Results 6,041-6,060 of 9,252 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (8 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: 143. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the basis upon which a person (details supplied) was granted temporary release from prison in circumstances in which the person had only served six years of a life sentence for murder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40647/19]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (8 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: 148. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána working group has published its national strategy to deal with assaults against the person; if not, when the strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40745/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Operations (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: 5. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration has been given to the establishment of a statutory cross-Border multidisciplinary agency to tackle crime in the Border regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39986/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Operations (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: The recent savage attack on Mr. Kevin Lunney shocked everyone in the country. Unfortunately, it did not come as a complete surprise to the people of the Border region because the company for which the man works, including its executives, has been subjected to a campaign of violence and harassment for years. I regret to say that in the Border region, it seems a certain degree of lawlessness...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Operations (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is fair to say that wherever there is a border between two separate jurisdictions, there will be increased levels of criminal activity. That has been the case historically on this island since the placement of the Border there in the 1920s. Fortunately, as a result of our membership of the European Union and customs union, and in recent years the Single Market, we have been able to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Operations (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome that. Previously, when there have been issues in places such as County Longford or Drogheda, there has been a concentration of policing attention in the areas. Much of that has to do with the fact there is a great deal of media attention on the difficulties the areas experience. My concern is there is a lot of action in respect of the savage attack on Mr. Lunney, to which the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: 3. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers being housed in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40230/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am sure the Minister of State will agree that the asylum system is under considerable pressure and that has been added to by events of this week. When people come into the country looking for international protection, we obviously have an obligation to provide them with shelter. We do that through the direct provision system in centres. It appears now that we also need to avail of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am concerned that 1,389 people are staying in hotels and guest houses while their applications for international protection are being processed. We have a problem in the direct provision centres with people who have been granted international protection not moving on because of the shortage in the housing system. What is the Government's plan to provide further accommodation for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: We need to look at other options because the system is creaking at the edges. We need to look at using State-owned accommodation. We have a considerable number of State properties that could be converted into a centre where people could be housed. We should also look at a system of fostering. Many well-intentioned people want to help those who are seeking asylum. If we had a system in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: We need to do more in respect of robbery and burglary in particular to try to deter repeat offenders. In this regard, will the Minister reflect on the proposals put forward by Fianna Fáil in our Bail (Amendment) Bill 2017? In terms of the broader picture, all of us in the House need to recognise that if a young boy is incarcerated in a juvenile detention centre before he is 18 the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: 1. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the findings of the recent study by the CSO on prison recidivism which found that almost half of prisoners here went on to commit another offence within three years of their release will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40229/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Minister will be aware that last week the Central Statistics Office published a report on recidivism in the Irish prison sector. It details the number of repeat offences committed by people after their discharge from prison. The results are alarming. What proposals do the Minister and the Government have to address our problem with repeat offenders?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister for his answer. I would not be as positive as he is in my assessment of what is contained in the CSO report. It is important to look at the statistics that were revealed last week. They show that of the prisoners released in 2011, approximately 49% were convicted of another offence within three years. They also showed that 46% of the prisoners released in 2012 were...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Data (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: 22. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which he plans to respond to recently published figures from the Courts Service which revealed the large proportion of summonses that are not served; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39989/19]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Data (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: 35. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the findings of the recent CSO Prison Recidivism Study will be addressed, namely, that almost half of prisoners here went on to commit another offence within three years of their release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39987/19]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Priorities (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: 39. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his priorities for budget 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39990/19]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (3 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: 40. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers being housed in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39988/19]

Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (2 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all the Members who contributed to the debate. It has been very beneficial. I note what the Minister of State said and some of his suggestions. We will give consideration to what he said. It is appropriate that the legislation is not steamrolled through but we will give it consideration when it comes before the Committee on Justice and Equality. Many Members spoke about the...

Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage [Private Members] (2 Oct 2019)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the opportunity to open the Second Stage debate on the Firearms and Offensive Weapons (Amendment) Bill 2019. The purpose of this legislation is to amend the legislation of 1990, the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 and, in particular, to amend section 9 of that Act, which deals with the carrying of knives. In particular, the...