Results 61-80 of 10,057 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In recent years my Department has taken a number of steps to upgrade the visa processing system and improve the service offered to individuals applying for Irish visas. This has included availing of services provided by VFS Global at their Visa Application Centres (VACs). Applications for Irish visas made by residents of South Africa are processed at VACs located in Cape Town, Johannesburg...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Any attempt by accommodation providers to exploit their position and prey on vulnerable individuals through such 'sex for rent' arrangements is completely unacceptable. Such actions are an abuse of power, which will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which I published on 6 May, includes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Regulations (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I understand that the Deputy is referring to commitments in Housing for All related to regulations to be made by my Department, in collaboration with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, under subsection 17 of section 18 of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011. The aim of these regulations is to ensure that owner management companies (OMCs) are financially sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Responsibilities (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the Programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, responsibility for the regulation of owner management companies and the Multi-Unit Developments Act will be transferred from my Department, to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. While work in that regard is progressing, a legislative amendment will be necessary to avoid a potential conflict of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Inquiries (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that temporary protection in Ireland only applies to the following groups of people who have had to flee Ukraine due to the invasion by Russia: a) Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022; b) Nationals of a third country (other than Ukraine) or a stateless person who would have benefited from international protection (for example:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 29 November 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Bangkok office on 14 December 2023. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 09 January 2024 where it awaits examination and processing. My Departments business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. It must be made clear...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: By law, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all decisions related to the upgrade of the Garda Estate. Works on the Estate are undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in cooperation with the Garda Authorities. This includes planning and completion matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. Returning people who do not have permission to remain in Ireland is undertaken through voluntary returns and deportation. Both types of returns are essential for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that implementing effective border security arrangements is a central priority for me. The Programme for Government commits to developing a border security strategy to deliver stronger border security, ensuring technology supports border screening and to reviewing the potential of extending pre-clearance mechanisms, such as electronic travel authorisation, for travel...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (26 Jun 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: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána publishes data on the allocation of Gardaí by Division, Station and rank, including for each Garda station in the country. This can be found at the following link: The Deputy can access data dealing with the “Allocation of Probationer Gardaí by Division and Station (2015 to 6 June 2025)” under "Probationer Gardaí" for a breakdown...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (25 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that sections 2 to 4, 6 to 12, 14 and 17 of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 39 of 1998) shall continue in operation for the period beginning on 30th June, 2025 and ending on 29th June, 2026. The two motions seek the approval of the Dáil to continue in force provisions in the Offences Against the State (Amendment)...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist seo atá tábhachtach do mhuintir Chiarraí. I will try to find out what the issue is with that. I do not have the information in respect to it. There certainly should be a playground in west Kerry. I am surprised that there is not. I would have thought there should be one around Dingle. I will raise it with the relevant...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for identifying that the 50th anniversary of the Dundalk bombing is coming up. Regrettably, nobody has been brought to justice for those murders. Technically, it is an ongoing Garda investigation but the reality is that we are going to have to try to get some mechanism to deal with this and others as legacy issues. There are ongoing discussions between the Irish...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: That is an upsetting account that the Deputy has had to give about a constituent who has been paying their private healthcare for years and was then told that pembro is not covered. The Health Insurance Act regulations require insurers to require a minimum level of cover to every insured person. Beyond that, in terms of what specific issues are covered or not, that is set out in the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for raising that. I will speak to the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, who is responsible for special education needs. I am concerned to hear that Marino special school has not had that review yet. It needs to be given some certainty in terms of where we are now with the new year starting up. I will...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy. I agree with her there are more gardaí on the streets of Dublin city centre and it has had a very positive impact. It is not the intention and I hope it is not the effect that gardaí are taken from different areas. I do not think that is the case. The Commissioner has made a decision that a significant number of new recruits coming out will be put in Dublin...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for raising that issue. I agree school secretaries and caretakers play an absolutely essential and invaluable role in schools. Many of us know schools that simply could not operate without the school secretary or indeed the caretaker. I note the assimilation of school secretaries to a payroll administered by the Department has provided significant benefits where pay and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Gogarty. It is correct to point out that when most people access the courts it is probably through the family court system. Most people stay away from the courts and it is only because of circumstances that force them before them because of family law issues that they have to engage with the courts. I have received a report on the in camera rule. I do not think we will be...