Results 9,681-9,700 of 10,346 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (12 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Implementing effective border security arrangements is a priority for me as Minister. The Programme for Government commits to developing a border security strategy to deliver stronger border security, ensuring technology supports border screening and to reviewing the potential of extending pre-clearance mechanisms, such as electronic travel authorisation, for travel from designated third...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (12 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have noted the research published by Trinity College and Women’s Aid and I have asked my officials to review its contents. I welcome the report’s emphasis on the need to continue to implement the national Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025, the ambitious programme of reform developed by my Department which sets out a vision for a system refocused on the needs and rights of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Miscarriages of Justice (12 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 425 together. The Deputy will be aware that the questions raised relate to an investigation conducted nearly 50 years ago. This culminated in the Courts overturning the convictions of two people in 1980, a presidential pardon for a third person in 1992, and the subsequent payment of financial settlements. At the time, this case undeniably cast...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (12 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand that 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: Visa Applications (12 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 27 November 2024. The application and supporting documentation was received in the Pretoria Embassy on 12 December 2024. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 15 January 2025 where it awaits examination and processing. My Departments business target for join family visa applications is 12 months....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Social Impact Bonds (12 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The development and rollout of a Social Impact Fund is a key priority for the recently established Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (the Authority). This fund will support research, education, training, gambling treatment and intervention initiatives, and public awareness activities to help tackle gambling harm. The development of the fund is being conducted with the assistance...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Functions (12 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 429 to 436, inclusive, and 442 together. My Department now directly employs 4,067 people, including a number of agencies within Vote 24. There are 1603 staff under the Civil Justice Pillar and 255 staff under the Criminal Justice Pillar (as of 11 June 2025). Since my appointment as Minister, work has been ongoing in my Department to develop a new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together. My first priority as Minister for Justice is to get more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment. The overall Garda workforce, which includes Gardaí, civilian staff and Reserves currently stands at over 18,000. Significant changes have been made in recent years to boost recruitment and retention in An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 439, 440, 441 and 443 together. I am acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons and I am committed to increasing the capacity of our prisons by 1,500 in line with the Programme for Government. This work has already commenced. The Future Prison Capacity Working Group was established in the second half of 2024 to further consider future prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (17 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies, in order to make our roads safer for all. An Garda Síochána has, through various media and social media platforms, highlighted...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 29 March 2025. The application and supporting documentation was received in the Bangkok office on 24 April 2025. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 08 May 2025 where it awaits examination and processing. My Departments business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. It must be made...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Dublin on 30 April 2024. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 24 May 2024.All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (17 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The rate of development in Artificial Intelligence (AI) is unprecedented and a whole of Government approach is in place to address the AI challenges effectively and harness AI opportunities. My Department has engaged, and continues to engage, with counterparts across other Departments on digital matters, including AI. The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have been advised by the Garda authorities that a total of two vans in the Waterford/Kilkenny Division are allocated to Public Order duty as of 31 May 2025 (the latest date for when figures are available). An Garda Síochána publishes detailed information on the Garda fleet from 2008 to date, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown. Monthly fleet reports are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (17 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (17 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will appreciate, the scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business are matters for the Presidents of the Courts and the presiding judges who are, under the Constitution, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions. Furthermore, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (17 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 588, 589 and 590 together. I can assure the Deputy, that my officials aim to process families in a holistic manner and the consideration of a child’s immigration case is highly dependent on the status of their parents. Each child’s circumstances are examined in detail before a deportation order is made. If deportation orders are made against a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (17 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together. A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State, and is issued after the person is offered, but does not avail of voluntary return. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State within the timeframe issued with the deportation order, and fails to do so is committing a criminal offence, and can be arrested without warrant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (17 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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. A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so, within the timeframe issued with...