Results 8,441-8,460 of 9,409 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and the Government. The Government is investing record amounts into An Garda Síochána to target those involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs through Operation Tara. Operation Tara has a strong focus on tackling street-level dealing across the country, and also seeks to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the operational policing response to burglary and Operation Thor is An Garda Síochána's national response to burglary. Operation Thor actively targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders through co-ordinated crime prevention and enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest burglary trends. One focus area of Operation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the operational policing response to burglary and Operation Thor is An Garda Síochána's national response to burglary. Operation Thor actively targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders through co-ordinated crime prevention and enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest burglary trends. One focus area of Operation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Projects (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset, it is important to note that, as Minister, I do not comment on individual Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) applications. The 'applicant' in the IIP process is the proposed investor and not the project owner. The State has no responsibility in relation to the delivery of any project or the performance of an investment under the Programme; these are a private matter between...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As Minister for Justice, I am acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons. I have already engaged with the Irish Prison Service on this issue and the Government has committed to increasing capacity of our prisons by 1,500 over the course of five years. This work has already commenced. The number of people in custody as of 3 March 2025 is outlined in the table below. These statistics...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Ireland is, in general, a diverse and welcoming country, but regrettably there is a small minority who subject others to abuse or attack resulting from their own prejudice. This behaviour cannot and will not be tolerated and anyone subjected to crimes motivated by homophobia should report it to An Garda Síochána. The Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 came into force, in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that an extensive consultation process has taken place with stakeholders, including other Government Departments, Government agencies, representative bodies in the licensed trade, businesses, public health bodies and advocacy groups, charitable organisations, consumers and communities in relation to the proposed legislation. Public health is a key consideration in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Programmes (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Programme for Government commitment referred to by the Deputy relates specifically to the information-sharing database that Banking & Payments Federation Ireland plans to develop on behalf of its members. The proposed database will allow participating financial institutions to share certain information for the purposes of helping to identify and prevent fraud. Legal advice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As Minister for Justice, it is a priority for me, and for my Department, to ensure that the courts are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively. In accordance with Articles 13.9 and 35.1 of the Constitution, judicial appointments are made by the President, acting on the advice of the Government. The assignment of judges is the responsibility of the respective...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Programmes (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is important to note that 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: Departmental Programmes (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to ensure that Ireland's labour market migration arrangements are fair, efficient and meet the needs of our economy and society. Currently, a person from outside the European Economic Area wishing to work in Ireland must make an application to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The management of trees is a matter that cuts across the legislative remit of a number of Departments, for example those dealing with Forestry, Roads, Planning and Development as well as National Parks and Monuments. The Roads Act 1993 provides that an owner or occupier of land shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that a tree is not a potential hazard to persons using a public road....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Defamation (Amendment) Bill has been restored to the Order Paper in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to restore the existing Bill. My officials are working closely with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to the Government to settle the text of amendments to be brought forward at Committee Stage. I am committed to progressing this Bill to enactment as a matter of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (4 Mar 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 Commission's report recommended the establishment of national and local structures to bring together Departments and State agencies involved in harm prevention to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by the Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of my Department. To be fair to all applicants, applications are dealt with in chronological order of receipt. My Department endeavours to process applications as quickly as possible. However, processing times may vary due to a number of factors, such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to keep people safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology, and vehicles. Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. Operation Táirge was launched in December 2023 by Assistant Commissioner, Roads Policing & Community...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (4 Mar 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: Departmental Reports (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Following the serious public order incident in Dublin City Centre in November 2023, An Garda Síochána conducted an operational debrief to identify any lessons to be learned and to inform the development of future policing operations and responses. Additionally, my predecessor, Minister McEntee, requested the Policing Authority to conduct a review and advise on what else might...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (4 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister, I have no direct role in the Garda recruitment process. I am regularly appraised of the progress being made and measures being taken to...