has provided the funding to allow for sustained recruitment and is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs.I am informed by the Garda Authorities that there has been 22...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: We are all immensely grateful to our Gardaí for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society.For the most part, the relationship between Gardaí and the public is one built on very significant trust. An Garda Síochána is a largely unarmed, and yet hugely effective, community policing service.An...

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. Community Safety means Government Departments, state agencies, community organisations and the public working together alongside An Garda Síochána with the common aim of...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Dundrum House has been used to accommodate people fleeing the war in Ukraine since 2022, and international protection applicants since 2024. Details of payments, contractual arrangements or per night prices in relation to specific accommodation centres are not routinely provided by the Department. This is because such details are considered commercially sensitive and publishing them would...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am fully 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. A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. If a person does not remove themselves from the State following the issuance of a deportation order,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities, is a top priority for the Government and my Department. A number of key actions have been taken as part of our plan to tackle illegal drug use. This includes: Increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 57 together. Tackling domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence through sustained investment, robust policy measures and cross sectoral collaboration is a priority for me and for Government. I want to acknowledge the powerful and important contribution of Women's Aid and their 2024 impact report. The report is a difficult but essential read, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Meetings (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can confirm to the Deputy that I have held seven meetings with the Garda Commissioner since taking office. The relevant dates are as follows: 24 January 2025 7 February 2025 6 March 2025 28 April 2025 5 June 2025 9 June 2025.In addition to these formal meetings, I have also met the Commissioner on several occasions in the normal course of performing our respective duties, including at...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: As Minister for Justice, my goal is to ensure a robust and enforced immigration system. The international protection system should be efficient, giving people speedy decisions as to whether they are being granted international protection and integrated into our society, or not. At the beginning of 2022, Ireland's international protection accommodation service sheltered about 7,000 people....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023, which was signed into law in December 2023, provides for a new regime for the authorisation and operation of CCTV schemes. In order to introduce the new regime for CCTV, Part 5 of that Act must be commenced. There is a new requirement under that Act for the Garda Commissioner to develop a Code of Practice for CCTV which will set out...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (“the 1995 Act”) and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2021. Section 3(3) of the 1995 Act states that the Board shall, subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department has no involvement in the processes for victims of people detained following a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The Central Mental Hospital (CMH) is a designated centre run by the HSE under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 and is part of the National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS), which provides a range of forensic mental health services to its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Human trafficking is an exploitative and particularly heinous crime. It preys on some of the most vulnerable, and is committed with no regard for life, dignity or for the most basic of human rights. Across Government, we acknowledge the seriousness of this crime and are determined to reach and help those who have been affected by it and to take them out of these horrific situations. The...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation and other basic supports to people applying for international protection in Ireland. This is part of EU and Irish law. As part of our work to source and develop international protection accommodation, the Department receives multiple offers of accommodation from property owners and providers around the country....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Section 32 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, as amended, permits the ordering of reports from experts in relation to the views of the child and or on any question affecting a child’s welfare in guardianship, custody or access proceedings. These reports can be ordered by the Court on its own motion or following an application by one of the parties. It is important to note...