Results 261-280 of 11,589 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

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...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 259 together. Due to severe shortages of accommodation over recent years, from December 2023, the State had insufficient capacity within the international protection accommodation system to accommodate all applicants requesting material reception conditions. IPAS prioritised accommodation for women, families and those with specific needs, meaning...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260, 261, 262 and 263 together. It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. ...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 264, 265 and 266 together. BedSpace is a digital bed management service that has enabled our teams to move from a manual processing system to an online, digitised accommodation management system. Bedspace replaces a manual system whereby IPAS and all accommodation centres shared updates on resident numbers, movements and bed availability by weekly returns...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact which will come into effect in June 2026. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU. My Department continues to focus on preparing for the Pact in advance of June 2026. The General Scheme of a new...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: 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: Common Travel Area (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me that our immigration system is robust and enforced. In developing the State’s national implementation plan for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, my Department were satisfied that the new measures will not have any significant impact on the Common Travel Area (CTA). The protection of an open border on the island of Ireland remains a key priority...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has opted in to the EU Migration and Pact which will come into effect in June 2026. The overall objective of the Pact measures, on which the new International Protection Bill shall be based, is to provide for a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure that is fit for purpose and which can respond effectively to fluctuations in migratory flows through...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Further to my response to PQs 53380/25 and 53381/25, I have not received a request for a meeting from the family of the person concerned. In the event that such a request is received I will, of course, consider it.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: European Court of Justice (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 2 October. The State supported a referral by the High Court for a preliminary ruling seeking clarity and guidance on the nature of damages that should be covered in a national scheme for compensation to victim of violent intentional crimes. The High Court will now consider the implications of the judgment and decide the...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 273 and 274 together. Based on the information supplied by the Deputy, it has unfortunately not been possible to locate applications for the persons referred to. However, if the Deputy can provide any additional information and personal details via my Department's Immigration Oireachtas service at IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, I will arrange for a further...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: The collation and publication of crime stats are a matter for the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The CSO is the national statistics agency, established under the Statistics Act 1993. Under section 13 of the Statistics Act 1993, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) is fully independent in its role of publishing statistics, and the standards applied to these statistics. Further to this,...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: In recent weeks Ireland has seen an increase in arrivals from Ukraine. One of the factors contributing to this rise appears to be a Ukrainian regulation allowing men aged 18 to 22 to leave the Ukraine once again. The highest number of temporary protection beneficiaries in Ireland continues to be women and children. My Department continues to monitor all trends carefully, but cannot predict...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department committed to undertake both a public consultation and independent research on the topic of parental alienation. The Department of Justice commissioned research into the area in 2021 and the open consultation on Parental Alienation was then held in May 2022. The findings of both were analysed and, arising from this, Departmental officials developed a...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279, 280, 281 and 282 together. Through the Programme for Government and the Youth Justice Strategy, I am committed to improving outcomes for young people at risk of a life of criminality through investment in youth justice services. The statutory framework relating to young offenders (between the ages of 12 and 18 years of age), and inclusion in the...