Results 2,161-2,180 of 10,053 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and is accountable for the economy and the efficiency of the Garda Síochána in using its resources. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion for 2025 to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Road Traffic Offences (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the general management and administration of Garda business. This includes the enforcement of all applicable legislation and the management of the Fixed Charge Notice system. A total of 56 days is permitted by law for the payment of a fixed...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizenship Applications (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I expect that going forward, the vast majority of applicants will continue to receive a decision within one year; however, it is important to note that no two naturalisation applications are the same and some take longer than others to process. I understand the extended...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizenship Applications (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. This application is based on Section 16 'Irish Association', which can take typically longer to process than applications based upon residency. Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 820, 821, 837 and 838 together. As the Deputies will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that I have not as yet engaged any special advisers.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 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 administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will appreciate, the priorities in the Programme for Government have been agreed by the new Government and I look forward to delivering on the Justice agenda contained within the Programme. Work to progress these commitments has commenced, however, the Deputy will appreciate that timelines or operational details on policy proposals are not yet available until work programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Court Accommodation (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Department understands that the Courts Service purchased a site at Kylekiproe in 2020 on which to build a new Courthouse. Further progress with the Portlaoise project and several others, as part of the Courts Service building projects in the National Development Plan, will depend on the next round of NDP funding. The construction of a purpose-built Family Law Court complex at Hammond...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all matters relating to the recruitment, training and appointment of its members. This responsibility extends to the Garda Band. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Band regularly performs at...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: European Court of Justice (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO) was established in 2017 under the EU's enhanced cooperation measure to investigate and prosecute crimes against the financial interest of the European Union. These crimes are as set out in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 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 administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 829 and 830 together. My Department currently directly employs 37 Service Officers on standard civil service terms & conditions. A further six are based in agencies under its aegis including in the Probation Service, the Dublin Coroner's Service, and the Private Security Authority. I am informed that 30.8 Service Officers are employed by agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The mileage claims by former Minister of State, James Browne, TD amounted to €14,503.36 in 2023 and €14,963.61 in 2024. The combined total cost of overnight allowances associated with both civilian drivers in the Minister of State’s office was €23,937 in 2023 and €17,940 in 2024. All such expenses were claimed in accordance with relevant circulars issued...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that the detail of the staff members that are assigned to my private office are set out in the table below: Grade Pay Scale Allowance Private Secretary/Assistant Principal (PPC) (temporary assignment) €79,086 - €98,559 €24,952 Higher Executive Officer (PPC) ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Prison Service (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The provision of safe and secure custody and dignity of care for people in prison in Ireland is a priority for the Irish Prison Service and for me, as Minister for Justice. The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service has all but eliminated the practice referred to as ‘slopping out’ in prisons through a major refurbishment programme and the replacement of prison...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Prison Service (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed that the information requested by the Deputy is collated by the Irish Prison Service on a periodic basis. The January 2025 census is currently being finalised and will be published on the Irish Prison Service website in the coming weeks. In the interim, I can advise the Deputy that according to the most recently completed census of cell occupancy, taken on 16 July 2024, there...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Prison Service (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government has made significant capital funding available to the Irish Prison Service in order to enhance the existing prison infrastructure and to provide additional capacity. The opening of the new standalone female prison in Limerick in 2023 provided an additional 22 female cell spaces. Plans are also being pursued to increase the capacity in the Dóchas Centre in the coming...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Regulations (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that, since 13 January 2025, all nationwide first-time registrations of Irish immigration residence permissions are the responsibility of the Registration Office of the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of my Department. Furthermore, since October 2024, all renewals of immigration permissions transferred to ISD of my Department, meaning that applicants from across...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Penalty Points System (5 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 administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the management of the Fixed Charge Processing System (FCPS). As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am however assured that road traffic enforcement remains a core policing...