Results 901-920 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1565 and 1614 together. The Garda College in Templemore is the national training centre for all of An Garda Síochána. The facility is used for the delivery of both the training of new entrants to the organisation and the delivery of regular and specialist training to all serving Gardaí, including the Garda Reserve and Garda Staff. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Strategies (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Following a transfer of functions in May 2025, migrant integration policy moved from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DCEDIY) to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Preparatory work completed by the former DCEDIY to develop a Migrant Integration Strategy included a two-phase consultation process with migrants and stakeholders to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons, including in Cork Prison which I visited earlier this year, and the challenges faced by those who work and live in our prisons as a result. As of 28 August 2025, there were 81 prisoners sleeping on mattresses in Cork Prison, a reduction of 18% from the previous week and that had further reduced to 78 by Friday last, 5 September. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons and the challenges faced by those who work and live in our prisons as a result. Work to increase capacity has already begun. Since 2022 capacity across the prison estate has been increased by 380 new spaces, with 126 delivered in 2024, 43 delivered to date in 2025 with plans to deliver a further 98 additional spaces this year. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Irish Prison Service has confirmed that information regarding 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, Daily Prisoner Population. The direct link is:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1570 and 1573 together. Improving the experience of all victims engaging with the criminal justice system has been a priority for me since taking office. Due to the rise in our population, it is important that we increase the number of prison spaces to ensure the ability of the authorities to prosecute serious offences and ensure the safety of the public....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Any act of violence against prison staff is unacceptable. Any criminal act carried out within our prisons, including an assault on a staff member, will be reported to An Garda Síochána for investigation and prosecution. It is also vitally important that staff who are subjected to an act of violence or who witness incidents in our prisons are given the necessary support afterwards. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy is aware, the Government has recently announced a major capital development plan to increase prison capacity, as stated in the National Development Plan 2025 to 2030. To that end, the Irish Prison Service has the responsibility for the safe and secure imprisonment of people in its care and is tasked with the design, procurement, and delivery of the proposed capital plan. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence as a priority. Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), sets out an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin these crimes. One of the key objectives of the strategy is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Prosecutions are a matter for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). The DPP is wholly independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended) and, as Minister, I have no role in the operations, governance or oversight of the Office, which is funded through the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach. As a result, I am unable to provide any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As part of the Zero Tolerance Strategy, this Government committed to doubling domestic violence accommodation capacity by the end of 2026. Cuan has a key function to coordinate delivery of the capital programme to increase safe accommodation capacity. A capital programme of this scale to deliver safe accommodation is unprecedented in Ireland. Cuan is working closely with Domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV) through sustained investment, robust policy measures and cross sectoral collaboration is a priority for me and for this Government. Behind each contact is a person, usually a woman, often in crisis, who has taken the courageous step to seek help. That reality strengthens my resolve to ensure every victim receives the support,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1578, 1580, 1581, 1582, 1584, 1585, 1588 and 1589 together. I understand the Deputy is referring to Family reunification (FRU) as provided for in Section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015 which allows people granted international Protection status to apply for certain family members to join them in the State. An application for FRU must be made...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to enhancing transparency and effective communication of my Department’s work, including in the area of International Protection. The matters raised by the Deputy relate to FOI-2024-0883 and included records relating to ongoing discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure concerning staffing needs and associated financial...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1583 and 1671 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that I will take all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively. The State is required to examine the application of anyone who presents at the borders of the State, or is in the State, and indicates that they wish to make an application for international protection. This is in accordance with our obligations under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can confirm that my Department takes all necessary steps to manage the international protection process efficiently and effectively, while ensuring the integrity of those processes is maintained at all times. There has been significant investment across the end-to-end international protection process in the last number of years with additional staffing as well as increased financial and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division, Station and rank, including for Kilrush County Clare, is publicly available and 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 Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the Garda fleet, the number of Garda vehicles by Division and District, including for Kilrush Garda station in County Clare, is publicly available and can be found at the following link: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/fi nance-fleet-management.html. The Deputy should access the file titled “Fleet...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Sep 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for all operational policing matters, including responses by An Garda Síochána to emergency calls. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that, for operational reasons, An Garda Síochána does not provide its emergency response times in respect of specific locations. An...