Results 10,161-10,180 of 10,346 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: On 03 June 2025, I secured Cabinet approval for priority drafting of the Criminal Justice (International Cooperation Office) Bill 2025, which will establish the Criminal Justice International Cooperation Office and set out its powers in line with the EU e-Evidence Regulation and Directive. This is in line with the Programme for Government commitment to prioritise the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Local Community Safety Partnerships (3 Jul 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. Last week I signed the regulations for these Safety Partnerships and these came into operation on Monday 30 June. 36 Partnerships can now be established in local authority areas...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset, it is important to clarify that criminal legal aid and civil legal aid are separate services. As outlined in the Programme for Government 2025, the Government has committed to reforming the operation of Criminal Legal Aid. The general scheme of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill 2023 was published in July 2023. Civil legal aid and advice is provided for qualifying...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Safety (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The whole of Government response to road safety is led by the Department of Transport and is a shared responsibility taken very seriously across Government.While the development and implementation of road traffic legislation and policy falls within the remit of my colleague Mr Darragh O'Brien TD, the Minister for Transport, road traffic laws are enforced by Gardaí assigned to Roads...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Providing reception conditions – accommodation and other basic supports – to people seeking international protection is part of Irish and EU law. A portion of the Irish Prison Service site at Thornton Hall in North Dublin was identified by the State in 2024 as having potential to assist with delivering emergency temporary accommodation for people seeking international...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Bail laws in Ireland are comprehensive and the Bail Act 1997 has been revised and strengthened several times. However, I am committed to ensuring our bail laws are fit for purpose and have asked Lorcan Staines SC to assess current bail laws and make any recommendations he believes are appropriate, taking into account the requirements of constitutional justice. While our bail laws provide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Freedom of Speech (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 65 together. In Ireland, the right to freely and peacefully assemble and associate, and correspondingly, to freely express one’s convictions and opinions, is guaranteed under the Constitution, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. These are core tenets of any open, liberal democracy, and this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: One of my top priorities as Minister is to get more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment and appropriate civilianisation where possible. The overall Garda workforce, which includes Gardaí, Garda Staff and Reserves currently stands at over 18,000. As of the end of May 2025, the latest date for when figures are available, there are 3,507 whole time equivalent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Organised crime groups may think they can evade justice by crossing borders; they cannot. It is essential that they see there can be no hiding place from the law. I would like to assure the Deputy, that this Government is taking all necessary steps to dismantle organised crime groups, and that the State will do everything in its power to bring criminals to justice. Over the past number...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Gardaí have significant legislative powers to combat antisocial and dangerous use of mopeds and electric motorbikes including under the Road Traffic Act 1961, the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, and the Criminal Law Act 1997. In June 2023, the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law. The Act included provisions that aim to tackle the anti-social use of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will appreciate, 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, which is independent in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Local Community Safety Partnerships (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy, it is absolutely my intention that the Local Community Safety Partnerships will be established as soon as practicable. The Partnerships are the cornerstone of our policy on community safety and so it is vital we get them up and running so that they can begin work on the development of a community safety plan for their respective areas. Last week I signed the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Strengthening An Garda Síochána is one of my main priorities and retention of experienced qualified Gardaí is of course an important element of this. The Government has provided the funding to allow for sustained recruitment and is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs.I am informed by the Garda Authorities that there has been 22...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: We are all immensely grateful to our Gardaí for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society.For the most part, the relationship between Gardaí and the public is one built on very significant trust. An Garda Síochána is a largely unarmed, and yet hugely effective, community policing service.An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Local Community Safety Partnerships (3 Jul 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. Community Safety means Government Departments, state agencies, community organisations and the public working together alongside An Garda Síochána with the common aim of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Dundrum House has been used to accommodate people fleeing the war in Ukraine since 2022, and international protection applicants since 2024. Details of payments, contractual arrangements or per night prices in relation to specific accommodation centres are not routinely provided by the Department. This is because such details are considered commercially sensitive and publishing them would...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (3 Jul 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. If a person does not remove themselves from the State following the issuance of a deportation order,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities, is a top priority for the Government and my Department. A number of key actions have been taken as part of our plan to tackle illegal drug use. This includes: Increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 57 together. Tackling domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence through sustained investment, robust policy measures and cross sectoral collaboration is a priority for me and for Government. I want to acknowledge the powerful and important contribution of Women's Aid and their 2024 impact report. The report is a difficult but essential read, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Meetings (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can confirm to the Deputy that I have held seven meetings with the Garda Commissioner since taking office. The relevant dates are as follows: 24 January 2025 7 February 2025 6 March 2025 28 April 2025 5 June 2025 9 June 2025.In addition to these formal meetings, I have also met the Commissioner on several occasions in the normal course of performing our respective duties, including at...