Results 701-720 of 8,947 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Bodies (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for myself, my Department and this Government that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process in general. When it comes to international protection applicants, each person that enters the process is fingerprinted and photographed. These...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: All applications for family reunification made to the Immigration Service of my Department must be accompanied by evidence as to the identity of the family members and the claimed relationship between them and the applicant. Such evidence may include birth certificates, marriage certificates and identification documents. The onus is on the applicants for family reunification to satisfy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the International Protection Appeals Tribunal is independent in deciding whether or not to grant protection status to an applicant on appeal. Each application is considered individually, on its own merits, in line with national and international law. The grounds on which an applicant can be refused protection (exclusion) or have protection revoked (revocation)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 321 together. I can assure the Deputy that my Department works closely with An Garda Síochána to prevent persons who have engaged in marriages of convenience, from obtaining immigration permission to be in Ireland. This includes refusing applications and revoking immigration permissions which may have been obtained under false pretences....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Regularisation of Long-Term Undocumented Migrants scheme was a strictly time-limited one that opened on 31 January 2022 and closed on 31 July 2022. This once in a generation scheme was designed to give long-term undocumented people without a current permission to remain in the State, the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process generally. When it comes to international protection applicants, each person that enters the process is fingerprinted and photographed. These fingerprints are checked against EURODAC, an EU immigration database which stores the fingerprints of asylum applicants and those who have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Prior to travelling to Ireland, a non-EEA student may be required to apply for a visa, if from a visa required country. Visa applications are part of the screening processes, designed to establish that a person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. A visa applicant is required to present certain documentation in support of his or her application including a valid...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the person concerned recently attended one of the Citizenship Ceremonies hosted by my Department earlier this month. All certificates of naturalisation for the attendees of these ceremonies are currently in the process of being printed and will be issued via registered post. I want to assure anyone who is waiting for their certificate of naturalisation that they...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. As Minister I have no role in these independent, operational functions. I was referring in my reply to an investigation being undertaken by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) on foot of a referral by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Communications (27 Feb 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, the maintenance of Garda IT systems and recording of data. The Minister has no role in these independent functions. I sought information from An Garda Síochána in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Establishing a zero tolerance approach to domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is vital for safeguarding individuals and promoting a safer society. In 2022, the five-year Zero Tolerance DSGBV Strategy was published and in January 2024, Cuan, the DSGBV Agency, was established to drive the Strategy forward. Under Budget 2025, DSGBV funding from my Department was increased...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the applications referred to were created on 21 January 2025. However, the application process has not be completed and supporting documentation has not been received by the relevant Visa Office to date. Once the applicants are satisfied with their online visa applications they should click “submit” and print a copy of the “Summary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 to 332, inclusive, together. 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 of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. The Commissioner is also responsible for all decisions related to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department commissioned an independent consultant to undertake the statutory review of Part 4 of the Act but, for a number of reasons, it was not possible for the review to be completed within the desired timeframe. The Deputy will be aware, from previous questions to my predecessor, of the circumstances that have delayed its completion. The Research and Evaluation Unit in my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Since the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 was signed by the President on 7 February 2024 intensive work has been underway in my Department working closely with our programme partners to prepare for commencement. I intend to commence the Act within the next month. When the Act is commenced, it will provide for:a new Policing and Community Safety Authority (replacing the...

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I know but I think it is appropriate that-----

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----I go down and launch that Hardest Stories campaign by Cuan. It is also working in partnership with the Department of education. I thank the Deputy for the motion. The Government is not opposing it. This is an issue that requires full attention from Government but I reiterate the Government will not have all the answers. There is a requirement for more and I will listen to all...

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: We will.

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: We will.

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I commend Deputy Coppinger and her colleagues on using their Private Members' time to table this extremely important motion. As the Deputy indicated, the Government will not oppose the motion. I assure her that is not a case of the Government saying to leave it in our hands. I am fully aware Government will not have all the answers on this issue. Many proposals have been put forward by...