Results 721-740 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

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

Jim O'Callaghan: 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. I believe the many organisations whose work focuses on the safety, enjoyment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Reviews (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, I have obtained Government approval to prepare a General Scheme of a Civil Reform Bill. The Civil Reform Bill is a key implementation measure of the Kelly Report of the Review of the Administration of Civil Justice. As part of the Bill, it is my intention to introduce provisions which will codify the existing law on judicial review by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (23 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Ireland is currently accommodating over 32,000 people seeking international protection in over 320 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country. Due to severe shortages of accommodation over recent years, from December 2023, the State was unable to offer accommodation to all people seeking international protection. My Department manages a limited...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: It has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time available. I will write to the Deputy once I have the information requested.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: First, on the bespoke legislation in respect of the drainage project, obviously that would be legislation coming from a different Department to the Department of justice. I have not given consideration to it. I hear what the Taoiseach had to say on it but that is a matter that would obviously have to come from the Minister for housing in respect of bespoke legislation. As the Deputy will...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Planning Issues (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Geoghegan for raising this extremely important matter. He started his contribution by referring to the greater Dublin drainage project, which is an absolutely critical project not just for the people in the constituencies we share but indeed for the whole Dublin area. Deputy Geoghegan's specific concern is what can be done to ensure unmeritorious judicial review applications...

Antisocial Behaviour: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I do not get involved in allocating gardaí around the country-----

Antisocial Behaviour: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----and it would be inappropriate for a Minister for justice to do so. The Garda Commissioner does take into account what the operational needs are in certain areas, and that is why he decides where the new recruits should be allocated. We will all work together to ensure we can get more gardaí into our communities. It is also important to point out that the 2025 budget provided...

Antisocial Behaviour: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Gogarty and members of the Independent Technical Group for tabling this motion on antisocial behaviour. I am very aware of the impact that antisocial behaviour - many times it is criminal behaviour - has on individuals living in local communities. Regrettably, it appears to be the case that significant numbers of people who are engaged in antisocial behaviour, or the criminal...

Migration: Statements (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thought that was a very worthwhile debate. I stayed for the whole debate and I listened to the 21 TDs who contributed. I took notes of what everyone said. In the limited time, I will not be able to go through what each Deputy said, but I listened very carefully. It is apparent that there are a couple of things that everyone in this House agrees on. It is worth emphasising that....

Migration: Statements (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Thank you.

Migration: Statements (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am disagreeing with you.

Migration: Statements (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and I very much welcome that we will have statements on migration this afternoon. With the permission of the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, will jointly open this debate with me. It is particularly welcome that we are discussing in this House the issue of migration. It is an extremely important national and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Garda Commissioner’s functions include the management and control generally of the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Accordingly, I am not in a position to comment on the material referenced by the Deputy. More generally, for security and operational reasons it is not the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will appreciate, as Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, I have no role in the exercise of Probate functions. The Probate Office is an office of the High Court. Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in the exercise of their functions under the Courts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Safety (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The vast majority of Gardaí are deeply committed to their mission of keeping communities safe and they carry out their duties with professionalism and care. That said, the Crowe Report is very concerning. The poor productivity identified on the part of some Gardaí in Roads Policing, along with weaknesses in the approach to supervision and management of these officers need to be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Strategies (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I remain fully committed to a zero-tolerance approach to domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and to addressing the societal conditions in which it persists. In January 2024, the Government established Cuan, the statutory DSGBV agency. Cuan coordinates the implementation of the Third National Strategy, ensuring services, training, and public awareness initiatives are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice. The Zero Tolerance Strategy to address DSGBV is ambitious and is structured around the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention – Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination. One of the overarching goals of this Strategy is ensuring that everyone who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Driver Licences (18 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 through the separation of powers in the Constitution. It should be noted that the Department does not record data...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Investigations (18 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the specific matter to which the Deputy refers is currently before the High Court, it is not possible for me to comment in detail at this time. If a person is not satisfied with the manner in which an investigation affecting them has been handled by An Garda Síochána, then it is open to them to contact Fiosrú, the Police Ombudsman. Fiosrú, as the Deputy will be...