Results 9,941-9,960 of 10,346 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In recent years my Department has taken a number of steps to upgrade the visa processing system and improve the service offered to individuals applying for Irish visas. This has included availing of services provided by VFS Global at their Visa Application Centres (VACs). Applications for Irish visas made by residents of South Africa are processed at VACs located in Cape Town, Johannesburg...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Any attempt by accommodation providers to exploit their position and prey on vulnerable individuals through such 'sex for rent' arrangements is completely unacceptable. Such actions are an abuse of power, which will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which I published on 6 May, includes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Regulations (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I understand that the Deputy is referring to commitments in Housing for All related to regulations to be made by my Department, in collaboration with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, under subsection 17 of section 18 of the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011. The aim of these regulations is to ensure that owner management companies (OMCs) are financially sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Responsibilities (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the Programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, responsibility for the regulation of owner management companies and the Multi-Unit Developments Act will be transferred from my Department, to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. While work in that regard is progressing, a legislative amendment will be necessary to avoid a potential conflict of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (26 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: Departmental Inquiries (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that temporary protection in Ireland only applies to the following groups of people who have had to flee Ukraine due to the invasion by Russia: a) Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022; b) Nationals of a third country (other than Ukraine) or a stateless person who would have benefited from international protection (for example:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 29 November 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Bangkok office on 14 December 2023. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 09 January 2024 where it awaits examination and processing. My Departments business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. It must be made clear...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: By law, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all decisions related to the upgrade of the Garda Estate. Works on the Estate are undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in cooperation with the Garda Authorities. This includes planning and completion matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. Returning people who do not have permission to remain in Ireland is undertaken through voluntary returns and deportation. Both types of returns are essential for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that implementing effective border security arrangements is a central priority for me. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice that our immigrations laws are robust and enforced. The EU Migration and Asylum Pact is a new EU framework to manage migration and asylum for the long-term. The overall objective of the Pact is to provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be done through convergence in asylum practises across the EU. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána publishes data on the allocation of Gardaí by Division, Station and rank, including for each Garda station in the country. This can be found at the following link: The Deputy can access data dealing with the “Allocation of Probationer Gardaí by Division and Station (2015 to 6 June 2025)” under "Probationer Gardaí" for a breakdown...

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----in very many old buildings, there is asbestos. The asbestos becomes a problem when somebody starts knocking down the building. Simply because there is an old building that has asbestos does not mean it is a threat to somebody's health. It can be a threat to health if the building is knocked down. Obviously, there have to be very careful measures put in place in respect of that. ...

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The last part is about the allocation of gardaí. The Deputy is right, in that I do not intervene in determining where gardaí go when they come out of Templemore, but I want him to know that, as well as those gardaí, gardaí are allocated to different places around the country after they have been attested and in the force for a period of time. There are transfers that go...

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is an important issue. Regarding training, gardaí get good training down in Templemore. As with teachers, we cannot expect gardaí to solve every societal problem. As to how this scheme will operate, the proposal is that it will try to divert people with addiction issues away from the criminal justice system and towards the health system. The Deputy may disagree with me, but...

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am wary of saying it but I have funding for 1,000 new gardaí each year. I am not going to go around to people saying we probably will not recruit 1,000. Deputy Kelly knows what I am saying.

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy.

Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Further Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Will I go through the rest?