Results 241-260 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in 319 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the whole country. Over 21,000 people from Ukraine are in State-supported accommodation. These accommodation systems are demand-led and sensitive to international crises, conflicts and migration trends. From 2022 to the end of 2024, there was a sudden...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The proposed Regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse seeks to establish a harmonised legal framework, which will set out the responsibilities for providers to assess and mitigate risks and, where necessary, to detect, report and remove such abuse on their services. The proposal builds on the Digital Services Act, which lays down horizontal rules in relation to illegal content and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Remand prisoners are individuals held in custody who are either awaiting trial for a crime they have been charged with, or who have been convicted of a crime and are awaiting sentencing. A Remand Warrant is a warrant to hold a prisoner or accused person in custody with instructions to return them to a District Court on a particular day and a Trial Warrant is a warrant to hold a prisoner...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in 319 IPAS centres around the country, 9,500 of whom are children. Since 2024, once a centre is in operation, IPAS has not published details of the capacity or occupancy of our accommodation centres, to preserve the privacy and security of residents and staff. In relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The use of recording devices by An Garda Síochána, including those that are mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) is provided for under Part 2 of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2024. The legislative framework for use of drones is to be further supported by a Code of Practice which is to be prepared by An Garda Síochána. The drone...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling the scourge of drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities across Ireland, including in rural Ireland, is a top priority for the Government and my Department. An Garda Síochána continues to implement an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy through Operation Tara. The focus of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the vehicles allocated to and removed from the Garda Fleet from 2021 to 2025 as of 30 September 2025. All vehicles are operated up to the manufacturers durability limits or uneconomic repair, irrespective of age. A comprehensive service repair and maintenance programme is in place to ensure that all vehicles are operating...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and ensuring that victims and survivors receive the support and care they need is an absolute priority for me. Since its establishment last year, Cuan has been working to accelerate the delivery of refuge spaces across the country. A key priority for Cuan is the development of a domestic violence refuge in the Cavan...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As Minister, it is my priority to ensure that the courts are adequately resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively. In 2023, the Government approved and appointed an additional 24 judges as proposed by the Judicial Planning Working Group. Following an impact assessment of these appointments, Government approval was secured to increase judicial numbers by a further 20...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Community safety is a top priority for my Department. Everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe and rural Ireland is no exception. Supporting the work of the National Rural Safety Forum, my Department has published the second Rural Safety Plan 2025-2027. The Plan’s vision is to ensure people and communities in rural Ireland feel safe and are safe in their homes, places of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of resources and the management of Garda Stations including opening hours under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. However, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review and I engage regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the Constitution. The collation of data on convictions is a function of the courts. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Reforming our criminal justice system to make it more victim-centred is a central focus of the Zero Tolerance Strategy for combatting Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), which builds on reforms already introduced in this area. The Programme for Government commits to working with An Garda Síochána to ensure a person in an intimate relationship can be informed of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: A Community Service Order (CSO) requires an individual to perform unpaid work in the community as a direct alternative to a custodial sentence. In line with legislation governing Community Service, an individual must be assessed as suitable in advance of a community service order being imposed. The Probation Service has statutory responsibility to carry out these assessments. The subject of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: School Funding (9 Oct 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. Since the closure of the programme, my Department has continued to process and submit applications to the Evaluation Committee for consideration and recommendation. My Department is committed to ensuring that all applications will be examined on their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that all applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually based on the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is 3 years. As part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in 319 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country, 9,500 of whom are children. Significant reform is underway to speed up the international protection application processing system, and reduce the demand for accommodation. That includes moving away consistently, over time, from the emergency use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department has been unable to provide a response to this question within the prescribed timeframe. A response will issue directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Resettlement Programme (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 254, 255 and 256 together. I can assure the Deputy it is my intention to continue the investment in the end-to-end international protection process to speed up decision making. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: On 1st July, my Department introduced the first phase of a gradual transition to a new accelerated, end-to-end process for applicants entering the international protection system in Ireland. This new accelerated process mirrors elements of the future border procedure and screening required by the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum while still adhering to the existing International Protection Act...