Results 761-780 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (17 Sep 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. People may apply to be members of the International Protection Office (IPO) panel if they hold a relevant degree or have a minimum of two years’ experience in the area of international protection or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Implementing effective border security arrangements is a priority for me as Minister. The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. At ports of entry, Immigration officials conduct passport checks, and run operations as required, to ensure passengers arriving in the State are properly documented in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: There are a number of circumstances where a person might apply at the International Protection Office (IPO) without first applying at a port of entry. They may enter at an airport with valid documentation for example but choose not to apply at that time. Or they may apply having been in the State for a period previously, for example on foot of a different permission to remain. My...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. Deportations are costly and complex to enforce. It is the preferred...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child and Family Agency (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 848 and 862 together. I am advised by An Garda Síochána that the following table provides a count of unique incidents where a child was referred by An Garda Síochána to Tusla, the Family & Child Agency for the 2014 to 2024 period. Year Reported Incident Type Number of Incidents 2014 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. All people residing in Ireland on a Stamp 2 immigration permission must...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people in 321 International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres around the country, over 9,000 of whom are children. As we respond to changing trends, and work toward a more stable and sustainable accommodation system in this sector, accommodation is being developed and delivered through a range of channels, with a focus on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Divorce Process (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will appreciate, management of the courts and operational matters, including matters pertaining to court buildings, are the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in the exercising of its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998. However, to be of assistance to the Deputy, my officials have made enquires with the Courts Service and the following sets out...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 852 and 859 together. An Garda Síochána publishes data on the allocation of Gardaí by Division, Station, and rank. This can be found at the following link: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and -people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-brea kdown-2025/ The Deputy should select the Garda Workforce...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have been informed by Garda authorities that the table provided sets out the number of charging points that An Garda Síochána have installed at Garda stations across the country. Charger Speed 7 kW AC 22 kW AC 25 kW AC 50 kW AC Total No. of sockets 159 110 5 4 278 The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child and Family Agency (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 854 and 855 together. The Deputy will appreciate that, as there is an ongoing investigation into the incident referred to that I cannot comment in detail on specifics, beyond confirming that a referral to Gardaí was made by Tusla and acted upon by An Garda Síochána. I am assured that An Garda Síochána, as a human rights based...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that requests to expedite an application or for an emergency visa can be made through my Departments Customer Service Portal, which can be accessed at the following link: portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/. Expediting a visa application is usually confined to time-sensitive instances, such as, if family member has been hospitalised, in a life-threatening situation or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Department receives offers of international protection accommodation on an ongoing basis from external commercial providers. All offers are reviewed by the Department under a standardised appraisal procedure. Factors in the appraisal of international protection accommodation include the site and its potential, the value for money it offers, planning and building regulations, any works...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the Criminal Justice Act 1984 (Treatment of Persons in Custody in Garda Síochána Stations) Regulations 1987, people arrested and detained in a Garda station must be informed of their right to consult a solicitor. The Garda Station Legal Advice Revised Scheme provides for the payment of fees to solicitors for telephone and in-station consultations with persons detained in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I recognise the crucial role played by the legal professions in the effective administration of criminal justice. As the Deputy will know, the Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, contains a commitment to reform the operation of the criminal legal aid system and fully restore criminal legal aid fees. Over the past two years, there has been an 18% increase in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Irish Prison Service has confirmed that information relating to prison capacity and the numbers of prisoners in custody is collated daily by the Irish Prison Service Statistics Unit and published on its website (www.irishprisons.ie). This information can be found in the Information Centre under Statistics & Information, Monthly Information Note. The direct link is:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am assured that An Garda Síochána execute warrants as expeditiously as possible, giving priority to the execution of warrants relating to serious crimes. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were 2,455 bench warrants outstanding in the Garda R district as of 1 September 2025. The execution of warrants, including bench warrants, can be impeded by people actively...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Irish Prison Service has confirmed that information relating to prison capacity and the numbers of prisoners in custody, including those accommodated on a mattress, is collated daily by the Irish Prison Service Statistics Unit and published on its website (www.irishprisons.ie). This information can be found in the Information Centre under Statistics & Information, Daily Prisoner...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it is not possible to provide the specific information sought in the manner that the question is posed. However, the Deputy may find the information regarding remand prisoners in the attached tables informative. They set out: The average length of time spent in prison custody by an individual on a remand or for trial warrant only in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The number of sentenced committals to prison in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, by sentence length is presented in the table below. Sentence Length 2023 2024 2025 (to 31.8.2025) Less than 3 months 1307 1500 871 3 to <6 Mths 1390 1405 915 6 to...