Results 721-740 of 8,940 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources, including the Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions and National/Specialist Units. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter. The Government is committed to providing An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My first priority is to get more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment. The Programme for Government commits to recruiting at least 5,000 Gardai in the coming five years. A new recruitment process commenced this month which will see a new intake of Garda recruits starting in the Garda Training College in Templemore in the coming months. The Government is committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 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 internal HR matters, the setting of overtime budgets for each Garda Division/national unit, and the recording of overtime data. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions. For the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: When a non-EEA national comes to Ireland to undertake a course of study, be that an English language course or a course at level 6 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), a Stamp 2 student immigration permission will be granted. A student may be granted an immigration permission for a maximum of three English language programmes of 8 months duration each. The total...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service held exploratory talks with the Department of Defence on the potential use of the Curragh Camp Military Prison. The IPS also engaged technical consultants to undertake a conditional survey and examination of the fabric of the buildings to identify any essential works which would be required to allow the prison to be used as a civilian...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Department understands that the Courts Service purchased a site at Kylekiproe in 2020 on which to build a new Courthouse. Further progress with the Portlaoise project and several others, as part of the Courts Service building projects in the National Development Plan, will depend on the next round of NDP funding. The construction of a purpose-built Family Law Court complex at Hammond...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Management of the courts, 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 given the separation of powers in the Constitution. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (26 Feb 2025)

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

Seanad: Community Safety: Statements (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a great honour to be before Seanad Éireann for the second time. I was here last week talking about a youth mobility scheme the EU is implementing with the UK and our intention to opt into it. I am back today to talk on an issue that probably is of more central importance to my function as Minister for Justice, that is, the whole area of crime, policing and community safety. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Vacant Sites (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The former Cork Prison facility was built in the early 1800s and operated as a prison from 1972 to 2016. The prison was deemed no longer appropriate for use as prison accommodation due to the condition of the facilities, the size of the cellular accommodation and the lack of in-cell sanitation. The site at Cork Prison remains of strategic interest to the Prison Service as a location for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ground Rents (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Awaiting reply from Department

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ground Rents (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The rights of tenants occupying property under long leases has long been a topic of interest. Such tenants normally pay a yearly ground rent to the landlord. Several statutory changes since the 1960s have strengthened the rights of tenants occupying property under long leases to acquire the freehold in the property. The Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act 1967 gave tenants in certain...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 617, 618 and 625 together. The patterns in international protection applications vary over time and the Government’s response adapts accordingly. It has long been the case that a significant number of people apply for international protection for the first time in the International Protection Office (IPO). There are a number of circumstances in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 623 together. I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. In 2024 the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 14,000 first-instance decisions compared to over 8,500 in 2023, while the International...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. In 2024 the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 14,000 first decisions compared to over 8,500 in 2023, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed around 3,100 appeals in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 622 together. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) is a statutorily independent body and exercises a quasi-judicial function under the International Protection Act 2015. The Tribunal consists of a Chairperson, two Deputy Chairpersons, and ordinary members appointed on either a whole-time or part-time capacity. Tribunal Members...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Eurodac database, which began operation in 2003, is used to enable the comparison of fingerprints and assist in determining the country responsible for the assessment of an asylum claim presented in one of the Member States. Statistical data on the work of the Eurodac Central System are made public at the end of each year in accordance with the Eurodac Regulation (Article 8(2) of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes the management of the PULSE system. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and I am informed that An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Feb 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. I was pleased to secure 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...