Results 441-460 of 8,940 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Mar 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 are no quick-fix solutions to tackling knife crime. Long term, evidence-based strategies are needed that address knife crime as part of a wider strategic response to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is 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 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe, including to invest in recruitment, in equipment and technology and in buildings. This is reflected in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. An Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to help our Gardaí do their jobs in protecting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tá sé mar phríomhthosaíocht ag an Rialtas agus ag mo Roinn dul i ngleic le mangaireacht drugaí agus spriocdhíriú ar obair na ngrúpaí coireachta eagraithe is cúis le himeaglú, le foréigean agus le hainnise do theaghlaigh agus do phobail. Rinneadh roinnt príomhghníomhartha mar chuid den phlean atá againn chun dul i...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The process of appointment of a person as the Garda Commissioner is laid out in statute. I will shortly commence the Policing, Security and Community Safety (PSCS) Act 2024 which, when commenced, will repeal the Garda Síochána Act 2005 Act in its entirety. Section 26 of the 2024 Act, will apply to the appointment of the next Garda Commissioner. Under this provision, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Community safety is a top priority for my Department, and everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe in their communities. Rural Ireland is no exception. In 2019, the National Rural Safety Forum was established. The Forum comprises organisations, including my Department, An Garda Síochána and the IFA, and people with a common purpose of ensuring rural safety. The Forum works...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: A key principle of the Report of Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is that community safety requires multi-agency cooperation working in partnership with An Garda Síochána and crucially with communities themselves. The Commission's report recommended the establishment of national and local structures to bring together Departments and State agencies involved in harm...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Intoxicating Liquor Bill was not published prior to the dissolution of the 33rd Dáil. The Programme for Government commits to updating our licensing laws. In keeping with that commitment this work is underway and will be advanced in due course, with updates on progress to be included in the Government's Legislative Programme on an continuing basis.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The construction of a purpose-built Family Law Court complex at Hammond Lane remains the priority Courts Service project in the National Development Plan. I am advised by the Courts Service, that the new Dublin Family Courts Complex will be a modern purpose-built facility where family law cases can be held in a dignified, secure and non-threatening environment with a range of support services...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At present there are 118 active cases before the courts relating to naturalisation applications. The number of legal cases taken should be taken in the context of an increasing number of applications. Last year in 2024, Citizenship Division received 27,376 applications. Naturalisation applications are processed in line with the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including the recruitment and training of Garda members. Public Jobs, on behalf of the Garda Commissioner, manages the initial recruitment stages for selection of Garda Trainees. As Minister I have no role in these matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that 6,784 people...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. However, I have consulted with Garda management with respect to this question, and I have been advised that no Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 provided for the establishment of Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) for the purposes of licensing and regulating betting, gaming, certain lotteries, the sale or supply of products or services related to gambling and charitable / philanthropic gambling activities. On 5 March last,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons. It has already engaged with the Irish Prison Service on this issue and has committed to increasing capacity of our prisons by 1,500. This work has already commenced. The Irish Prison Service budget has increased by €79 million, or 18%, in Budget 2025. The capital budget is €53 million in 2025, an increase...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities, is a top priority for the Government and my Department. A number of key actions have been taken as part of our plan to tackle illegal drug use. These include: Increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Programme for Government commits to working with An Garda Síochána to ensure a person in an intimate relationship can be informed of a serious risk to them where a new partner has a history of domestic violence. I have requested that officials in my Department examine proposals to establish a register or mechanism that would facilitate disclosure of information in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is important to emphasise that the conduct of any court case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. The courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, including sentencing. The court is required to impose a sentence which is proportionate not only to the crime, but to the specific context and circumstances of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department is leading a programme of family justice reform outlined in the first Family Justice Strategy, published in November 2022. This Strategy sets out an ambitious vision for a family justice system of the future - a system that will focus on the needs and rights of children and which will assist their parents in making decisions that affect all of the family. This will be achieved...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. 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 (IPAT) closed around 3,100 appeals in...