Results 701-720 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed by the Garda authorities that in 2014, the number of Garda members and Garda staff assigned specifically to the investigation of prostitution, human trafficking and related organised crime within the Garda National Protective Services Bureau is outlined in the following table: Year Total Garda members Various ranks Garda staff Various...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. The Chief Bureau Officer is responsible to the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will appreciate, management of the courts, along with related operational matters and logistical functions, are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the Constitution. It should be noted that the Department does not record data relating to convictions, as this is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised that work is ongoing within An Garda Síochána to issue fixed charge notices for registration plate offences. The Garda authorities are currently making changes to relevant ICT systems and this will be followed by a period of system testing. It is envisaged that process will be finalised before the end of this year, and operational Gardaí will be made aware of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Services (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I condemn in the strongest terms any acts of vandalism or theft involving life saving equipment such as defibrillators and life buoys. I am advised that a person who damages life saving equipment is liable to prosecution for an offence of criminal damage under section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act 1991. A person convicted of such an offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána wrote to the Secretary General of my Department on 4 December 2020 to inform the Department that a number of 999 calls had been cancelled on the Garda Computer Aided Dispatch System and that An Garda Síochána was carrying out a review of the reasons behind this. Following initial engagement by the Department with the Garda authorities, Minister Helen...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy will be aware that the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 sets out the functions of An Garda Síochána, which include the provision of security services for the State. Under the Act, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. As Minister, I have no role in these independent, operational functions. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am 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. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Housing Provision (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Department cannot comment publicly on individual cases, but I have passed details of this case to officials in my Department and it is receiving attention. If a person applying for international protection has any concerns in relation to their accommodation, they can contact the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) directly via a dedicated helpdesk at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution and stationing of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. Everyone has a right to be safe and to feel safe in their community and in their home, and in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda authorities have advised there are currently 86 evidential breath testing machines in operation nationwide. The following table outlines the number of machines in each Division. EvidenzerIRL Location – Division No. of EvidenzerIRL machines per Division Clare Tipperary 10 Cork City 2 Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will appreciate, management of the courts, along with related operational matters and logistical functions, are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the Constitution. It should be noted that the Department does not record data relating to convictions, as this is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: This Government takes any risk to retailers and retail staff very seriously. I am acutely aware of the personal and economic impact that retail crime is having on businesses, shop workers, and communities. I recognise that shoplifting and organised retail crime pose a significant threat to the economic welfare of Irish retailers and that retail theft is not a victimless crime. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 481 together. This Government takes any risk to retailers and retail staff very seriously. As Minister, I am acutely aware of the personal and economic impact that retail crime is having on businesses, shop workers, and communities. I recognise that shoplifting and organised retail crime pose a significant threat to the economic welfare of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. As Minister, I do not direct the Commissioner on operational policing matters including response times to emergency calls. I am informed by Garda authorities that GardaSAFE, the new computer aided dispatch system in the Garda Síochána, was rolled out incrementally across the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: This Government takes any risk to retailers and retail staff very seriously. As Minister, I am acutely aware of the personal and economic impact that retail crime is having on businesses, shop workers, and communities. I recognise that shoplifting and organised retail crime pose a significant threat to the economic welfare of Irish retailers and that retail theft is not a victimless crime. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Programme for Government (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to progressing and implementing policies aimed at increasing the use of community sanctions, that reduce offending, divert people away from imprisonment, and provide effective rehabilitation. Restorative justice is a key component of this work. In April 2025, I approved the publication of the Probation Service restorative justice plan, ‘Restoring Relationships:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department is currently considering a review of the Community Sanctions Bill 2014 that was carried out in accordance with the Programme for Government commitment to “work with all criminal justice agencies to build capacity to deliver restorative justice, safely and effectively”. The review addresses certain issues with restorative justice that are also the subject matter...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 488 together. The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. Vetting is carried out by An Garda Síochána in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 - 2016. As Minister, I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Programme for Government commits to updating our licensing laws, which, it is intended, will be done in due course, and the issue raised by the Deputy can be considered as part of that process. All licensed premises are obliged to acquire planning permission before a licence is issued. Objections in respect of the suitability of the proposed location of the licensed premises can be...