Results 1,341-1,360 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. As part of the naturalisation application process, an applicant is required to detail any offences they...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Budgets (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 662 and 663 together. A detailed breakdown of the budgetary allocations in my Department following the recent transfer of functions from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), can be found in the Revised and Further Revised Estimates Volumes for the Public Service. These documents are published by the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Functions (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system has had to rapidly grow by almost 400% over the last four years, as application numbers increased rapidly from 2022 onward. This necessitated urgent commissioning of a wide range of accommodation options across the country to meet need and avoid the serious risk of homelessness for people without support or a network here in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can inform the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department requested further documentation from the person cited on a number of occasions. This information was recently received and the application can now proceed. The person concerned can check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s new Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Providing reception conditions to people seeking international protection is part of Irish and EU law. Ireland has seen a sharp increase in the number of people applying for international protection since 2022 and our Department provides accommodation for almost 33,000 international protection applicants today, in over 320 centres located all over the country. Please see, in tabular...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 669 together. It is a central priority for me that our international protection and immigration systems are robust and effective for all stakeholders. As the Deputy will be aware, there has been significant investment in staff across the entire international protection process in recent years. The IPO now has 614 staff, an increase of 190%...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups who inflict harm on families and communities remains a top priority for the Government and for my Department. Gardaí have an ongoing operation across the country to target street level drug dealing named Operation Tara. It seeks to disrupt and dismantle the drug trafficking networks that impact on our communities...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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: Road Traffic Offences (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have been informed by Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána are not yet in a position to issue Fixed Charge Notices (FCNs) for registration plate offences. They are currently incorporating amendments from the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 into Garda ICT systems which will allow Gardaí to issue FCN’s for these offences directly from their mobility devices. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset, it is important to clarify that the matter to which the Deputy is referring concerns rights to identity in the context of illegal birth registrations, which falls under the remit of Department of Children, Equality, and Disability. Having said that, I wish to advise the Deputy that under Section 38 of the Status of Children Act 1987 (as substituted by section 82 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Programmes (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 675 and 676 together. The Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. Only the project proposals currently on hand will be processed to completion, and by default, the individual investor applications associated with them. Since the closure of the programme, my Department has continued to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating nearly 33,000 residents who have applied for international protection, as provided for in Irish and EU law. Of our nearly 33,000 residents, approximately 5,300 people have completed their application process and have received a positive decision. This means they have a legal status that allows them to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 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: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) is a national Bureau that is responsible for the prevention, detection and investigation of illegal immigration. They are responsible for the enforcement of deportation and removal orders. They also provide assistance, advice and support to Immigration Officers located in Garda Divisions around the country. In addition to the members of GNIB, there...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Airport Security (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 681 to 683, inclusive, together. It is a central priority for me that our immigration system is robust and enforced. An Garda Síochána has responsibility for airports and other ports of entry in the State with the exception of Dublin Airport, where the Border Management Unit of my Department has responsibility for frontline immigration duties. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to ensuring that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that the public has confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. If a person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (8 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: While I cannot comment on individual cases, I can confirm to the Deputy that officials in my Department are aware of this case and it is receiving attention. In order to protect the privacy of people applying for international protection, the Department does not provide operational information about relocations between International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres. During...

European Union Regulations on International and Temporary Protection: Motions (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Joint Policing Committees (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for the question. As he is aware, last week, I signed the regulations for the local community safety partnerships, which came into operation on Monday, 30 June. A total of 36 partnerships can now be established across the country, with partnerships in each local authority administrative area. That means there will be five in Dublin. Each LCSP will be led by a voluntary...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Joint Policing Committees (3 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I note what the Deputy has said about the JPCs, which did a lot of good work. Like me, the Deputy is a former member of a local authority. At stages, they could become very formulaic, with many gardaí, including senior gardaí, sitting there and just engaging directly with local elected councillors on very specific issues. Many of the issues raised at JPCs were issues the Garda...