Results 81-100 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (16 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The State is currently accommodating over 32,500 people in 316 IPAS centres around the country. As of 5 October 2025, there are 499 international protection applicants resident in Co. Offaly. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) releases weekly statistics in relation to international protection applicants accommodated by IPAS. This includes a per county breakdown...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Rights (16 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The EU Migration and Asylum Pact has been designed to establish a common approach to migration and asylum that is based on solidarity, responsibility, and, importantly, respect for human rights. Part 15 of the General Scheme of the new International Protection Bill provides for the establishment of an independent monitoring mechanism as provided for in the Screening Regulation and Asylum...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (16 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Ireland has opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact which will come into effect in June 2026. The Pact will provide a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure. This will be achieved through convergence in asylum practices across the EU, and through the introduction of streamlined and faster processing times. My Department continues to focus on preparing for the EU Pact on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (16 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and ensuring that victims and survivors receive the support and care they need is an absolute priority for me. Cuan, the statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) agency is committed to providing safe and accessible accommodation and support services for victims and survivors of DSGBV. As the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (16 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The number of International Protection applications have been rising over the past number of years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. This year, we are beginning to see application numbers noticeably reduce with 37% fewer compared with the same period in 2024. Minster Brophy and I believe that implementing a more efficient migration system is a key element in reducing the numbers coming to Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Judgments (16 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the case of the person referred to is being considered in the context of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling in the Chenchooliah. The ECJ ruled that such people can only be removed on foot of a Removal Order made under Article 15 of the EU Free Movement Directive. As a result of this ruling, a new Removal Order process needed to be developed in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Agreements (16 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 292, 293, 294, 295, 296 and 299 together. I can advise the Deputy that the Entry/Exit System (EES) is a Schengen measure which will introduce digital border controls at external borders of the Schengen Area. As Ireland is not a member of the Schengen Area, it is not implementing the EES. In this context, additional staffing, information campaigns or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Bodies (16 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 297, 298, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308 and 309 together. The European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO) was established in 2017 under the EU's enhanced cooperation measure to investigate and prosecute crimes against the financial interest of the European Union. These crimes are as set out in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (16 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is responsible for services relating to immigration to Ireland by non-EU/EEA citizens, including visa applications, international protection and citizenship services. The Department does not hold the information requested. The Central Statistics Office provides guidance on how the State defines and invites people resident in Ireland to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Funding (16 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) is a national programme administered by my Department and co-funded by the European Union. It provides reception and integration supports to International Protection applicants, beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, and other third-country nationals in Ireland. Applications to the next round of funding for the AMIF are expected to open by...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am conscious that this is the first time Senator Conway has spoken on this grouping of amendments. At the end of his contribution, Senator McDowell mentioned that insurance companies are dictated to by the bottom line, and he is absolutely right about that. However, as legislators, we cannot be dictated to by people whose only interest is the bottom line. We need to enact legislation...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Senator Higgins for her amendments. She has put forward two amendments, Nos. 6 and 7, which are identical and which seek the removal of the words "or is likely to cause" in the new section 12 governing defamation of a body corporate. I think it is always important when we are discussing and debating amending legislation that we recall what the underlying existing legislation...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is causation.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Oh dear.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Senator Higgins gave the example of a statement to the effect that a company has been shut down on five occasions in the past ten years. If that statement is absolutely true, no one who I am aware of would contemplate issuing defamation proceedings in respect of it. They would not get a lawyer to stand over it. A solicitor has got to swear an affidavit of verification in respect of it. If...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have no objection. We can go back to section 11.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Equipment (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together. I am informed that the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published detailed guidelines for use by Public Sector Bodies when planning procurement of ICT goods and services. These guidelines address a range of cybersecurity domains including supply chain security. The NCSC has also recently published, in draft form,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The delivery of effective data protection regulation is acknowledged as an important policy objective of Government. The Programme for Government provides that the Government will “Invest in the Data Protection Commission (DPC) to ensure it can deliver on its mandate”. Ensuring a well-functioning digital regulatory environment for businesses to grow, employ and innovate is a key...