Results 381-400 of 9,106 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Estimates for Public Services 2025 (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy.

Estimates for Public Services 2025 (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.

Estimates for Public Services 2025 (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 24 — Justice (Revised Estimate)That a sum not exceeding €546,339,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2025, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Justice, Probation Service staff and of certain other services including...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: There is a responsibility on every Member of this House to make sure that it does not become a toxic place to work. I have been here for nine years. I have never found it a toxic place. I have found it a place where there is vigorous and abrasive debate within this Chamber, but it has always been respectful. However, what we saw on 22 January and last week was different. The reason it...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Hear, hear.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Regulations (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purpose of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments (MUDs) and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owner management companies (OMCs). The MUDs Act includes provisions relating to: •  the setting of the annual service...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (1 Apr 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 given the separation of powers in the Constitution. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing decisions such as the protocols in place for Garda members when responding to reports of crime. I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána does not have any protocols in place for Gardaí when a member of the public...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together. It is my first priority to get more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment. I want to help build safe and secure communities, and a well-resourced policing service is critical to achieving that. In Budget 2025 an unprecedented sum of €2.48 billion was allocated to An Garda Síochána to allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 has unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continuing recruitment of Garda members and staff. The Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 538, 539 and 540 together. I can assure the Deputy that the Government endeavours to fill judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity. On 1 January 2025, the Judicial Appointments Commission Act 2023 came into operation in its entirety. The Act establishes a new, independent Judicial Appointments Commission to select and recommend persons for all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to keep people safe. I will continue to provide support which will allow for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology, and vehicles. I am informed by the Garda authorities that, at the end of February 2025, there were 3,668 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet, the highest total of vehicles...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government’s position is that prostitution is inherently exploitative of vulnerable people, mainly women and girls, and that many people are forced into prostitution through trafficking, drug addiction, homelessness and poverty. This Review of the Operation of section 7A of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 has been much anticipated by stakeholders in the domestic,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: During my visit to the Vatican, I discussed the intolerable situation in Gaza with the Holy See’s Undersecretary for Relations with States, Monsignor Miroslaw Stanislaw Wachowski. As part of his visit to Spain, my colleague, Minister of State Brophy also discussed the situation in Gaza with the Spanish Secretary of State for Migration, Pilar Cancela Rodriguez, during the course of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The decision to accelerate and prioritise particular international protection cases, or groups of cases, in accordance with the provisions of the 2015 Act, is kept under review. At this time applications from Palestine are not prioritised. However, I can assure the Deputy that it is a priority to have recommendations made on all international protection applications as soon as possible....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (1 Apr 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. I can, however, inform the Deputy that my Department does not receive or hold funds at any stage in the IIP process; this is a private matter between a potential investor(s) and a potential project concerned. The IIP Unit of my Department communicates...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Local Community Safety Partnerships (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which will come into force this week, provides for the establishment of Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) which will operate at each local authority level. LCSPs will replace and build upon the good work of the Joint Policing Committees, supplementing this by bringing together a broader range of relevant stakeholders including...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including the addition of new facilities to the Garda estate. Works on the Garda estate are carried out in close cooperation between the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Garda management. Under the National Development Plan, the Government is committed to investing significant levels of capital...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Apr 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy will appreciate that for security and operational reasons, it is not the practice to comment on the specific means that may be used by State agencies in exercising statutory covert powers. Interception is governed by the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act, 1993 under which the Minister for Justice may authorise bodies designated...