Results 8,121-8,140 of 9,409 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Sittings (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. Furthermore, the scheduling of individual court cases and the allocation of court business are entirely matters for the Presidents of the Courts and the presiding judges who are, under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (19 Feb 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: Family Reunification (19 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The review of the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunification, which was last amended in 2016, is examining a wide range of matters relating to applications for family reunification, including the nature and suitability of current income thresholds and waiting periods. My Department has consulted with a wide variety of stakeholders and the expectation is that the review will be brought...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (19 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 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 Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Criminal Assets Bureau is a multi-agency statutory body established in 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the allocation of Garda resources in respect of identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. The Deputy will appreciate that the execution of warrants, including bench warrants, can be impeded by persons actively seeking to evade...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The new Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime; increasing the number of Gardaí to ensure high visibility policing is central to this. There is a record Garda budget allocation this year of over €2.48 billion, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Flexible Work Practices (19 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department’s Blended Working (BW) Policy was introduced in August 2022 following extensive consultation with staff and management and was developed in line with the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. The BW policy supports my Department’s objective to be a dynamic,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (19 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling the scourge of domestic violence is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice. One of the overarching goals of the Zero Tolerance Strategy to address domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV), is ensuring that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one. The Strategy, published in June 2022, includes a commitment to doubling the number of refuge spaces by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (19 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, particularly considering the current processing times. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (19 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: A coroner is an independent office holder who performs a public service by making inquiries into reported deaths. Responsibility for the provision of financial and administrative supports to the Dublin District Coroner’s office was transferred from Dublin City Council to the Department of Justice in 2018. Outside Dublin, the relevant local authority funds the costs of all other...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 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 compared to over 8,500 in 2023, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed around 3,100 appeals in 2024...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279, 280 and 281 together. My Department holds meetings with individual firearms organisations on request and engages with various firearms stakeholders in other ways, while An Garda Síochána also meets with stakeholder organisations in respect of relevant matters. The Firearms Consultative Panel (FCP) was a non-statutory forum comprising...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Temporary Protection Directive has been extended until March 2026 at a meeting of the European Council in June 2024, thereby providing certainty for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to such. There has been a major increase in Garda staff numbers over the last ten years where the number of whole-time equivalents has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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 Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions and National/Specialist Units. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter. The Government is committed to providing An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda equipment. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. Garda Management was unable to furnish me with the requested figures in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 16 October 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the New Delhi Visa Office on 19 November 2024. It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Communications Surveillance (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that my Department is not aware of covert listening devices being unlawfully present in public places nationwide. I would encourage anyone with any information in relation to any such activity to bring this to the attention of An Garda Síochána.