Results 10,201-10,220 of 10,346 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Trainee allowance increased from €305 to €354 per week with effect from 1 October 2024 and has increased by a total of €170 per week when compared...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that on 10 July 2024 visa requirements were introduced for nationals of South Africa, bringing our arrangements into alignment with the visa requirements of Schengen members states, and with those of the UK.The Dublin Visa Office have established a dedicated “South Africa desk” to process applications from residents of South Africa. My Department also...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Historical Investigation Unit structure was a proposal contained in the Stormont House Agreement specific to Northern Ireland. In this jurisdiction, the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, led by the Assistant Commissioner for Organised and Serious Crime, holds a national investigative remit and is specialised in the area of major crime...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including the training of its members. As Minister, I have no role in the matter. I am advised by the Garda authorities that Garda trainees receive comprehensive instruction in the areas of Roads Policing during the course of their training at the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Accommodation (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: While the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) does not comment on individual cases, www.assets.gov.ie/static/documents/ipas-infectious-disease-p rotocol-february-2024.pdf sets out how IPAS, centre management, HSE Departments of Public Health, and the HSE's National Social Inclusion Office (NSIO), interact in the event of a case or outbreak of specified infectious diseases...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (3 Jul 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. The International Protection process decides if an applicant has a well-founded fear of persecution, or is at risk of serious harm in their country of origin. An assessment of the applicant's identity and the credibility of their application forms a key...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Works are now nearing completion at the final site of the Rapid Build programme, in Haywood, Clonmel. This will bring the final output of the programme to 654 homes, with the capacity to accommodate 2,640 people fleeing the war in Ukraine. I am advised that a detailed summary of costs specific to the units in Clonmel as sought by the Deputy is not yet available as the full programme has not...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Detention Centres (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can confirm that Ireland ratified the UN Convention against Torture in 2002 and signed the Optional Protocol to the convention (OPCAT) in 2007. The ratification of OPCAT will take place when the necessary legislation and structures are in place to give full effect to it. As new legislation is required, it must be enacted by the Oireachtas before ratification can take place. The Programme...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I would like to assure the Deputy that in relation to conditions of detention for all prisoners, either physical or regime, the Irish Prison Service strives to conform to international standards including those instruments set out by the United Nations as a minimum. Where possible, the Irish Prison Service endeavours to exceed these standards and, where deficiencies are identified, they...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that my Department continues to work closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and across Government to ensure a coordinated national response to the complex and evolving humanitarian crises in Gaza. This includes work both to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance and, in accordance with a Government decision in...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Trainee allowance increased from €305 to €354 per week with effect from 1 October 2024 and has increased by a total of €170 per week when compared with 2023. I am advised by the Garda authorities that an estimate of the cost to place Garda trainees on the first point of the Garda pay scale from day one of training in phase one...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together. I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has increased the Garda Trainee allowance over the last two budgets - from €305 to €354 per...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: All certificates of naturalisation for attendees of a citizenship ceremony are issued via registered post and applicants can expect to receive their certificate within 6-8 weeks. I want to assure anyone who is waiting for their certificate of naturalisation that they do not need to renew their immigration permission whilst they await a certificate. By not issuing certificates on the day...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The application referred to by the Deputy was submitted on 25 June 2025. The Registration Office within Immigration Service Delivery of my Department provide a live processing date, which is updated every Monday, and is available at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permiss ion/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/renewing-your-regis...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (3 Jul 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: Visa Applications (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department. I understand that extended...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: It is not possible for me as Minister to comment or intervene in any way in relation to how particular court proceedings are conducted or on the outcome of those proceedings. The conduct of any court case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. The separation of powers is enshrined in the Constitution to ensure judges are independent in the exercise of their functions. It is a matter...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I will write to the Deputy directly once this information is to hand.