Results 1,141-1,160 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Law Reform Commission (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My officials engage with the Law Reform Commission on an ongoing basis including with respect to the progression of the Commission’s work programme. Publication of the Law Reform Commission's Report on the Liability of Clubs, Societies and other Unincorporated Associations is awaited. While the consultation period for the matter ended in March 2023, I understand that it may be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes responsibility for the formulation of proposals in relation to the opening and closing of Garda stations. Ownership of all Garda Stations lies with the Office of Public Works (OPW), any further queries in this regard should be directed to them. The OPW have a dedicated email...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is important to note that An Garda Síochána do not police on a station basis, but rather on a Divisional basis and see stations as locations within communities for people to attend, and for resources to be accommodated. Policing for an area is delivered using all resources in a Community Engagement area and is supported by Divisional resources and units. Information on Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2140 and 2141 together. It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy may be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible, under the law, for all operational policing matters, including the deployment of Garda resources and the management of calls for service, including call diversion procedures. I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána operates a Regional Control Room strategy to ensure that Garda resources are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by Garda authorities that GardaSAFE, the new computer-aided dispatch system in use by An Garda Síochána, was rolled out incrementally across the country during 2023, with the final region, Dublin Metropolitan Region, going live in November 2023. As a result, consistent and comparable data on Garda response times, including average times from 999 call to arrival at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department continues to focus on preparing for the Pact in advance of June 2026. A National Implementation Plan was submitted to the Commission in March 2025. The General Scheme for the International Protection Bill 2025 was approved by Government on 29 April 2025. It has been published and referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for pre-legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (29 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Ballymun Implementation Board was established by my predecessor, Minister Helen McEntee, last year, based on the same interagency and community cooperation principles utilised by the Drogheda, Darndale and Cherry Orchard Implementation Boards. The Ballymun Implementation Board is led by an independent Chair and is hosted by Dublin City Council. It includes representatives from Dublin...

Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025: Referral to Select Committee (17 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)(b) and 188(1).

Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025: Second Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank all my colleagues for their contributions. It is also notable and unusual that everyone who spoke is very much in favour of the legislation, with full support across the House. I welcome that. It is also important that people who are involved in criminality and generating wealth from it, know that there is unanimity in this House in our opposition to them and in our desire to...

Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025: Second Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy.

Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025: Second Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce this afternoon to Dáil Éireann the Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025. This Bill is a significant and necessary step forward in our efforts to ensure that Ireland's framework for tackling organised crime is robust and effective. The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach will recall that 29 years...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Senators Ryan and Stephenson for tabling the amendment. I also thank Senator McDowell for his contribution in respect of it. When we are discussing the defamation Bill, as I have said before, we have to have at the centre of our focus and our discussion what are in effect two competing rights. On the one hand, we are trying, as Houses of the Oireachtas, to vindicate and protect the...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (17 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am conscious that we will not get to a vote but I will try to respond to the issues raised. Senator Stephenson asked me why I am proceeding with this diminution of rights. We have to be careful about the use of the term "right". There is a statutory provision under the Courts of Justice Act 1924 and the Defamation Act 2009 that states someone is entitled to a jury in the High Court so we...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (17 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In October 2024, Government approval was given to draft a general scheme of a Bill to significantly reform the Coroner Service, following the publication of a report on the consultation process in relation to reforming the Coroner Service. One of the key aims of reforming the Coroner Service is to minimise the impact of the death investigation process on bereaved people. Officials in my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a monthly payment of €600 available to those providing accommodation to a person or people who arrived in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive. Since the scheme launched in July 2022, over €339m has been paid to some 26,100 recipients in respect of hosting over 56,700 temporary protection beneficiaries. As of 13...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (17 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that I was briefed on the operation of Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) in advance of the transfer of functions. I also engaged with relevant Ministers in connection with the recent Orders to extend the scheme to March 2026 and to reduce the monthly contribution rate to €600 from 1 June 2025. There is ongoing engagement by my Department with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (17 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to stamp out hate-motivated crimes and that we are determined to protect vulnerable communities. Ireland was at the forefront of tackling incitement to hatred through the introduction of legislation, namely the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, in 1989. It is an offence to incite hatred based on a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (17 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 30 June 2025, the latest date for when figures are available, there were 3,679 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet. This is the highest total of vehicles ever in use by An Garda Síochána, and represents an increase of over 18% since the end of December 2020. The purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (17 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy will be aware that a range of supports are available for people experiencing domestic abuse, who need protection and other orders, including from An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service and other specialised domestic violence services many of which are funded by Cuan, the DSGBV Agency established under the remit of my Department. The Legal Aid Board is the statutory,...