Results 181-200 of 11,589 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Family Law Cases (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy is right that the term and concept of "parental alienation" is highly contested and contentious. It is the case with virtually all family law disputes that they become very contested and contentious. I want to try to ensure that when it comes to a family law dispute involving a child there is a mechanism in place to ensure the voice of that child is heard. The system at present...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Family Law Cases (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Just to let the Deputy know, in terms of the recommendations of the review I referred to a few moments ago, one is that we produce guidelines on the commissioning, content and use of welfare reports. The Chief Justice has established a judicial committee to develop guidelines on the commissioning, content and use of welfare reports. It is being chaired by Ms Justice Nuala Jackson of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy Murphy for this important question. As he has identified, some additional funding has been provided for legal aid in the budget announced this week. I was very pleased to secure an additional €8 million in funding for the Legal Aid Board. I also managed to secure a 50% increase in funding for free legal advice centres. As the Deputy will be aware, in order for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will give consideration to the Bill but I do not want to progress legislation that is unnecessary. In circumstances where a person gets a life sentence for a very serious sexual offence such as rape, when it comes to that person's release many years later, conditions of release will be imposed upon that person. Those conditions can direct that the person shall not go anywhere near the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Kelly. I will come to the issue he focused on, which was financial concerns within An Garda Síochána, but his general question was about the reforms I am going to encourage the new Commissioner to operate or continue with. I have had many engagements with him. One of the priorities I have emphasised to him, which is a priority of my own and of Government, is that I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In respect of the issue the Deputy highlighted regarding his colleague Deputy Kenny's meeting later today, I am obviously not going to get involved in any individual investigations that may be initiated by An Garda Síochána. With regard to the other items the Deputy highlighted, I cannot shy away from the fact that there have been examples of unwise expenditure in the past. I have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: When it comes to financial mismanagement in An Garda Síochána, my primary concern is highlighted by what is in the Comptroller and Auditor General's current report. I note the Deputy has referred to issues that took place back in 2016. They are of concern but my primary concern-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----is to ensure that the issues identified in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report are confronted by senior Garda management.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy will have seen the response from the Garda Commissioner and senior Garda management. They accept the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General. That is a very valuable constitutional office because those who are charged with spending public money must be aware that, if they mismanage the spending of that money, it will be exposed, discussed and debated in this House....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Carthy for his question. I did indeed have an opportunity to read the Victims of Sexual Violence Civil Protection Orders Bill he introduced to the House on 26 June. Deputy Carthy's Bill seeks to provide that at the same time as somebody is convicted of a serious sexual offence on indictment the court would impose an order restraining the person convicted of the offence from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I agree with Deputy Carthy when he says we need to empower victims. One issue I may have in respect of his legislation is that the proposal is that at the time of conviction the protection order would be placed on the individual. If we think about it, under the legislation Deputy Carthy proposes the protection order would be put in place at the same time that an individual is sentenced to...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I had actually just finished my contribution.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all Senators for their contributions. We are considering three amendments that have been tabled. I propose to deal with each amendment in the order in which they were raised. I will start with what I refer to as Senator McDowell's amendment No. 5. In this amendment, Senator McDowell and his colleagues propose that we would go back to section 2 of the Act and redefine "defamatory...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: They were given to the Senator by others. Regarding defamation being out of control, I will defer to Senator McDowell in respect of this, but my own assessment from some experience in the courts is that the number of defamation cases is declining. I will come to deal with the amendments about shops in due course. Where real defamation is taking place at present is online, where people...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It could be a last for me as well.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: How are we doing on time?

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will try to answer Senator McDowell's and the other Senators' points quickly. Senator McDowell spoke about the serious harm test. However, I still do not know from listening to him what constitutes a serious defamation. He gave an example of someone saying in the presence of a person's wife that that person was a paedophile. On the Senator's reading, that would not be a serious...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Getting more Gardaí on our streets to prevent crime is my first priority as Minister for Justice. This Government is 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. At the end of August, the total Garda personnel strength stood at over 18,000, which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Among other provisions, the General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 provides a comprehensive enabling basis for remote hearings in criminal proceedings and in international co-operation proceedings, such as those under the European Arrest Warrant procedure and the Extradition Act 1965. At present, substantial amounts of Garda time and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána and my Department are continuing to work hard to strengthen trust and confidence in the system so that victims will feel confident in coming forward to report what has happened to them and perpetrators are brought to justice. Actions aimed at improving access to justice for victim and survivors, and strengthening the policing of DSGBV include:Implementation of...