Results 241-260 of 9,106 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Irish Prison Service must make the best use of all available prison capacity when managing accommodation across the estate. Sex offenders, both sentenced and remand, were previously accommodated at 4 locations – Midlands Prison, Arbour Hill Prison, Castlerea Prison and Mountjoy Training Unit. However, due to limitations at these locations and rising sex offender committals to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for myself, my Department and this Government that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The number of International Protection applications have been rising over the past number of years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. This year, we are beginning to see application numbers noticeably reduce. There have been 42% less applications in the first three months of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy, 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 (BoTP) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1654, 1655 and 1659 together. It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. In 2024 the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 14,000 first decisions compared to over 8,500 in 2023, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed around 3,100 appeals in 2024 compared to over 1,700 in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Local Community Safety Partnerships (29 Apr 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 Commission's report recommended the establishment of national and local structures to bring together Departments and State agencies involved in harm prevention to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Communications (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1658, 1663, 1664 and 1665 together. I am advised that my Department has no direct involvement in this symposium. I understand that the Correctional Research Symposium (CRS) is an international conference co-organised by EuroPris - a network of European prison agencies and the International Corrections & Prisons Association (IACP). I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Ireland did not opt in to this Directive under Article 3 of Protocol 21 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union. This decision was based on concerns about the legal basis underpinning the Directive, and potential incompatibility with the Irish legal system. In Ireland’s case, protection orders are a preventive measure governed by civil law. In the area of family...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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 the status of their visa applications, book first-time registration appointments, and submit queries. The DCC has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Programme for Government commits to the establishment of a transport security force under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA). As the NTA falls under the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Transport, I can confirm that my Department does not have a role in the establishment of this force at this time. Officials in my Department are available to liaise with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Control of Firearms (29 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Responsibility for firearms policy and legislation rests with my Department. As issues arise or changes in EU legislation occur, we engage with, consult or inform, as appropriate, individual firearms representative organisations and other stakeholders. My Department also works closely with the Firearms Policy Unit of An Garda Síochána, who are responsible for licensing firearm...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Prison Service (10 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Senator Keogan for raising this important matter. It is unquestionably the case that we have a problem in respect of prison overcrowding. It is also the case that we need to make additional space available in our prisons in order to deal with an increase in the prison population over the past number of years. A great deal of work has been done to date to enhance prison...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Prison Service (10 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will clarify what I said in case there is any ambiguity. I said the Department had revoked the ministerial order put in place for the Thornton Hall site and that there were plans to develop a replacement order in the coming months. That is what I indicated to the Senator. In terms of Thornton Hall being used as a prison, it is unquestionably the case that we need further prison space....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (10 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Senator Kennelly for raising this important matter. I am well aware of the usefulness and significance of CCTV footage from my time as Minister for Justice and, indeed, before. Last Friday, I was in Anglesea Street Garda station in Cork where I was given a presentation on the vast array of CCTV footage that is available to gardaí as a result of CCTV cameras placed in Cork city....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (10 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I note the Senator's point about the CCTV footage from the Dublin riots. He is correct in stating that it was very helpful to An Garda Síochána in seeking to identify and prosecute individuals involved in the riots. I am aware of the confusion that can sometimes exist around the process for local authorities to apply. The Senator will be aware that I commenced the Policing,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (10 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I commend her on her tireless advocacy on behalf of citizens and people in Dublin Central. I am fully aware of the issue of retail crime, not just in the constituency of Dublin Central but in the cities and towns throughout Ireland. It is a significant issue for people who are trying to run businesses in those towns and cities. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (10 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is important to emphasise, as I always do, that one of the problems I face as Minister for Justice is that people want to see more gardaí in every community. It is a great advantage we have in Ireland. In some other countries, people do not want to see a police force in their communities because they do not trust it. The overwhelming majority of Irish people trust An Garda...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Crime Prevention (10 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am delighted to be in the Seanad.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (10 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed by Garda authorities that when allocating and transferring Garda members to and from any Division, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and priorities as determined in delivering ‘A Policing Service for The Future’. In the interest of transparency, figures related to the Garda workforce are published on my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (10 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that any non-EEA national student who is enrolled on a course or a Degree Programme from the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) is allowed to undertake an internship. However, this must form part of their course and contribute towards the final award. For those studying on a Stamp 3 immigration permission, an internship, once forming part of the course and...