Results 2,101-2,120 of 10,120 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Staff (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that Adrian O'Higgins has been appointed as my policy adviser, at Principal Officer (PPC) grade.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 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: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 222 together. As the Deputy may be aware, there has been much work done to date to enhance the prison infrastructure, provide additional capacity, and explore alternatives to prison. The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, commits to continued action in this area, including the construction of a prison at Thornton Hall....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: While our bail laws provide for the refusal of bail in particular circumstances, the presiding judge is entirely independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, and the decision to grant bail in a particular case is solely a matter for the judge. However, in considering a bail application in accordance with the Bail Act 1997, as amended, the Court is required to have regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Commissioner is also responsible for the Garda Reserve under the Garda Síochána (Reserve Members) Regulations 2024. As Minister, I have no role in the recruitment or training process for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions. Currently the Proof of Concept (POC) phase for Body Worn Cameras is ongoing in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to protect people from harm and save lives. This includes the rollout of bodycams to help protect frontline Gardaí and to allow them to investigate crime as effectively as possible. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 was enacted in December 2023 and provides a legal basis for the deployment and use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can confirm that the total number of Prison Officers and Recruit Prison Officers employed by the Irish Prison Service as at 31st January 2025 is as outlined in the table below. Period Grade 31/01/2025 Prison Officers * 2358 * Prison Officers & Recruit Prison Officers. This figure provided does not include...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (12 Feb 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. This Bill will modernise the operation of the Criminal Legal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Guardian Status (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits the Government to examine proposals to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partners, or a parent of their child, as part of the ongoing work to implement appropriate recommendations from the Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews. This is a commitment which I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The matters raised by the Deputy are under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth until the transfer of functions is completed. I have referred your question to that Department for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The matters raised by the Deputy are under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth until the transfer of functions is completed. I have referred your question to that Department for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (12 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the former Cork Prison facility was built in the early 1800s and operated as a prison from 1972 to 2016. The prison was deemed no longer appropriate for use as prison accommodation due to the condition of the facilities, the size of the cellular accommodation and the lack of in-cell sanitation. In late 2023, engineering consultants were engaged by the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the number of direct physical assaults involving prison staff between 2021 and 2024 is as detailed in the table below. Every assault on a member of staff is treated as serious and appropriate action is taken by the Irish Prison Service, including the reporting of such assaults to An Garda Síochána for the purposes of investigation...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy. I was asked a straight question yesterday and I gave a straight answer. Before I was appointed as Minister for Justice I was asked whether parts of Dublin are unsafe at certain times and I said that they are. I am not going not change my answer simply because it is convenient to do so. I emphasise, however, that I would have thought that if people in this House were...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Gogarty for his question. There is a reference to this matter in the programme for Government. I am committed to trying to bring forward that scheme. As the Deputy identified, this issue was raised by Jason Poole in respect of the tragic death of his sister, Jennifer. We met him. This is of benefit to people who find themselves in relationships with individuals who have...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am aware of the tragic case of Joe Drennan. As the Minister said, I will get back to the Deputy in respect of it. Obviously, I cannot deal with issues arising from specific sentences imposed in individual cases but it is the case that in certain instances, consecutive sentences appear to be more appropriate than concurrent sentences. There is a benefit in clarifying that across the board.

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 450 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits to bringing the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) under the remit of the Department of Justice. The approach to managing the reorganisation of Departmental structures or functions is set out in the Transfer of Functions Guidelines and Best Practice Handbook -...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 465 together. In line with the Programme for Government, I am committed to progressing the existing Defamation Bill to enactment as a matter of priority. The Government respects the strongly and sincerely-held, but widely differing, views of stakeholders on the issue of juries in defamation cases. High Court defamation cases are part of a small...