Results 9,141-9,160 of 9,410 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation and reception conditions for people applying for international protection in Ireland. IPAS is currently accommodating over 33,000 people in over 320 centres nationwide, about 9,000 of whom are children with their families. In accordance with S.I. No. 230 of 2018, European Communities (Reception Conditions)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Accommodation (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: International Protection applicants are accommodated in over 320 IPAS Accommodation Centres nationwide, which consist of a mix of State-owned centres, long-term centres and emergency international protection accommodation centres. Approved housing bodies are not used for the provision of emergency international protection accommodation. Due to the significant shortages of available...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. Given the importance of citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks must take place on each application. Unfortunately, some international checks can take a considerable amount of time and these are largely out of the control of my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 May 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. As part of this, my Department ensures that international protection applications are dealt with fairly and efficiently within the framework of Ireland's international obligations. The International Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The discount rate is the rate used by the courts in cases involving catastrophic injuries to determine the size of a lump sum award necessary to compensate a person for future loss. At present, the discount rate, as determined by the High Court and the Court of Appeal in the Russell vs. HSE case, stands at 1% for future care costs and 1.5% for other economic or pecuniary losses. Following on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Survivors of catastrophic injuries deserve compensation that is both fair and adequate to meet their treatment needs. Periodic Payment Orders (PPOs) are an alternative to lump sum awards as a method of paying such compensation to catastrophically injured people. Instead of receiving compensation in one tranche a payment is made annually on an agreed date. The annual payment amount is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (7 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Information recorded by An Garda Síochána in this regard is not stored in a manner which allows detailed data to be extracted along the lines sought by the Deputy. I have asked that my Department engage with the Garda National Immigration Bureau to assess whether a process to allow for the extraction of this information can be put in place; subject to the completion of that...

Seanad: Parole (Special Advocates) Bill 2024: Second Stage (13 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I agree with the amendment that proposes postponing the passing of Second Stage of this Bill for a period of six months. I thank Senator Ruane and Senator Flynn for introducing this legislation. It raises important issues, as has been identified by both Senators. It is not something that is highlighted publicly as an issue which is causing ongoing mischief in society but that is not a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for his very important question but I think he will agree with me it fades into insignificance when we consider the terrible events of last weekend and how they affected An Garda Síochána. Like the Deputy no doubt, I want to start these questions by extending my condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Garda Kevin Flatley who gave his life in the line...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: No, a person with no policing experience will not be appointed, or recommended by me rather, for the position of Garda Commissioner. It is also important to emphasise that we have a lot of excellent candidates within An Garda Síochána who should be putting their names forward for the position of Garda Commissioner. As it such a prestigious job at such a well-resourced and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I agree with the Deputy's position, and that of Sinn Féin, that the standard fund threshold part of the tax system needs to be changed. It is my strong expectation that that will happen. In respect of the numbers within An Garda Síochána, as the Deputy will know from the programme for Government, we have given a commitment that we will seek to get the numbers in An Garda...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Prison Service (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Gannon for this important question. Due to the rise in our population, it is important that we increase the number of spaces within prison. The Deputy asked me about measures that would increase decarceration and I will come to that presently, but it is important to say that more prison spaces are available in light of the increasing population and the ability of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Prison Service (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Since I have been made Minister, I have been to Cork Prison, Cloverhill Prison and I am going to another prison on Monday. I intend to visit every prison, if I am lucky enough to survive in office for a sufficient period of time. It is important that the crisis be addressed. It is being addressed. I know that, to deal with the specific issue the Deputy mentioned about mattresses on the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Prison Service (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I know the Deputy did not suggest the issue about releasing serious offenders. As part of my response, though, I have to be able to say that because it is an issue that people can legitimately put to me. Regarding people with addiction, the Deputy is correct. Many of the people who are given prison sentences have addiction issues and chaotic lives. However, part of the reason judges...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for her question. One of the most difficult things I have to do as Minister for Justice, and indeed, that the House has to do, is to resolve issues around balancing conflicting constitutional rights. This is an issue where there are conflicting constitutional rights that need to be balanced but, as the Deputy indicated, that balance needs to be shifted legislatively in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I read that Supreme Court decision. One of the points mentioned by the court through Mr. Justice Collins was it was surprising that since 2017, when section 19A was enacted, there has not been a reported judgement on the hearing that should take place in respect of the challenge to counselling notes. I agree with the Deputy that it is very traumatic for someone to know that confidential...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy is not being repetitive. On the intention of the proposed change, what will happen is a judge will look at a counselling note and make a decision on whether there is anything of relevance in it where, if it is not disclosed, it would result in an unfair trial. In most situations, it is highly unlikely that disclosure would then occur. However, what I cannot do, and I know some...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for his question. I am very aware of his long-standing interest and commitment in respect of this issue. I regret that there is a series of legislative priorities within my Department's remit at present. Departmental staff are working on 31 Bills. Officials in the Department, along with their counterparts in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, continue to work on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: What I will do, although I have not discussed this with the Department, is give consideration to some short mechanism to put some provision in a miscellaneous provisions Bill that would deal with disregarding convictions that were imposed in these types of cases. In respect of the post office scandal in the UK, general legislation was introduced very promptly within a statutory scheme, which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (15 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I commend Kieran Rose on the excellent work he has done in this area. He has been in contact with me frequently as well. I would appreciate getting a copy of that research. We are trying to revisit an injustice that was done to people in a different era. It is commendable that there is agreement in the House that this should be done. What we are discussing is the most appropriate...