Results 321-340 of 11,589 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: A review of minimum sentences was carried out by my Department in accordance section 29 of the Judicial Council Act 2019. The resulting report, which was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in May 2024, recommended the repeal of statutory provisions which provide that persons sentenced to the presumptive minimum term of imprisonment for various offences are ineligible for temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. Returning people who do not have permission to remain in Ireland is undertaken through voluntary returns and deportation. Both types of returns are essential for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. It is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I understand that Parliamentary Question No. 1560 of 8 September 2025 sought the number of Gardai, by rank attached to Meath-Westmeath divisional protective services bureau, in tabular form. I can confirm that the reply to the Deputy's follow on Parliamentary Question, No. 448 of 7 October 2025, has issued from my office to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. This includes all operational policing matters, such as the allocation and deployment of Garda resources, and determining the manner in which Garda resources are to be distributed and stationed throughout the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLOs) are sworn members of An Garda Síochána and are appointed at Divisional level on full time JLO duties. The Garda National Youth Diversion Bureau has responsibility for the selection, training, support and ongoing liaison with a network of Juvenile Liaison Officers in every Garda Community Engagement Area. I am advised by the Garda authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 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: Sentencing Policy (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed that the Courts Service is not in a position to supply the information requested by the Deputy as the consideration or offer of restorative justice by a judge is not recorded on their case management system. Furthermore, in cases where restorative justice is part of the court outcome, this is recorded only as an “unusual result”, so a report on the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Historical Conflicts (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 419 together. The bombing of Dublin Airport on 29 November 1975, which was carried out without warning, was a callous attack that killed one person and left eight others injured. It is deeply regrettable, as the fiftieth anniversary of this attack approaches next month, that, to date, no person has been held responsible. Of course any new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department is fully committed to reforming the family justice system in Ireland and as part of the Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025, which was published in November 2022. This ambitious Strategy outlines the steps needed to create a more efficient and user-friendly family justice system that puts the family and children at the centre of its work. This will be achieved through the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 422 together. My Department committed to undertake both a public consultation and independent research on the topic of parental alienation. The findings of both were analysed and, arising from this, Departmental officials developed a policy paper on how to address the issue. Both the paper and the report recognise that parental alienation is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025 is the ambitious programme of reform developed by my Department which sets out a vision for a system refocused on the needs and rights of children, who are central to many family justice matters. As the strategy was developed, my Department listened to and acknowledged the many issues and concerns about how the current system operates. The actions...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of the Child (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In October 2024, my Department established a Voice of the Child Working Group with membership comprising both statutory and voluntary stakeholders in the family justice system. The group was set up in line with the commitment in Goal One of the Family Justice Strategy, that of “supporting children”. The group is taking forward some of the recommendations in the Review of Expert...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 425 and 444 together. The primary purpose of vetting carried out by An Garda Síochána under the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 - 2016 is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. I believe the many organisations nationwide whose work focuses on the safety, enjoyment and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As of 30 September, the total number of BOTPs in State-contracted accommodation is 21,783. Currently contracted accommodation capacity includes beds in hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings. My department does not publicly detail the number of beds, occupancy or contracted capacity of accommodation centres in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in over 320 International Protection Accommodation Service (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. This is due to both safety and security concerns, and to protect the privacy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) is an independent body responsible for the regulation of the legal professions under the provisions of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. Subject to the 2015 Act, the Authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Part 6 of the Act provides for an independent complaints and professional conduct regime for legal practitioners,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cybersecurity Policy (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Ireland’s second National Cyber Security Strategy 2019-2024 set out 20 collaborative measures with the aim of meeting a range of objectives. These included improving the ability of the State to respond to and manage cyber security incidents and improving the resilience and security of public sector IT systems to better protect data and the services that our people rely upon. A...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Bail Supervision Scheme (BSS) offers courts an alternative option to detaining a young person who comes before them. It provides for the possibility of granting bail with intensive supervision. By reducing the need for remand places, this also provides an opportunity to focus on developing successful community resources designed to prevent young people being detained in a youth justice...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The State is legally obliged to offer accommodation and basic supports to people applying for international protection. Over 32,000 people are currently resident in over 320 IPAS accommodation centres nationwide. Costs of accommodating a person in international protection accommodation centres include a range of elements, including accommodation, food, security, staffing, and ancillary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (7 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 to 437, inclusive, together. Unfortunately, it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information requested by the Deputy. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is received from the relevant agencies.