Results 881-900 of 8,947 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (18 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, particularly considering the current processing times. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Appointments (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The work undertaken by Prison Visiting Committees provides an invaluable perspective on our prisons and the experiences of those in their care, and ensures important issues are highlighted. The Report on a Review of Prison Visiting Committees, completed in 2023, makes a series of recommendations, including that a public competition to select members is the appropriate approach to take in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Programme for Government commits to updating our licensing laws and work on this will be progressed as part of the Government’s Legislative Programme which the Government Chief Whip will publish in the near future.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Properties (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 574 and 575 together. My Department owns three properties that are currently vacant - a house on the land at Thornton Hall in Kilsallaghan, Co. Dublin, the old Cork Prison site and Westview House in Cork City. The Westview House property in Cork City is under the Probation Service and has been largely vacant since 2019 apart from some ad hoc use to conduct...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, I engage regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, I engage regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including liquor licensing inspections. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am informed by An Garda Síochána that 861 inspections were carried out in the Clare/Tipperary Division...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of Garda vehicles among...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 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 An Garda Síochána. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. The unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion for 2025 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Injury Claims (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Personal Injuries Guidelines are drawn up by the Judicial Council which is independent in its functions. The Judicial Council has conducted a review of the Guidelines and submitted draft amendments of the Guidelines to me in accordance with section 7 of the Judicial Council Act 2019. As required by the Act I will shortly be laying the draft amendments before the Houses after which a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Programmes (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset, it is important to note that, as Minister, I do not comment on individual Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) applications. Since the closure of the programme, the IIP Unit has continued to process and submit applications to the Evaluation Committee for consideration and recommendation. At present, there are approximately 100 Immigrant Investor Programme project proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Sittings (18 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. Furthermore, the scheduling of individual court cases and the allocation of court business are entirely matters for the Presidents of the Courts and the presiding judges who are, under the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 240, 241, 242 and 243 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 recent years there has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system. This has allowed for a major...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 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, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed 3,103 appeals. Increased staff levels, investment in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 253 together. Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all decisions related to the opening hours of individual Garda stations. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. Fethard Garda Station is a part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (13 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together. I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a join family visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible. Information regarding join family visa applications sponsored by holders of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (13 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together. 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.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (13 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The person referred to by the Deputy holds a Stamp 2 immigration permission as an English language student valid until 09 June 2025. Non-EEA national students should note that the Student Pathway on my Department's Immigration Service website sets out the immigration route for non-EEA national students at: . When a non-EEA national comes to Ireland to undertake a course of study, be that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together. 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. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020 which is...