Results 421-440 of 11,589 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Senator McDowell and the other Senators for putting forward this amendment. The objective here is to try to deal with a situation which can arise when, if defamation is removed from a jury, it will still be permissible to be heard by a jury if other causes of action which are heard by juries are taken. Senator McDowell's example probably expresses it most clearly. He says if this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In 2016 the first EU-wide law on cyber security, the NIS Directive, came into force achieving a higher, and more even level of security of network and information systems across the EU. The NIS Directive was reviewed in 2019 and its successor the NIS2 Directive entered into force in January 2023. The transposition deadline for the NIS2 Directive was 17 October 2024, which unfortunately...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The NIS2 Directive entered into force in January 2023 and the enactment of the National Cyber Security Bill, which is the legislative vehicle transposing the NIS2 Directive is a priority for my Department. Officials from my Department provided the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration with a briefing on the General Scheme of the National Cyber Security Bill on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The NIS2 Directive entered into force in January 2023 and the enactment of the National Cyber Security Bill, which is the legislative vehicle transposing the NIS2 Directive is a priority for my Department. My Department is currently engaging with the Office of Parliamentary Council, the Attorney General’s Office, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and other relevant...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 to 120, inclusive, together. The organisation mentioned in the details supplied are contracted to provide international protection accommodation for international protection (IP) applicants. Since 2024, once a centre is in operation, IPAS has not published details of the specific locations or the capacity or occupancy of our accommodation centres. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 123 and 124 together. Family reunification (FRU) is provided for under Section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015, and allows people granted International Protection status to apply for certain family members to join them in the State. An application for FRU must be made by the sponsor within 12 months of them being granted an International...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I strongly condemn the use of knives to threaten, intimidate or harm others. The Government is committed to ensuring that the problems that we have seen in neighbouring jurisdictions do not repeat themselves here. There is already a comprehensive and robust legal framework in place in Ireland with respect to knife crime. Increased sentences were introduced last year for certain offences...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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. If a person does not remove themselves from the State following the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that anyone may leave Ireland if their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card has expired. However, if an individuals IRP card has expired and they are a visa-required national, then they will need to apply for a visa to return. They can apply to their local Visa Office or Embassy for the relevant visa to allow them to travel back to Ireland. Visa applications must be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Bodies (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, the Data Protection Commission (DPC) is independent in the performance of its tasks and the exercise of its powers. I am advised that published statistics, which include Human Resources are available in the DPC’s most recent annual report, available at the following link: Data Protection Commission Annual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is unable to publish any information that would identify any person as being an international protection applicant. This is a separate matter to the law dealing with data protection matters more generally. In general terms, applicants for international protection are requested to provide personal documentation to the International Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 to 133, inclusive, and 135 to 137, inclusive, together. The announcement by the British Government concerning the introduction of digital identity cards in the UK has been noted and I look forward to seeing details of the proposals in due course. Changing migration trends are kept under continual review and are responded to by my Department. Any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The International Protection Accommodation Service has been operating under significant pressure since 2022. A sudden and unexpected surge in applications for international protection between 2022 and 2024 placed increased demand on its services. Although the rate of increase in demand has eased in recent months, approximately 1,000 people a month are applying for international...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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. In all cases, the final 12 months must be...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating nearly 33,000 residents. As of 29 September 2025, 4,855 of these residents have a form of legal status that allows them to remain in Ireland. This means that they are no longer entitled to IPAS accommodation. However, they are now able to access the full range of housing supports available to all Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (1 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department has no role in the making of court orders in relation to custody, access or maintenance. This is a function of the courts, which are, subject to the Constitution and the law, independent in the performance of their functions. Section 3 of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 obliges the courts in deciding any question regarding guardianship, custody or upbringing of, or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Oct 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 (30 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as of 31 August 2025, there were 3,675 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet. This represents an increase of over 18% since the end of December 2020. In the interest of transparency, An Garda Síochána publishes information on the Garda fleet. For the Deputy’s information, detailed statistics relating to the Garda Fleet are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (30 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In the interest of transparency, An Garda Síochána publishes data on the allocation of Gardaí by Division, Station and rank. This can be found at the following link: The Deputy should select the Garda Workforce figures for the latest available month and access the file titled “Garda members by Division District Station 2009 to present” for a breakdown of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Regulations (30 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, a Working Group on the Indexation rate for Periodic Payment Orders, to advise on an appropriate index, was established following a High Court determination that the index used in primary legislation was unworkable. As part of a two-stage process, the primary legislation governing PPOs has been amended to allow for the Minister for Justice to set the rate by way...