Results 8,261-8,280 of 9,409 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (5 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) that they provide a health care service for people in custody with addictions in a structured, safe and professional manner in line with international best practice. The IPS continues to be committed to, and involved with, the National Drugs Strategy in partnership with community colleagues and organisations. It is the policy of the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (5 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Citizenship Division of my Department have taken a significant number of steps to speed up the process for applicants. These included introducing an online digital application, online payments, and the introduction of eVetting. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these changes are dramatically reducing processing times. The median processing time for a decision on an application in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (5 Mar 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: Citizenship Applications (5 Mar 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: An Garda Síochána (5 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (5 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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 5,000 members across the next five years and I have spoken already with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure that any threats of the nature described by the Deputy are treated as serious and appropriate action is taken by the Courts Service, including reporting any such incidents to An Garda Síochána for the purposes of investigation and criminal prosecution where appropriate. As specific security safeguards in relation to staff, legal practitioners and witnesses...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Rights (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy will be aware that the question raised concerns an investigation conducted almost 50 years ago and which culminated in the Courts overturning the convictions of two people in 1980; a pardon for one individual in 1992; and the payment of financial settlements. At the time, this case undeniably cast a shadow on the trust we place in our criminal justice and policing systems to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Rights (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána is committed to providing a human–rights focused policing service that seeks to protect and vindicate the rights of all people with whom Garda personnel interact. A human rights ethos is at the heart of the Garda Code of Ethics and the Garda Decision Making Model and the Garda Commissioner has brought a strong organisational focus over recent years to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the Garda fleet, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources, including vehicles, under continual review. This is considered in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure the optimum use of these resources. The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. A member of An Garda Síochána is deemed to be a ‘Community Garda’ where that person is allocated to a Community Policing Team (CPT), and is responsible and accountable for applying a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Programmes (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Since the closure of the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP), the IIP Unit of my Department has continued to process applications and submit proposed projects to the Evaluation Committee for consideration and recommendation. At present, there are approximately 100 Immigrant Investor Programme project proposals undergoing, or awaiting, such consideration. The IIP Unit is committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Statutory Instruments (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The table below is a list of proposed Statutory Instruments to be brought forward and signed by my Department in the first six months of 2025. The Deputy should be aware that this is list may be subject to change. My Department continues to put in place the necessary measures to ensure the full transposition, implementation and enforcement of EU law in Ireland, as appropriate. The table...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Any non-EEA national who comes to the State as a visitor is expected to leave Ireland before the expiry of their visitor permission. If there is an unexpected change in a person’s circumstances since they have entered Ireland, they may apply for a temporary extension of their visitor permission up to a maximum of 90 additional days. Any application should clearly state the reasons...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is important to emphasise that the conduct of any court case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. The courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, including sentencing. The Judicial Council Act 2019 provided for the establishment of an independent Judicial Council, and, within that body, a Sentencing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised that the person concerned entered Ireland in April 2024 and was granted a visitor permission. They then sought to register on a Stamp 2 basis as student, however, this request was refused as they did not have the appropriate permission to register. When a person comes to Ireland as a visitor, they are expected to leave Ireland before the expiry of their visitor permission. A...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together. I can advise the Deputy that the visa applications referred to have been refused. The reasons for these refusals were outlined to the persons considered in letters issued on 05 March 2024. Appeals of these decisions were received on 02 May 2024 and are currently under consideration. A decision will be issued to the applicants as soon as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Inquiries (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Tuam Community Training Centre, based in Galway, provides education, training, personal development and progression opportunities for young adult offenders and those at risk of offending or re-offending. The premises occupied by Tuam Community Training Centre is owned by my Department. The Probation Service and the Department of Justice are aware of the issues in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Missing Persons (6 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336, 335 and 337 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.