Results 561-580 of 9,106 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy has highlighted the issues of concern and he has correctly pointed out that not just the O'Farrell family, but the public is entitled to answers on these. The Deputy mentioned that the driver was on bail on charges of theft and possession of stolen property at the time of the collision. The Deputy also mentioned that Gridziuska's convictions for those theft offences in May 2011...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I do not want to interfere with what the justice committee wants to do, but if a request comes from it to my Department, I will ensure that careful consideration is given to it. I have to make a broader point on scoping inquiries and reports. Generally, when there is a proposal in the House to establish a commission of investigation or a tribunal of inquiry, a scoping report is done in...

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 Garda resources. This includes the allocation of Garda members to a given Division, District or station. As Minister I have no role in this process and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to this matter. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the...

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 and has committed, in the Programme for Government, to increasing capacity by 1,500. The report referred to by the Deputy sets out the current situation with regard to the impact of over-crowding. As a result of this, the Irish Prison Service budget was increased by €79 million, or 18%, in Budget 2025 and the...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: My first priority as Minister for Justice is to have more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment and civilianisation where possible. While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, I look forward to engaging regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need. I am informed that when allocating and...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year. The Garda Commissioner keeps the distribution of resources under continual review and I will be engaging regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Jury service is one of the most important civic duties that an individual can be asked to perform, and it exists to protect an individual's rights and to involve the public in the administration of justice. Information for potential jurors on jury duty is posted with jury summonses and potential jurors are advised that more detailed information can be found on the Courts Service website....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The EU Asylum and Migration Pact will significantly reform the approach to migration and asylum both in Ireland and across the EU by providing a faster, more streamlined, and fairer system for addressing the challenges faced in this area. The Pact will harmonise asylum procedures and processes across the EU and comes into effect in June 2026. Ireland, along with all the other Member...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Scéimeanna Rannacha (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tá sé do-ghlactha amach is amach, ar ndóigh, go ndéanann daoine cionta le linn dóibh bheith ar bannaí. Sárú díreach atá ann ar a ngealltanas nuair a dheonaigh an chúirt bannaí dóibh. Gealltar sa Chlár Rialtais go gcuirfear clibeáil leictreonach i bhfeidhm do chatagóirí cuí ciontóra,...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Police Certificates are issued on a non-statutory basis by An Garda Síochána and are an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner, who is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. I have checked this with the Garda authorities and they advise that there has been no change in policy regarding Police certificates. The certificate, which is valid...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to building stronger, safer communities, by progressing policies aimed at reducing offending and diverting people away from the criminal justice system through the provision of effective rehabilitation. There are no quick fixes to reducing reoffending and evidence shows that different targeted interventions are needed, including addressing the underlying causes of offending...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Part 9 of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 amended the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 to increase the sentences for a number of offences under the 1990 Act related to knife crime. The maximum penalty for the offences of possession of a knife with the intention of unlawfully intimidating or injuring another person,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is one of my central priorities that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The removal of persons who have been refused permission to remain is an essential requirement for the immigration system to work effectively. A person is only deported when all available avenues for appeal are exhausted. Deportation Orders are issued after a person has been offered the opportunity to...

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 and has committed, in the Programme for Government, to increasing capacity by 1,500. The information sought by the Deputy regarding prison capacity and the numbers of prisoners in custody is collated daily by the Irish Prison Service Statistics Unit and published on its website. As of Tuesday, 18 March, the prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Injury Claims (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Personal Injuries Guidelines are drawn up by the Judicial Council, which is independent in its functions. In accordance with the Judicial Council Act 2019 (as amended), the Judicial Council has conducted a review of the Guidelines. Following on from the review, the Council has submitted draft amendments of the Guidelines to me. As required by the Act, I will shortly be laying the draft...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to protect people from harm and save lives. This includes the rollout of bodycams to help protect frontline Gardaí and to allow them to investigate crime as effectively as possible. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 was enacted in December 2023 and provides a legal basis for the deployment and use of...

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: Road Safety (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Road safety is a shared responsibility. The whole of Government response is led by the Department of Transport and is taken very seriously across Government. The development and implementation of road traffic legislation and policy, including the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, and the promotion and advancement of road safety, falls within the remit of my colleague Mr Darragh...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (20 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to the principle that everyone, wherever they live in Ireland, should be safe and feel safe. Building safe and secure communities across the country by investing in An Garda Síochána is a top priority in the Programme for Government. We want every part of country to be a safe space for people to live and work in, and to visit, and the Belmayne-Clongriffin...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: The overall Garda workforce, which includes Gardaí, civilian staff and Reserves is almost 18,000. There are currently over 14,150 Garda members across the country, which represents an increase of over 10% since 2015 when there were 12,816 Garda members throughout the country It is the case that once a Garda has completed 30 years of service they may opt to retire on full pension at...