Results 301-320 of 10,120 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Chair and members.

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: There is work going on in the Department that I have repeatedly enquired about what we can do to speed up Garda vetting. I am waiting for a report on it. In light of what the Deputy said, I will certainly raise it at the meeting I will have with the senior Department officials this Thursday. I raise it every time, but something needs to be done. We do not want this repetitive thing where...

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----sites that we have. Thornton Hall, however, is a place where I want to see work commenced for the construction of a new prison.

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Whether it is a rule or not, I am the person who is making decisions in this area. I do not want to find myself in a situation where I am going around looking for new hotels. Obviously, it is a different situation if a hotel has been used already for accommodating Ukrainians or IPAS accommodation. There may be reasons why we would want to continue that. I have already terminated nine...

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: There is a permanent director of care and rehabilitation in the IPS and there is an acting executive clinical lead. They have been in place since January 2024. Progress is being made on critical recommendations, as outlined in the health needs assessment. I was also in Clover Hill. There is unit in the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane, which is a stunning new building, that I am trying...

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I understand the Deputy's request for more gardaí to come into Kerry. Everyone wants more gardaí. I thank Deputy Cahill for welcoming my visit there. It was great to see Castleisland Garda station and the excellent work being done by community gardaí. The more we recruit, the more gardaí we will have in every part of the country. The Deputy's second question related...

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Certainly, Chairman.

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I cannot because it is on the basis of what is being provided in respect of the price per person per night. I agree, however, with the Chair that far too much money being spent on this area is going to private commercial providers. This is why I am trying to develop State accommodation and why I bought Citywest. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot be critical of people for trying to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fire Safety (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The State provides international protection accommodation in over 320 centres nationwide. In all instances where the Department holds a contract with an international protection accommodation provider, the onus is on the provider to ensure all activities at the property are within legal and regulatory limits, including health and safety, fire, planning and building compliance. Any ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Arrangements in respect of major emergencies are set out in the Framework for Major Emergency Management (MEM) which is intended to enable the Principal Response Agencies to prepare for and make a coordinated response to such emergencies. I am advised by the Garda authorities that Chemical, Biological, Radioactive or Nuclear (CBRN) attacks or events have a multi-agency response under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the New Delhi Visa Office publish a list of processing timeframes for visa applications submitted to that office. These indicative timeframes, which were last updated in April 2025, detail that an employment visa application from a General Employment Permit holder can expect to have their application processed within 60 working days. These processing times are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Rapid Build Programme is funded from the Exchequer. EU funding has not been sought to deliver the 11 sites. Exchequer funding was sanctioned for the programme further to a Government decision in June 2022 (S180/20/10/2271A) to approve the provision of 500 units to accommodate up to 2,000 people with temporary protection, using an accelerated tender process and a subsequent Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: IGO Emergency Management Services are a facilities management provider at four IPAS Accommodation Centres. In seeking to meet Ireland’s obligation to provide material reception conditions to people seeking international protection, the Department can consider offers of accommodation from a tax-compliant company, subject to compliance with statutory requirements and minimum standards....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that on 10 July 2024 visa requirements were introduced for nationals of South Africa. My Department has established a dedicated “South Africa desk” to process applications from residents of South Africa. My Department also established Visa Application Centres, located throughout South Africa, with visa service provider VFS Global. This is to ensure the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Communications (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána exercise a range of functions with regard to the operation of firearms legislation, including the issuing of firearms certificates and authorisations. An Garda Síochána are responsible under provisions of the Firearms Act 1925 to 2009, for the administration and consideration of applications for firearm authorisations in the State. The Firearms (Firearm...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Programmes (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Programme for Government commits to updating our licensing laws and in keeping with that commitment, the legislation will be advanced in due course. The Government's Summer Legislative Programme, published on 29 April, set out the Bills that have been prioritised for publication and for drafting in the current Dáil session. Further elements of the Programme for Government,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 612 and 675 together. The courts are required to impose a sentence which is proportionate not only to the crime, but to the individual offender, identifying where on the sentencing range the particular case should lie and then applying any mitigating factors which may be present. On 16 May 2025, the Judicial Council’s Sentencing Guidelines and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Inquiries (24 Jun 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. Additionally, I can assure you that it is a priority to have recommendations made on all international protection applications as soon as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 13 November 2024. The application and supporting documentation was received in the Hanoi office on 15 November 2024. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 03 December 2024 where it awaits examination and processing. My Departments business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. It must...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised the Deputy has clarified that he is referring to the processing of Type D Join Family visa applications. I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process...