Results 41-60 of 9,147 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Eradicating organised crime is central to building safer, stronger communities. I am committed to that goal, and strengthening and expanding the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is an important element of this. It is essential to deprive criminals of the proceeds of crime. CAB is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My first priority as Minister for Justice is to get more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment. For the fourth year running, a Garda recruitment competition took place in 2025. I am delighted to note that just under 6,800 applications were received. Regarding applications that are still in progress, there are six applications remaining in progress from the 2022...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: All International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres are contractually bound to provide menus that reasonably meet the dietary needs of the different religious and ethnic groups accommodated in its centres, and the prescribed dietary needs of any person accommodated at a centre. Menus must include a vegetarian option, and all food products provided must have a traceability system...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division within Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of my Department that they have corresponded directly with the person concerned in recent days to deal with the matter raised. As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, following the Transfer of Functions on 1 May 2025, the Department of Justice is now responsible for sourcing and providing accommodation for people applying for international protection. This function forms part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country. The State is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336, 337 and 338 together. The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. I know the Deputy appreciates the importance of this task and I am sure he agrees with the need for it to be carried out thoroughly and correctly. I believe the many organisations concerned with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together. Thank you for your questions, Deputy. A response will be provided directly to you in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The State is currently accommodating over 33,000 people who have applied for international protection in Ireland, about 9,000 of whom are children with their families. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation in 325 centres around the country, in every county. As of 13 April 2025, there are 1,468 people who are international protection (IP) applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 343 together. My Department and public bodies under its aegis are required to submit quarterly prompt payment reports in accordance with Government Decision S29296 of 19 May 2009, 2 and 8 March 2011, and 28 March 2017, regarding the 15-Day Prompt Payment Commitment. These reports are published on a quarterly basis and are available for the years...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Accommodation (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to international protection (IP) applicants is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country. The State is currently accommodating over 33,000 people who have applied for IP in Ireland, about 9,000 of whom...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Accommodation (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to people seeking international protection is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country. While there is no current proposal to conduct an audit such as the Deputy mentions, accommodation provided by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Accommodation (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Providing reception conditions to international protection (IP) applicants is part of Irish and EU law and is also part of our humanitarian duty to provide shelter to people fleeing war and persecution in their home country. The State is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in over 320 international protection accommodation centres around the country. The provision of accommodation,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation and reception conditions for people applying for international protection in Ireland. IPAS is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in over 320 centres nationwide, about 9,000 of whom are children with their families. In accordance with S.I. No. 230 of 2018, European Communities (Reception Conditions)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Accommodation (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: International Protection applicants are accommodated in over 320 IPAS Accommodation Centres nationwide, which consist of a mix of State-owned centres, long-term centres and emergency international protection accommodation centres. Approved housing bodies are not used for the provision of emergency international protection accommodation. Due to the significant shortages of available...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. Given the importance of citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks must take place on each application. Unfortunately, some international checks can take a considerable amount of time and these are largely out of the control of my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. As part of this, my Department ensures that international protection applications are dealt with fairly and efficiently within the framework of Ireland's international obligations. The International Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The discount rate is the rate used by the courts in cases involving catastrophic injuries to determine the size of a lump sum award necessary to compensate a person for future loss. At present, the discount rate, as determined by the High Court and the Court of Appeal in the Russell vs. HSE case, stands at 1% for future care costs and 1.5% for other economic or pecuniary losses. Following on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Survivors of catastrophic injuries deserve compensation that is both fair and adequate to meet their treatment needs. Periodic Payment Orders (PPOs) are an alternative to lump sum awards as a method of paying such compensation to catastrophically injured people. Instead of receiving compensation in one tranche a payment is made annually on an agreed date. The annual payment amount is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Information recorded by An Garda Síochána in this regard is not stored in a manner which allows detailed data to be extracted along the lines sought by the Deputy. I have asked that my Department engage with the Garda National Immigration Bureau to assess whether a process to allow for the extraction of this information can be put in place; subject to the completion of that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (1 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The number of naturalisation applications received by my Department from US nationals in 2023 was 613, and in 2024 it was 783; statistics for 2025 are not yet available. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Applicants are required to have 5 years...