Results 9,401-9,420 of 9,467 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: When a non-EEA national comes to Ireland to undertake a course of study, be that an English language course or a course at level 6 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), a Stamp 2 student immigration permission will be granted. The primary purpose for a student to be in the State is to study, and their Stamp 2 permission will be aligned with their studies. Under Stamp...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Local Community Safety Partnerships (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which I commenced on Wednesday 2 April 2025, provides for the establishment of Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSP) within each local authority area. Each Local Community Safety Partnership will be supported by two full-time, permanent staff at local authority administrative Grades IV and VII. Funding for these staff is provided by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sports Facilities (22 May 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. Since the closure of the programme, the IIP Unit has continued to process and submit applications to the Evaluation Committee for consideration and recommendation. At present, there are approximately 100 Immigrant Investor Programme project proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 304 together. While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, I engage regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need. I am informed that when allocating and transferring Garda members to and from any Division, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The complex referred to has successfully supported accommodation and decision-processing by the State for a number of years, and currently accommodates over 2,000 people, with both international protection applicants and people from Ukraine resident on the site. The Government is committed to moving away from its reliance on the private sector to provide accommodation for people seeking...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department’s Blended Working Policy was introduced in 2022 following 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. After two years of operation the policy was reviewed, again in consultation with staff, in 2024. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Strengthening An Garda Síochána is one of my main priorities and the retention of experienced qualified Gardaí is of course an important element of this. The increase in the mandatory retirement age to 62 and a new agreed Garda roster last year are examples of actions taken to support retention. I know Garda management are keen to provide appropriate supports to all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Department does not collate information on the classification of International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centres according to Pobal deprivation index. IPAS does publish regular statistics in relation to international protection applicants accommodated by IPAS. This includes a per county breakdown of where applicants are residing and a wide range of other...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 309, 310, 311, 312 and 313 together. My Department uses a standard suite of office and administrative software, however, for sound reasons of operational security, it would not be prudent or appropriate to disclose details of our information technology infrastructure, including software versions or cloud computing arrangements. My Department’s...

Apology to Shane O'Farrell and his Family: Statements (27 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I also want to welcome the family of Shane O'Farrell to the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery, his loving parents, Lucia and Jim, and his sisters, Gemma, Aimee, Pia and Hannah. When Shane O'Farrell left his home in Carrickmacross on the evening of 2 August 2011 to go on a cycle in preparation for a charity triathlon, he had his whole life ahead of him. At 23 years of age, Shane had secured...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (27 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The suspension of a requirement for re-entry visas for children under 16 was introduced in 2022. The processing of these applications required applicants to submit their passports, which, at times, resulted in significant processing times, delays and other issues arising. Suspending re-entry visa requirements for children under 16 allowed the Department to minimise potential disruption to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (27 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department has worked closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance. Visa applications for family members of Palestinian nationals...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (27 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) is the body responsible for the regulation of the legal professions, both solicitors and barristers, under the provisions of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. Section 9(4)(d) of the 2015 Act states that of the 11 members appointed to the LSRA by the Government, one person shall be nominated by the King’s Inns and I can confirm that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (27 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 444 and 445 together. Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to international protection applicants is a requirement of Irish and EU law. The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people who have applied for international protection in Ireland, over 9,000 of whom are children. The International...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (27 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation applications from the people referred to by the Deputy continue to be processed by my Department. I can also assure the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, however, Citizenship Division have taken a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (27 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is unable to publish any information that would identify any person as being an international protection applicant. This is a separate matter to the law dealing with data protection matters more generally.? My officials and I are legally obliged, under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, to ensure that the identity of any person who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (27 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 448, 449 and 450 together. I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (27 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Department of Justice is leading an ambitious programme of reform outlined in the first Family Justice Strategy which sets out a vision for a system refocused on the needs and rights of children, who are central to many family justice matters. One of the aims of the Strategy is to assist families to resolve their family justice issues in as straightforward a manner as possible. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (27 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Family Courts Act 2024 is a key component of my Department's Family Justice Strategy and contains a number of provisions designed to make the family court process more user-friendly and less costly. For example, Part 2 of the Act provides for guiding principles for the Family Courts which includes encouraging and facilitating as far as possible, the resolution of issues in dispute by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (27 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, management of the courts, including matters related to the administration of the courts, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, is independent in exercising its functions. The conduct of court cases is furthermore a matter for the presiding judges, who are independent in the exercise of their...