Results 1,021-1,040 of 8,947 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 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), which includes the management of the Garda Estate. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 783 and 784 together. 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. This commitment is demonstrated by the unprecedented provision of more than €2.48bn in Budget 2025. This funding will support the recruitment of new Garda members, Garda staff and Garda Reserves, and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: An Garda Síochána (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe, including to invest in recruitment, in equipment and technology and in buildings. This is reflected in the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Domestic Violence (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: One of the overarching goals of Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on DSGBV, published in June 2022, is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and the Strategy included a commitment to doubling the number of refuge units across the country. This represents the fastest ever expansion of refuge accommodation in this country.To accelerate the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Drug Dealing (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and is deeply aware of the impact that serious crime, including drug related crime, can have on communities. The Government’s approach to the misuse of drugs is set out in Ireland’s National Drug Strategy, ‘Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery’. This is a health-led approach to drug and alcohol...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Prison Service (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy will 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. The Government will continue to invest in the prison estate, to ensure that it is modern,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Sentencing Policy (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Judicial Council Act 2019 provided for the establishment of an independent Judicial Council, and, within that body, a Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee. The Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee (SGIC) was established on 30 June 2020. Its functions include the preparation of draft sentencing guidelines and the monitoring of the operation of those guidelines,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Sentencing Policy (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 791 and 842 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the priorities in the Programme for Government have been agreed by the new Government and I look forward to delivering on the Justice agenda contained within the Programme. The development of legislation is a complex task which requires consideration of all the potential implications of any change to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Programme for Government (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy is aware, the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024 was published last August and completed Second Stage in September. This Bill introduces a new statutory defence in cases of so-called ‘retail defamation’. Section 8 of the Bill provides that it will be a defence to defamation to prove that an allegedly defamatory statement consisted only of an inquiry as to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Visa Applications (5 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 Immigrant Investor Programme (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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Probate Applications (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Justice, I have no role in the exercise of Probate functions. The Probate Office is an office of the High Court. Management of the courts is the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. Probate...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Appointments to State Boards (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In February 2024, my predecessor Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, announced the establishment of the Ballymun Implementation Board. The initial Board meeting was held on 31 July 2024. Subsequent board meetings have been held on 25 September 2024, 27 November 2024 and 29 January 2025. The Board is being hosted by Dublin City Council, and includes representatives from the following...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Visa Applications (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 31 August 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the New York office on 24 September 2024. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 04 October 2024 where it awaits examination and processing. It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Family Reunification (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the visa applications referred to were created on 05 September 2023. Supporting documentation was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 29 September 2023 where they await examination and processing. My Department's business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Family Reunification (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the applications referred to were created on 04 and 09 August 2024. Supporting documentation, for both applications, was received in the Hanoi office on 10 September 2024. Both applications were received in the Dublin Visa Office on 04 October 2024 where they await examination and processing. My Department's business target for join family visa applications is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizenship Applications (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy is near completion and a decision will be made shortly. Citizenship Division will contact the person directly once a decision has been reached on their application. The person concerned can also now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s new Digital Contact Centre...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Citizenship Applications (5 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I expect that going forward, the vast majority of applicants will continue to receive a decision within one year, however, it is important to note that no two naturalisation applications are the same and some take longer than others to process. I understand the extended...