Results 521-540 of 8,940 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Civil legal aid and advice is provided for qualifying individuals in civil matters through the Civil Legal Aid Scheme. The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for administering the Scheme, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995. While I, as Minister, have no role in the operational matters of the Board, the Regulations made by me under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Consultations (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department is fully committed to engaging with the public and our stakeholders as part of the development of new strategies, public policy and proposed changes to legislation. This includes the use of public consultations to engage directly with communities and members of the public to listen and better understand their views and perspectives. Meaningful participation increases the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that my Department had no contracts with the company in question.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: On 27 February 2025, a chartered flight to Georgia resulted in the removal of 32 people from the State who were subject to deportation orders. The average amount of time spent in Ireland by the deportees on this flight was approximately 2.25 years. This is the first operation conducted under a new contract signed last November by the State for the provision of a charter service. Such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Electric Vehicles (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Protecting and supporting victims of sexual violence is a priority for me and my Department and I am dedicated to building on the progress already made to ensure meaningful results. The disclosure of counselling records is a complex and highly sensitive balancing of individuals' rights. On the one hand, there is the victim’s right to personal privacy and on the other, the accused...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Stardust Fire (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Following engagement with legal representatives of the families of the victims of the Stardust fire, the Government, last August, approved a two-phased approach to redress arrangements. The first phase focused on the families of the 48 victims who tragically died in the fire and was developed in consultation and agreement with the families' legal representatives. It provided for a single,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1136 to 1139, inclusive, together. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. Under Section 33 of the Act, the Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a central priority for this Government, for the Department and for the Garda Commissioner. 'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), set out an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995. Section 3(3) of Act states that "the Board shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be independent in the exercise of its functions". I, as Minister, am unable to comment on any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1142 and 1154 together. While the general principle, as set out in the Constitution, is that justice be administered in public, the underlying concern over time has been to protect the identity of the parties and any child to whom family law proceedings relate, given the sensitivity of the matters they can involve. Hence these proceedings are held otherwise...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1143, 1145 and 1146 together. The Constitution provides for the separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. The independence of the judiciary is explicitly provided for in Article 35. The appropriate course for reviewing a judgment of a court is via an appeal by a party with standing in the case to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Programmes (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1144, 1147 and 1149 together. Ireland’s first Family Justice Strategy was published in November 2022, setting out 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 implementation of over 50 actions across nine goals, with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1148 and 1173 together. Ireland’s first Family Justice Strategy 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 implementation of over 50 actions across nine...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Stamp 0 retirement permission provides a means by which non-nationals, of independent means, may retire to Ireland, subject to certain requirements. These requirements are designed to ensure that such people have the means to support themselves while living here; they are not entitled to access State benefits while resident here on a retirement permission. People of independent means...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that it is open to any person to apply for a change of immigration status if they meet the criteria for doing so. Detailed information on how to change immigration status is available on my Departments Immigration Service website at: The holder of a Stamp 3 immigration permission may be eligible to apply to change to a Stamp 4 immigration permission:If they become...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1152 and 1153 together. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the Visa for the person concerned was granted on 13 March 2025. Entry into the State is solely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry. The onus is on the individuals to have all documentation relating to their reasons...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Prisoners Abroad (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the processing of the application from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing. The Irish Prison Service is liaising with the French authorities, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, and officials in my Department to gather the necessary information to progress the matter. As the Deputy will be aware, EU Framework...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1156 and 1188 together. I can advise the Deputy that my Department does not operate a system for the issuing of visas to missionaries who wish to come to Ireland to proselytise. However, my Department does operate a Minister of Religion (MOR) scheme which allows MORs to travel to Ireland and remain here under certain conditions. A MOR may be granted...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources, including the Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions and National/Specialist Units. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter. An allocation of €2.48 billion was provided...