Results 2,081-2,100 of 10,053 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for all operational policing matters, including responses by An Garda Síochána to emergency calls. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána operates a Regional Control Room strategy which ensures that Garda resources are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset, it is important to note that, as Minister, I do not comment on individual Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) applications. My Department does not currently publish the details of individually approved IIP projects or the investments received due to commercial sensitivities. The data requested by the Deputy is not collated in such a way as to differentiate ‘social...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The majority and minority reports of the Independent Review Group, appointed to examine all aspects of the Offences Against the State Acts, were considered by Government and published in 2023. The Offences Against the State Acts are Ireland's primary counter-terrorism legislation. They have served, and continue to serve, the State well and fulfil a vital role in our criminal justice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Temporary Protection Directive has been extended until March 2026 at a meeting of the European Council in June 2024, thereby providing certainty for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who can continue to avail of the protections that the Directive provides during this time. Consideration as to the arrangements to be put in place following the expiry of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Functions (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Programme for Government commits to the establishment of a Public Transport Security force under the National Transport Authority. As the NTA rests under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Transport, at present my Department has no role in the establishment of this force. Officials will, of course, engage with colleagues in the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 459 together. International students from outside the EU/EEA are granted a permission on Stamp 2 conditions where they have enrolled on, and commenced a course listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) issued by the Department of Education and Science. A stamp 2A permission is granted where a person has enrolled in full time study in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Student Visas (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that international students who are from visa required countries must apply for an Irish visa before traveling to study in Ireland. It is normal practice throughout EU Member States to charge a fee for immigration services. The current fees for visa applications are €60 euro for single entry visas and €100 euro for multi entry visas. Some...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will appreciate, community safety is not a job for An Garda Síochána alone. It is something that requires a multi-agency, multi-sectoral and a whole-of-Government response. A key principle of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is that community safety requires multi-agency cooperation working in partnership with An Garda Síochána and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 464 together. ">Garda Fleet Details As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources, including the Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions and National/Specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda resources. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. Garda vehicles are purchased under contracts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The 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. 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....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Internet Safety (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy may be aware that Coimisiún na Meán has been established further to the provisions of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 and operates under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The Act empowers an Online Safety Commissioner, as part of the wider Coimisiún na Meán, to hold designated...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (6 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 30 September 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 22 December 2023 where it awaits examination and processing. My Department's business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (6 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As there is no Irish Embassy in Cuba, the Embassy of Ireland in Mexico liaises with visa applicants from Cuba to provide the best possible service. Cuban nationals are subject to the same requirements that apply to all visa required nationals. I can advise that an interview is not a standard requirement of the Irish authorities for the visa application process. If an interview is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (6 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, following engagement with the legal representatives for the families of the victims of the Stardust fire, the Government approved last August a two-phased approach to redress arrangements. The first phase focused on the families of the 48 victims who tragically died in the fire and was developed in consultation and agreement with the legal representatives...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (6 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am pleased to informed the Deputy that the person concerned was issued an invitation to the upcoming Citizenship ceremonies. The next Citizenship Ceremonies will take place on 13 and 14 February 2025 at the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD). My Department held 24 citizenship ceremonies last year, an increase from the 15 ceremonies held in 2023, and the 6 that were held in 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (6 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise that the application from the person referred to by the Deputy was processed in October 2024 and they currently hold a Stamp 4 immigration permission valid until 15 October 2025. The person’s Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card was printed on 25 October 2024 and is recorded as having been delivered to the address provided on their application on 01 November 2024. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (6 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 to 176, inclusive, together. In keeping with the Government commitment to significantly enhance the delivery of public services digitally, phase one of my Department's Immigration Digital Contact Centre (DCC) went live in October 2024. The DCC is a self-service portal that enables applicants to check their immigration application status, book first-time...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Artificial Intelligence (6 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Firstly, I would like to inform the Deputy that my Department complies with the “Interim Guidelines for Use of AI in the Public Service” issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform last February and also with guidance issued to all Government Departments in June 2023 by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in relation to the cyber security...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (6 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: A key principle of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is that community safety requires multi-agency cooperation working in partnership with An Garda Síochána and crucially with communities themselves. The Report recommended the establishment of national and local structures to bring together the relevant departments and State agencies involved in harm prevention to...