Results 2,821-2,840 of 2,846 for speaker:Colm Brophy

Seanad: European Council Decision: Motion (10 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: The motion seeks Seanad Eireann’s approval to opt in to a European Council decision authorising the opening of negotiations for a readmission agreement between the European Union and Kazakhstan. Readmission agreements play a valuable role in the fight against irregular migration by facilitating the admission to their own country of persons residing without authorisation in a member...

Seanad: European Council Decision: Motion (10 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: In my closing remarks I will highlight what I highlighted in my opening remarks, namely that an essential priority of the Government is ensuring its immigration laws are both robust and enforced. People are entitled to have confidence in our immigration system and there must be consequences for individuals who refuse to leave the State when they are ordered to do so. Returns and readmission...

Negotiations on an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Motion (11 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following...

Negotiations on an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Motion (11 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: I reiterate what I said in my opening remarks that the essential priority for the Government in our immigration laws is that they are robust and enforced. People are entitled to have confidence in our immigration system and there obviously must be consequences for individuals who refuse to leave the State when they are ordered to do so. Returns and readmission are fundamental pillars of...

Negotiations on an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Motion (11 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: We are actually engaging in an initial stage which, as the Deputy fully knows, will come back afterwards to the House for full discussion, if we choose to opt in at the end. While the numbers coming to Ireland from Kazakhstan are low, and I accept the point made about applications for international protection in 2022 and the five applications in 2024, opting into the Council's decision to...

Negotiations on an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Motion (11 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: We are not outsourcing to the EU. We are part of the European Union. It is important that we acknowledge that and a common approach is the best, which is why we have opted in to the European asylum and migration pact. It is also worth noting, in light what seems to be a presumption that we are automatically bound by any agreement resulting from negotiations, that the aim is simply to...

Negotiations on an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Motion (11 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: All the Government has done with regard to deportation flights is to see the process through, and it is important to recognise that.

Negotiations on an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Motion (11 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: There is no desire by the Government to initially move to things like deportation flights. They are an end part of a process where we actually believe people have been given an opportunity to voluntarily return at the start, and for people to engage in leaving in other ways.

Negotiations on an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Motion (11 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: It is a complete misrepresentation of the Government's position to say there is somehow any glee or joy in-----

Negotiations on an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Motion (11 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: -----communicating on deportation flights, but they are part of it. What we are doing here, as I said, is a process of engagement. I would ask, therefore, that the House would support this exercise for Ireland's opt-in in respect of this measure. I thank the Deputies for their consideration on this important matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (11 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: I understand the Deputy has clarified that he is referring to Ukrainian nationals who have arrived in Ireland as Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP). I can advise the Deputy that in June 2024, the Council of the European Union adopted the decision to extend the Temporary Protection Directive until March 2026. This was an important demonstration of continued solidarity and support...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (11 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: I can advise the Deputy, the Temporary Protection Directive was extended until March 2026 at a meeting of the European Council in June 2024, thereby providing certainty for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BoTP) who can continue to avail of the protections that the Directive provides during this time. Consideration as to the arrangements to be put in place following the expiry of...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (24 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: The two motions before the House seek the approval of Seanad Éireann to continue in force provisions in the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 aimed at combating terrorism and organised crime.Given the nature of these important provisions, the Houses of the Oireachtas have decided that they should be periodically reviewed. The...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (24 Jun 2025)

Colm Brophy: I am grateful for the consideration of the motions today and thank all Senators for their contributions, in particular those in support of the motions. The threat from terrorist activity remains, including from dissident republican paramilitary groups, that warrants the continuation in force of the 1998 Acts and provisions. Likewise, the renewal of section 8 of the 2009 Act is an important...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Deportation Orders (3 Jul 2025)

Colm Brophy: I thank the Deputy for the question. It is a central priority for me, as Minister for State, that Ireland’s immigration system is firm, fair and effective. Returning people who do not have permission to remain in Ireland is undertaken through both voluntary returns and deportation. Both types of returns are essential for the system to work effectively and ensure confidence in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Deportation Orders (3 Jul 2025)

Colm Brophy: To clarify, if a person has left voluntarily, he or she must provide, on foot of a request, officials with documentary evidence within three days that they have left Ireland. If they do not do so, a deportation order can be issued. Of the 808 people who left by way of voluntary return this year up to 27 June, 615 had been refused international protection status. Since 2020, 2,300 people...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Deportation Orders (3 Jul 2025)

Colm Brophy: The Deputy will be aware that we do not have an exit system for leaving our country. The reason is that there are various circumstances concerning how we manage people coming and going, particularly with the common travel area. We believe, based on clear indications, that the vast majority of people served with a deportation order do actually leave the country. The indication is that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naturalisation Applications (3 Jul 2025)

Colm Brophy: Last week, I was delighted to attend the citizenship ceremonies, along with the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Collins. We welcomed more than 7,500 new Irish citizens. My Department is commitment to providing the best possible service to the customers of our citizenship division. We have taken significant steps to speed up the process for applicants. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naturalisation Applications (3 Jul 2025)

Colm Brophy: Based on the trend in recent years, we probably will see either sustained or small increases in the number of applications. We are always looking at how the system works to try to make it work better and ensure people have a speedy response to their request. If we are looking at increased numbers, we will look at how we are handling and processing applications. It is important to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naturalisation Applications (3 Jul 2025)

Colm Brophy: I acknowledge there is a gap between the ceremony and the receipt of certificate. We are working on trying to tighten up and make sure the process involves as short a wait as possible. To deal with the issues the Deputy quite rightly raises as regards the impact this can have on some individuals, the primary allocation of resources was into shortening the time for people to receive their...