Results 921-940 of 8,947 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have made tackling domestic violence a central priority for my Department. There is a significant amount of legislation on the statute books which might assist in dealing with the situation to which the Deputy refers. Section 32(2) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 provides that while the exercise of a person’s right to occupy a place is suspended by virtue of a barring order,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Temporary Protection Directive has been extended until March 2026 at a meeting of the European Council in June 2024, thereby providing certainty for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who can continue to avail of the protections that the Directive provides during this time. Consideration as to the arrangements to be put in place following the expiry of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Climate Action Plan (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy may be aware, under Circular 01/2020 issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, my Department is required to record the carbon emissions associated with all official flights made within a calendar year, and to pay a corresponding amount into the Climate Action Fund, based on the prevailing rate of carbon tax (€48.50 per tonne in 2023). ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is important to emphasise that the conduct of any court case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. The courts are, subject only to the Constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, including sentencing. The Judicial Council Act 2019 established an independent Judicial Council, and, within that body, a Sentencing Guidelines and Information...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 223 together. At the outset I'm sure the Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister I have no role in these matters and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to such. I can assure...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy may be aware that, last September, the Government increased the age of retirement from 60 to 62. This means that Gardaí who wish to work on to 62 may do so. Government took this decision on foot of a request from the Garda Commissioner and the Garda representative associations. This increase in the mandatory retirement age reflects the reality that people can and want to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Establishing a zero tolerance approach to domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is vital for safeguarding individuals and promoting a safer society. In 2022, the five-year Zero Tolerance DSGBV Strategy was published and in January 2024, Cuan, the DSGBV Agency, was established to drive the Strategy forward. Under Budget 2025, DSGBV funding was increased to €70m. As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Staff (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that Adrian O'Higgins has been appointed as my policy adviser, at Principal Officer (PPC) grade.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 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. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 saw 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....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 222 together. As the Deputy may be aware, there has been much work done to date to enhance the prison infrastructure, provide additional capacity, and explore alternatives to prison. The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, commits to continued action in this area, including the construction of a prison at Thornton Hall....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: While our bail laws provide for the refusal of bail in particular circumstances, the presiding judge is entirely independent in the exercise of their judicial functions, and the decision to grant bail in a particular case is solely a matter for the judge. However, in considering a bail application in accordance with the Bail Act 1997, as amended, the Court is required to have regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Commissioner is also responsible for the Garda Reserve under the Garda Síochána (Reserve Members) Regulations 2024. As Minister, I have no role in the recruitment or training process for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 operational policing matters. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions. Currently the Proof of Concept (POC) phase for Body Worn Cameras is ongoing in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: An Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to protect people from harm and save lives. This includes the rollout of bodycams to help protect frontline Gardaí and to allow them to investigate crime as effectively as possible. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 was enacted in December 2023 and provides a legal basis for the deployment and use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can confirm that the total number of Prison Officers and Recruit Prison Officers employed by the Irish Prison Service as at 31st January 2025 is as outlined in the table below. Period Grade 31/01/2025 Prison Officers * 2358 * Prison Officers & Recruit Prison Officers. This figure provided does not include...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset, it is important to clarify that criminal legal aid and civil legal aid are separate services. As outlined in the Programme for Government 2025, the Government has committed to reforming the operation of Criminal Legal Aid. The general scheme of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill 2023 was published in July 2023. This Bill will modernise the operation of the Criminal Legal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Guardian Status (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits the Government to examine proposals to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partners, or a parent of their child, as part of the ongoing work to implement appropriate recommendations from the Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews. This is a commitment which I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The matters raised by the Deputy are under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth until the transfer of functions is completed. I have referred your question to that Department for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The matters raised by the Deputy are under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth until the transfer of functions is completed. I have referred your question to that Department for their direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (12 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: A key principle of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is that community safety requires multi-agency cooperation working in partnership with An Garda Síochána and crucially with communities themselves. The Report recommended the establishment of national and local structures to bring together the relevant departments and State agencies involved in harm prevention to...