Results 721-740 of 10,120 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The complex referred to has successfully supported accommodation and decision-processing by the State for a number of years, and currently accommodates over 2,000 people, with both international protection applicants and people from Ukraine resident on the site. The Government is committed to moving away from its reliance on the private sector to provide accommodation for people seeking...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department’s Blended Working Policy was introduced in 2022 following consultation with staff and management and was developed in line with the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. After two years of operation the policy was reviewed, again in consultation with staff, in 2024. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Strengthening An Garda Síochána is one of my main priorities and the retention of experienced qualified Gardaí is of course an important element of this. The increase in the mandatory retirement age to 62 and a new agreed Garda roster last year are examples of actions taken to support retention. I know Garda management are keen to provide appropriate supports to all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Department does not collate information on the classification of International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centres according to Pobal deprivation index. IPAS does publish regular statistics in relation to international protection applicants accommodated by IPAS. This includes a per county breakdown of where applicants are residing and a wide range of other...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 309, 310, 311, 312 and 313 together. My Department uses a standard suite of office and administrative software, however, for sound reasons of operational security, it would not be prudent or appropriate to disclose details of our information technology infrastructure, including software versions or cloud computing arrangements. My Department’s...

Estimates for Public Services 2025 (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. Deputy Carthy raised the issue of when temporary protection would be up. That is not an issue I can answer. What is apparent from the statistics is that after the war about 117,000 people from Ukraine came to Ireland and received temporary protection. The figure for Ukrainians in Ireland now is around 74,000 or 75,000, so clearly it is the...

Estimates for Public Services 2025 (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I was very sorry to hear about the issues of concern Deputy Gannon raised and very pleased to hear the Department was of assistance to him. I want all Deputies to know the Department will always be of assistance in dealing with any issues like that. It is there to facilitate not just Deputies but the public.

Estimates for Public Services 2025 (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move the following Further Revised Estimate: Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Further Revised Estimate) That a sum not exceeding €2,590,495,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st Day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Justice, Probation Service staff and of certain...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Senator McCormack for raising this matter. It is a great honour for me to be back in the Seanad and I hope to be here frequently. I wish to advise that, within my Department, I am delegating responsibility for youth crime to the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins. Notwithstanding that, it is an extremely important issue and I welcome the opportunity to respond to what the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is important that the Judiciary is aware of the options available under section 98 of the Children Act 2001. There are more options available other than simply a custodial sentence. I agree with the Senator that, on occasion, a custodial sentence is appropriate but the imposition of a sanction on the parent or guardian, or the imposition of an order requiring the parent or a guardian to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Electronic Tagging (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome those from Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School who are in the Gallery. They are a great school and it is great to see them in the Houses of the Oireachtas. Senator Gallagher raises an important issue. It is one of the most pressing issues that is facing me as the Minister for Justice. It relates to what is the overcrowding issue in our prisons. Since I have been made Minister...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Electronic Tagging (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Senator Gallagher. I will provide a detailed update in respect to where we are. I am advised that work is under way involving representatives from the various agencies to prepare to operationalise electronic monitoring. This includes the consideration of technology, data protection, procurement, implementation and operating model design. The project will determine in what order...

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022: Motion (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am back here with such frequency that it will not be long before the Cathaoirleach is looking for a barring order against me to get me out of the place.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022: Motion (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Fair enough. Like the Cathaoirleach, I welcome the distinguished guests from the Procedure Committee of the House of Commons. You are all very welcome to the Upper House of the Irish Parliament. The Cathaoirleach will be aware that the motion before the Seanad in effect seeks a resolution concerning the accommodation recognition payment. In short, I am asking the Seanad to approve a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025 set out a commitment to undertake both a public consultation and independent research on the topic of parental alienation. The findings of both were analysed, and arising from this, the Department developed a policy paper on how to address the issue. Both the paper and the report recognised that parental alienation is a highly contested and divisive...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) that, the IPS Psychology Service has engaged in concerted efforts and a targeted strategy to improve the recruitment of staff. They further advise that a recruitment competition for Staff Grade Psychologists has been recently advertised. The table below Table 1 sets out the information requested by the Deputy. Table 1: A breakdown of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Rapid Build sites to which the Deputy refers have been future proofed insofar as the units have been developed to be compliant with building regulations and are of sufficient size to allow for alternative housing use. In addition, each site has roads, footpaths, street lighting and community facilities including a play area and green spaces, in line with Local Authority planning guidance....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that Mountjoy Prison Management have previously carried out inspections of the perimeter of the prison and were unable to locate any mechanical noises being emitted from the prison complex. I have asked my officials in Irish Prison Service to contact the Deputy directly for more information on the specific location of the alleged...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: If a person is not eligible for Irish citizenship through birth or descent, they may instead consider applying through naturalisation. 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. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (21 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that Ireland supports the entry of migrants through legal pathways for the purposes of study, employment and to join family members. Details of these legal pathways can be found on the Immigration Service website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie. In order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid Employment Permit....