Results 1,781-1,800 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 616, 617 and 618 together. My Department has a designated qualified Head of Procurement who is a Principal Officer and I am informed that seven staff members in the Procurement Unit also hold formal procurement qualifications. These qualifications include; Certificate in Public Procurement from the Institute of Public Administration, and Advanced Diploma in...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána has access to a range of legislative powers to address the practice known as “cuckooing”. These include, but are not limited to, coercion under section 9 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, harassment under section 10 of the same Act, and offences under section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended. An Garda...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible, under sections 33 and 34 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. An Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to help our Gardaí do their jobs in...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: 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 certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department. I understand that extended...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department's website is part of the gov.ie platform, which is the portal for government services and information. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), a division of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, hosts and manages the gov.ie platform. Officials in my Department have contacted the OGCIO regarding...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department has worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. While my Department can issue visas to permit individuals to travel to Ireland, it is not in a position to provide practical...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Road traffic legislation, which is under the remit of the Department of Transport, specifies that an unaccompanied learner driver can receive both a fine and penalty points. This is provided for by section 35A(3) of the Road Traffic Act 2016. The Road Safety Authority outlines that learner permit holders detected driving unaccompanied by a qualified person may receive a Fixed Charge Notice...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the visit visa applications referred to were created on 19 and 25 March 2025. Supporting documentation was received in the South Africa Visa Desk on 23 April 2025 where it awaits examination and processing. Unfortunately, it is not possible to give a definitive date as to when these applications will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The accommodation centre at Dundrum House Hotel, Co Tipperary, has been providing accommodation under contract to the Department since 2022, for people fleeing war in Ukraine and for international protection applicants. The Department's has engaged extensively with the local community about this property since May 2024, including meetings, personal contacts and ongoing correspondence,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the average annual cost of an available, staffed prison space during the calendar year 2024 was €99,072. This includes net expenditure incurred within the year (such as salaries, utilities/ maintenance, ICT, prison services, etc.) excluding capital expenditure on buildings, ICT and vehicle purchases.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I understand that Parliamentary Question No 898 of 13 May sought: "the amount that An Garda Siochana spent on purchasing anti-ram vehicle bollards in 2023, 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form." I have been advised by Garda Authorities that An Garda Síochána have not purchased any anti-ram bollards during the period in question.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 896 of 13 May 2025 where you sought: “To ask the Minister for Justice the number of competitions held for sworn Gardai to apply to join Divisional Collision Forensic Investigation Units, in 2024 and to date in 2025; and the number of Gardai that applied during each competition held, in tabular form.” As you will recall, I sought the...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: The Eurodac database, which began operation in 2003, is used to enable the comparison of fingerprints and assist in determining the country responsible for the assessment of an asylum claim presented in one of the Member States. Statistical data on the work of the Eurodac Central System are made public at the end of each year in accordance with the Eurodac Regulation (Article 8(2) of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 899 of 13 May 2025 where you sought: “To ask the Minister for Justice with regard to the Garda driver training unit at Garda HQ, the number of filled posts, the number of vacant posts; when will those vacant posts be filled, in tabular form.” As you will recall, I sought the information from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána's human rights based approach to policing provides general guidance to Garda members and Garda staff on how human rights are to be observed in the course of their work. Additionally, as outlined in the Garda Public Order policy, it is the aim of An Garda Síochána to uphold and protect the human and constitutional rights of everyone by providing a high...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Over the last three years the State’s accommodation systems for international and temporary protection have been forced to expand at a rapid pace in response to a sharp increase in need. Applications for international protection rose steeply during 2022, 2023 and 2024. At the same time, over 114,000 people fleeing the war in Ukraine came to Ireland. In response to the increase,...