Results 381-400 of 8,947 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for his question. The introduction of the new garda operating model, which has been rolled out in the Kilkenny-Carlow Garda division, will provide more front-line gardaí, increased Garda visibility and a wider range of policing services for people in Carlow and Kilkenny. It is important to emphasise this supports greater service delivery across the division...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am interested in what the Deputy said about the reduction in numbers in Graiguenamanagh and other areas in Kilkenny. I will keep a close eye on this. When people are attested as members of An Garda Síochána, the Commissioner decides where they should be allocated. It is extremely important there is fair allocation throughout the country. It is not an operational matter for me...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Garda properties are valuable resources. If we have them, we should use them for the benefit of the State or the benefit of the public in having a Garda presence there. I will raise that issue with my Department. The Deputy also made a very valid point about how the public want to see members of An Garda Síochána on the ground. We sometimes take that for granted. In many...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is important to remember we have civilianised much of the Garda force. At present, we have approximately 14,200 attested members of An Garda Síochána and approximately 3,500 civilian members who also work for the force. In recent years, as a result of civilianising or using civilians for tasks that were previously performed by the gardaí, we have managed to get...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sentencing Policy (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am aware of the tragic case of Joe Drennan. I am not going to talk about it, as I am sure the Deputy can appreciate. The matter is being appealed by the DPP to the Court of Appeal and it would be inappropriate for me to say anything in respect of it. I will speak in general terms about where multiple offences have been committed. Sentences imposed in response to multiple offences can...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sentencing Policy (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In general, there is consistency throughout the criminal justice process when it comes to the imposition of sentences. We do not hear about it because it does not give rise to public controversy but consistency is very important. That consistency will be increased and improved when we see judicial guidelines being put forward by the Judicial Council. However, we need to recognise that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Serious offences committed while people are on bail should trigger my interest and that of other policymakers. The offences I outlined, including theft from shops, public order offences and drunkenness offences, are the offences committed by people on bail. With the greatest of respect to the Deputy, I do not think they are the issues he is concerned about. He is more concerned about...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I do not have the information in respect of the Deputy's question on the other 41% and I apologise for that. If the Deputy asks another parliamentary question, that information may or may not be available. I am not sure at present. I note what the Deputy stated about the increase in figures between 2016 and 2024. Our population has increased so significantly during that period that it...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sentencing Policy (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy will be aware that sentencing is a complex matter, but people want to see some consistency in sentencing. I want to see that as well. The mechanism by which we are seeking to achieve this was set out in the Judicial Council Act 2019, under which there is a procedure for the Judiciary to set out sentencing guidelines. I look forward to receiving those sentencing guidelines from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for his question and for his interest in this important area. The question of Garda vetting of individuals who go on to become members of An Garda Síochána is an important issue. It is not like ordinary vetting where somebody wants to become a football coach or is involved with children because it is much more thorough. I am informed by the Commissioner that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The objective is to ensure that, once people become attested members of An Garda Síochána, they will have been fully vetted. That will continue the way it did previously. We need to look at the three stages of it. The first stage, which is done before anyone enters Templemore, requires all candidates on their applications to become trainees to complete what is known as a form...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: They will be fully vetted by the time they are gardaí.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: What we are talking about, so people are aware-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----is that part of the vetting process happens during the training process. The reason that is done is we are trying to increase the numbers going into An Garda Síochána.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: We have a recruitment crisis.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: They do not drop.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: What the public is concerned about is the quality-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Will the Deputy let me answer the question? What the public is concerned about is the quality of the garda on the street. Fortunately, the quality of the gardaí on the street in this country is excellent. They are fully vetted, more than any other official in the public service. They are vetted thoroughly. What is happening is we are changing the sequencing of the process. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Let me finish the answer. Rather than saying to those individuals that they cannot start at Templemore until we have thoroughly got information about them, we are letting them start and then getting the information. We are getting fully vetted gardaí at the end of the process.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for his question. It is important that policymakers, including Ministers, keep a close watch on the law in respect of bail. I note the answer the Deputy got, which stated that 40,348 crimes were carried out in 2024 while persons were on bail. Like him, I thought that was extremely high. I then asked for a breakdown of a description of the nature of the crimes. Of the...