Results 7,921-7,940 of 9,409 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: European Court of Justice (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO) was established in 2017 under the EU's enhanced cooperation measure to investigate and prosecute crimes against the financial interest of the European Union. These crimes are as set out in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 829 and 830 together. My Department currently directly employs 37 Service Officers on standard civil service terms & conditions. A further six are based in agencies under its aegis including in the Probation Service, the Dublin Coroner's Service, and the Private Security Authority. I am informed that 30.8 Service Officers are employed by agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The mileage claims by former Minister of State, James Browne, TD amounted to €14,503.36 in 2023 and €14,963.61 in 2024. The combined total cost of overnight allowances associated with both civilian drivers in the Minister of State’s office was €23,937 in 2023 and €17,940 in 2024. All such expenses were claimed in accordance with relevant circulars issued...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that the detail of the staff members that are assigned to my private office are set out in the table below: Grade Pay Scale Allowance Private Secretary/Assistant Principal (PPC) (temporary assignment) €79,086 - €98,559 €24,952 Higher Executive Officer (PPC) ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Prison Service (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The provision of safe and secure custody and dignity of care for people in prison in Ireland is a priority for the Irish Prison Service and for me, as Minister for Justice. The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service has all but eliminated the practice referred to as ‘slopping out’ in prisons through a major refurbishment programme and the replacement of prison...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Prison Service (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed that the information requested by the Deputy is collated by the Irish Prison Service on a periodic basis. The January 2025 census is currently being finalised and will be published on the Irish Prison Service website in the coming weeks. In the interim, I can advise the Deputy that according to the most recently completed census of cell occupancy, taken on 16 July 2024, there...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Prison Service (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government has made significant capital funding available to the Irish Prison Service in order to enhance the existing prison infrastructure and to provide additional capacity. The opening of the new standalone female prison in Limerick in 2023 provided an additional 22 female cell spaces. Plans are also being pursued to increase the capacity in the Dóchas Centre in the coming...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Regulations (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that, since 13 January 2025, all nationwide first-time registrations of Irish immigration residence permissions are the responsibility of the Registration Office of the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of my Department. Furthermore, since October 2024, all renewals of immigration permissions transferred to ISD of my Department, meaning that applicants from across...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Penalty Points System (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the management of the Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS). As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am however assured that road traffic enforcement remains a core policing...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources, including the Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter. The Government is committed to providing An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Policing Co-operation (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: A key principle of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is that community safety requires multi-agency cooperation working in partnership with An Garda Síochána and crucially with communities themselves. The Report recommended the establishment of national and local structures to bring together Departments and State agencies involved in harm prevention to promote...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 843 and 848 to 850, inclusive, together. This Government will be resolute in its support of Gardaí. We want to build safe and secure communities, and a well-resourced An Garda Síochána is critical to achieving that. The Programme for Government commits to examining a range of further measures to enable An Garda Síochána recruit...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legal Services Regulation (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 844 and 845 together. The Deputy may be aware that in 2021, in accordance with the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, the then Minister for Justice asked the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) to prepare and submit a report on the possible creation of a new profession of conveyancer. This request was in line with the provisions of section 34(1)(c)...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Crime Prevention (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and is deeply aware of the impact that serious crime, including drug related crime, can have on communities. The Government’s approach to the misuse of drugs is set out in Ireland’s National Drug Strategy, ‘Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery’. This is a health-led approach to drug and alcohol use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (6 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 30 September 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 22 December 2023 where it awaits examination and processing. My Department's business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (6 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As there is no Irish Embassy in Cuba, the Embassy of Ireland in Mexico liaises with visa applicants from Cuba to provide the best possible service. Cuban nationals are subject to the same requirements that apply to all visa required nationals. I can advise that an interview is not a standard requirement of the Irish authorities for the visa application process. If an interview is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (6 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, following engagement with the legal representatives for the families of the victims of the Stardust fire, the Government approved last August a two-phased approach to redress arrangements. The first phase focused on the families of the 48 victims who tragically died in the fire and was developed in consultation and agreement with the legal representatives...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (6 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am pleased to informed the Deputy that the person concerned was issued an invitation to the upcoming Citizenship ceremonies. The next Citizenship Ceremonies will take place on 13 and 14 February 2025 at the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD). My Department held 24 citizenship ceremonies last year, an increase from the 15 ceremonies held in 2023, and the 6 that were held in 2022....