Results 81-100 of 1,548 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan in 'Dáil debates'

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (15 Feb 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 6. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the public service, justice and police reform division of his Department. [6888/23]

Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Feb 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am sharing time with Deputy Costello. I welcome the introduction of this legislation. The Bill is the latest type of legislation that seeks to prescribe and specify powers to be exercised by members of An Garda Síochána. It is important that before we give significant powers to members of An Garda Síochána, those powers be debated by this House and specified in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (8 Feb 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: The programme for Government commits the Government to step up funding for high-performance sport. The Taoiseach will be aware of one of our most successful sporting teams, the Leinster Rugby team, which, as the Taoiseach knows, plays its matches at home in the RDS. I know the Taoiseach has been there recently and he will no doubt be aware the condition of it is very poor. The grandstand...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (8 Feb 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 12. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on the programme for Government. [4696/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (26 Jan 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: 108. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide a report on the operation of the Croí Cónaithe scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3559/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (19 Jan 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: Everyone in the House wants to encourage more people onto public transport. That is a commitment of the Minister and of the Government. Unfortunately, many people are deterred from going onto public transport, particularly at night time, because they do not feel safe. Have there been any discussions between the Minister’s Department and the transport providers on improving safety?...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (19 Jan 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister for his reply. It is worthwhile that we are discussing this important issue. I agree with him that obviously not all public transport has the threat of criminal activity or antisocial behaviour on it but unfortunately many members of the public are concerned about it. Last summer, my Fianna Fáil colleagues in Dublin and I did a survey of public transport users....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (19 Jan 2023)

Jim O'Callaghan: The UK has a separate transport police. I agree with the Minister that it is not a good idea for this country. It would create tensions for An Garda Síochána and the country is not large enough to have a separate independent police force for public transport. However, we need to look for a dedicated unit within An Garda Síochána. This is primarily a matter for the...

Ukraine Solidarity Bill 2022: First Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide comprehensive solidarity to Ukraine in the face of the unlawful war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation with the support of Belarus, to provide for criminal and civil liability in respect of the crime of aggression and related wrongs and for the recognition of qualifications of displaced persons, to make...

Ukraine Solidarity Bill 2022: First Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: If whoever is in that office has an opportunity to consider it, it would be very worthwhile that Ireland would make the crime of aggression a crime in Irish law.

Ukraine Solidarity Bill 2022: First Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I commend the Minister of State on managing to get this complex and complicated legislation onto the floor of the Dáil. He will recall that in opposition between the years 2016 and 2020, on numerous occasions, Fianna Fáil put forward proposals seeking reform of the legislation governing gambling. Regrettably, we did so without success, notwithstanding the fact we brought...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (24 Nov 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 25. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will report on the delivery of the early actions outlined in the high-level action plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces and if all targets will be met. [58287/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (24 Nov 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: 18. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will detail according to rank the number of vacancies in the Defence Forces in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58286/22]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. As regards the statistics he provided, he said that 369 recruits were attested this year. I am conscious that the Minister of State is not at the Department of Justice. My understanding is that many of the gardaí who were attested this year were recruited last year. There can be little doubt that we need to get the numbers up in An Garda...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (22 Nov 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I wish to raise the associated issue of what I will refer to as the recruitment crisis in An Garda Síochána. At present, we have approximately 14,300 attested members of An Garda Síochána. In my opinion, that is not enough and we need to closer to 16,000. The reason I say that is not simply because of the ever-increasing population in this country, but also because of...

Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022: Second Stage (10 Nov 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is very beneficial that the Oireachtas is giving considerable time to this debate. It is an important piece of legislation. The Minister and Department have spent considerable time in preparing it; similarly, this House should give it detailed consideration. Much legislation goes through this House that most of us are confident will not be subjected to much judicial scrutiny. However,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Reserve (20 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: If the difficulty in recruitment is overcome, the next issue is to determine what strategic role the Garda Reserve should have. The statutory power to decide what role it should play is provided to the Commissioner, who can decide that in consultation with the Policing Authority. We need to see the Garda Reserve taking on broader functions and roles. There is sometimes tension between An...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Reserve (20 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: This time last year, the Garda Commissioner published his strategy on the Garda reserve. It was a long-awaited strategy and it arose as a result of a recommendation in the report of the commission on the future of policing into the Garda Reserve. Can the Minister of State give an update to the House as to what is happening in respect of the Garda Reserve? Many members in this House believe...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Reserve (20 Oct 2022)

Jim O'Callaghan: I think we all agree that the Garda Reserve is a very valuable resource and we should be using it more. One of the concerns that I have, as do many other Members of the House, is that the numbers of the reserve are supposed to be in the region of 450. Yet, this time last year, we only had 200 members working within the reserve. The Minister of State identified correctly the first priority...