Results 2,041-2,060 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Cathaoirleach. This is the first time I have appeared before this committee as Minister for Justice. I wish the Cathaoirleach and committee well in their work. I was a member of the justice committee from 2016 to 2020 and very briefly, for a couple of months, in 2024 and have always thought that the committee does excellent work and is very effective in what it is required to...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for raising those preliminary matters. I agree with him that the committee does not have long to deal with the matter. Although I am briefing the committee, that is why it is intended to bring the matter before the floor of the Dáil prior to 17 June, where there will obviously be a full debate. If it is the case, however, that agreement is not reached between...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The decision we are discussing here is a decision authorising the opening of negotiations. It is important to understand the limitations associated with the decision. It is simply about opening negotiations to try to reach an agreement between the European Union and Kazakhstan. I note the point the Cathaoirleach has made about Article 3. I believe the Article 3 mechanism is to our...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The 12 readmission agreements I outlined are all EU agreements. The Cathaoirleach is correct that countries may enter into bilateral agreements. We have also achieved agreements with other countries in respect of readmissions. For instance, the Cathaoirleach will be aware of recent returns to Georgia. Those returns happened as a result of agreement between the Government of Georgia and...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It was since 2019. The numbers we are dealing with are very small but that should not prohibit or prevent us from deciding to expand the readmission agreements in place between the European Commission and third countries.

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: That is correct. It is about opening negotiations.

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: We will have our say in respect of it. If we want to vote against it, we can vote against it as a country. As I said earlier, once the agreement is agreed, it will come back here. There will then be a vote and decision as to whether we opt in to it. As the Deputy has said, this is just about starting a conversation and beginning negotiations with Kazakhstan. We will have a say in respect...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: On the real benefit, let us say many people have arrived in Ireland from Kazakhstan. They may have been refused international protection or they may be here through other illegal means. In order to return them to Kazakhstan, we need a readmission agreement in place. It is much more beneficial to have a readmission agreement in place in order to facilitate that. On the Senator's first...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: We have to get agreement from the Kazakhstani Government. We have to enter into discussions with it on a case-by-case basis. As regards returning people to countries, it is much more effective if there is an agreement in place that outlines the mechanism. This may involve having 30 days to notify the country and that country having to reply within the next 30 days. It is much more...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Senator knows from the numbers, we have only had 12 since 2019. My understanding is that only one deportation order was issued in respect of those 12 people. I suspect no one has been returned to Kazakhstan. We have to think of the future and the likelihood of this arising in the future, however. It will be beneficial to us if it becomes the case that there is a need for such an...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I disagree. If someone comes from Kazakhstan and applies for asylum in Ireland through the International Protection Office, they will be able to put forward their narrative as to why they are entitled to asylum in Ireland. That is not going to be affected by the fact there is a readmission agreement. They will still be able to put forward their case. If it is the case that they are...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The fundamental rules in respect of asylum applications will not change. If a person is fleeing persecution or says there is a threat to his or her life or health as a result of being sent back to a country, those rules will still apply. While people may get a negative or positive decision, it is not going to be affected one way or the other by this readmission agreement. This potential...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: On the case-----

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----by-case basis, while we could try to say to Kazakhstan that we want to send a person back, we do not have a formal agreement in place, which makes it extremely difficult.

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes. No agreement has been reached with Kazakhstan. All this is doing is authorising the European Commission to start negotiations with Kazakhstan.

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I would prefer it if I was able to provide members with the annexe. There is nothing enormously surprising within it. I cannot do that, however. It is not just me who cannot do so, but rather ministers in every other member state. Of course, a lot of them do not need to opt in because most of them are fully part of the-----

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: There is no agreement here, as of yet. All we are doing is deciding to allow a person to go into the room to have a chat and a negotiation. That is all that is being authorised. In a way, what is in the annexe is irrelevant because it is the agreement at the end of the process that counts. When there is an agreement in place, or a proposed agreement, we will have a say in respect of it...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The traditional way of doing it is to stand back and let the Commission go off and enter into an agreement with Kazakhstan. We would then decide afterwards whether to opt in to that agreement. At that stage, however, we would have no say or vote on whether it should happen or not. We would just have a vote on opting in to the agreement or not, without having a say in the content of the...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: While I am not aware of any specific countries, it is likely the Commission will come forward with other potential agreements in the future. I will listen to this committee if it makes a decision that it would prefer to opt in under Article 4 rather than under Article 3. I will listen to it, although I cannot guarantee I will do it. It is a balancing call. There are advantages in doing it...

Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan: Discussion (29 May 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Gannon. To answer his question straight, I know this because I have been informed by my officials in the Department. It is in the negotiating mandate to ensure human rights is at the centre of this agreement. Regarding the 12 other readmission agreements I recounted that have been agreed, each of them contains human rights provisions. That is why it will be in this one as well.