Results 8,021-8,040 of 10,321 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 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 staff....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 222 together. As the Deputy may be aware, there has been much work done to date to enhance the prison infrastructure, provide additional capacity, and explore alternatives to prison. The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, commits to continued action in this area, including the construction of a prison at Thornton Hall....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: While our bail laws provide for the refusal of bail in particular circumstances, the presiding judge is entirely independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, and the decision to grant bail in a particular case is solely a matter for the judge. However, in considering a bail application in accordance with the Bail Act 1997, as amended, the Court is required to have regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Commissioner is also responsible for the Garda Reserve under the Garda Síochána (Reserve Members) Regulations 2024. As Minister, I have no role in the recruitment or training process for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions. Currently the Proof of Concept (POC) phase for Body Worn Cameras is ongoing in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to protect people from harm and save lives. This includes the rollout of bodycams to help protect frontline Gardaí and to allow them to investigate crime as effectively as possible. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 was enacted in December 2023 and provides a legal basis for the deployment and use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can confirm that the total number of Prison Officers and Recruit Prison Officers employed by the Irish Prison Service as at 31st January 2025 is as outlined in the table below. Period Grade 31/01/2025 Prison Officers * 2358 * Prison Officers & Recruit Prison Officers. This figure provided does not include...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset, it is important to clarify that criminal legal aid and civil legal aid are separate services. As outlined in the Programme for Government 2025, the Government has committed to reforming the operation of Criminal Legal Aid. The general scheme of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill 2023 was published in July 2023. This Bill will modernise the operation of the Criminal Legal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Guardian Status (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits the Government to examine proposals to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partners, or a parent of their child, as part of the ongoing work to implement appropriate recommendations from the Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews. This is a commitment which I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The matters raised by the Deputy are under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth until the transfer of functions is completed. I have referred your question to that Department for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The matters raised by the Deputy are under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth until the transfer of functions is completed. I have referred your question to that Department for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (12 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 the relevant departments and State agencies involved in harm prevention to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the former Cork Prison facility was built in the early 1800s and operated as a prison from 1972 to 2016. The prison was deemed no longer appropriate for use as prison accommodation due to the condition of the facilities, the size of the cellular accommodation and the lack of in-cell sanitation. In late 2023, engineering consultants were engaged by the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the number of direct physical assaults involving prison staff between 2021 and 2024 is as detailed in the table below. Every assault on a member of staff is treated as serious and appropriate action is taken by the Irish Prison Service, including the reporting of such assaults to An Garda Síochána for the purposes of investigation...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am certainly happy to meet the board and organise for that to take place. I will get back to the Deputy in respect of that. I will speak to the relevant authorities on investment in Ballymun. I am conscious it is an area which requires investment but I do not think there will be any shortage of commitment from the Government on that.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 240, 241, 242 and 243 together. I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. In recent years there has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system. This has allowed for a major...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. In 2024 the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 14,000 first-decisions, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed 3,103 appeals. Increased staff levels, investment in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 253 together. Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all decisions related to the opening hours of individual Garda stations. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. Fethard Garda Station is a part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (13 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together. I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a join family visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible. Information regarding join family visa applications sponsored by holders of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (13 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together. It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.