Results 1,501-1,520 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report Stage (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: First, I will deal with Deputy Carthy's point about time or costs. The point I make is that if a case takes longer, it will cost more. Individuals will have to pay more for a case if it goes for six days rather than four days. The two extra days will add extra cost to it. Both colleagues referred to the Higgins decision. It was an important Supreme Court decision that set out the...

Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report Stage (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputies Carthy, McGrath and Gannon for their contributions. I will start on where there is agreement in what they have said. It is correct to say that the contentious part of the legislation before the House is Part 3, which concerns the abolition of juries. I acknowledge that the colleagues who have spoken are generally supportive of the legislation, notwithstanding their...

Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report Stage (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 1: In page 5, line 17, after “Justice” to insert “, Home Affairs and Migration”. I welcome the fact that we are doing Report Stage of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill now. This is a straightforward amendment because all it will do is reflect the change in the title of the Department and my ministerial office from the Minister for justice,...

Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report Stage (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 2: In page 5, lines 19 and 20, to delete “of section 34C into the Principal Act” and substitute “into the Principal Act of different provisions of Part 4A of that Act effected by section 17”. This is an amendment to section 1(2) of the Bill, which provides for the commencement of the Act. Amendment No. 2 simply clarifies that different...

Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report Stage (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 3: In page 5, line 22, to delete the comma after “Act” and substitute the following: “— “cause of action”, “defamation” and “defamation action” have the same meanings as they have in the Principal Act;”. This amendment seeks to include different references to "cause of action",...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Cybersecurity Policy (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have had frequent meetings with the Garda Commissioner and the head of the NCSC in respect of the threats to which this country is exposed as a result of malign actors seeking to attack our cyber technology. It is important that I am updated on a continuing basis. I regret to say that the Deputy is correct, in that the threat does exist. It is a threat not just to our national...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Community Safety Partnerships (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Senator for requesting my attendance in the Seanad this morning. It is important I am here to answer the questions she has raised. Coincidentally, it is also of great benefit to me because the Ringsend active retirement group are here as guests of Senator Andrews and the Terenure men's shed are here as my guests. I am fortunate to have two important groups from my constituency...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Community Safety Partnerships (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Senator is correct about councillors. Like her, I started my political career as a councillor, as did many Members of this and the Lower House. There is a huge benefit in being elected to a local authority by the local community. I do not think it is possible to get elected to a local authority unless one is well aware of the issues in the community. That is why it is so important the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Cybersecurity Policy (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Deputy Byrne for raising this important issue. The reason I am here is because of the importance of it. Deputy Byrne is well aware that cybersecurity threats pose a major risk to essential services and critical sectors in Ireland and throughout the world. One of the consequences of being a modern, successful economy is that this is the type of threat to which the country is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Security (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department administers the current system of personnel security clearance in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, who have statutory responsibility for providing security services in the State. At present this system is available for persons working in sensitive areas of the civil and public service or where appropriate legislative provisions exist. As the Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that following the 1983 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act 1995-2023 provides the current mechanism through which a person may seek a transfer of their prison sentence between Ireland and the UK. Additionally, the Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act, 2023 significantly amended the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department is developing a proposal for a contribution to cost scheme for people in international protection accommodation. This proposal will consider options to require adults who are in receipt of income, and are living in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation, to make a contribution to their accommodation costs. Work is ongoing by officials in my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence as a central priority. 'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), set out an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin these crimes. An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 to 173, inclusive, together. I strongly condemn the use of knives to threaten, intimidate or harm others. The Government is committed to ensuring that the problems that we have seen in neighbouring jurisdictions do not repeat themselves here. Knives may be used in the commission of many different types of offence, ranging from threats and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset, I acknowledge the Deputy's concerns and I want to repeat that it is absolutely my intention that the Local Community Safety Partnerships will be established as soon as practicable. The Partnerships are the cornerstone of our policy on community safety and so it is vital we get them up and running so that they can begin work on the development of a community safety plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Regulations (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: This issue is being discussed under REACH, the Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) which is the main EU law to protect human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is coordinating the Irish position on this matter. Given that the breadth of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that on 10 July 2024 visa requirements were introduced for nationals of South Africa, bringing our arrangements into alignment with the visa requirements of Schengen members states, and with those of the UK. The Dublin Visa Office have established a dedicated “South Africa desk” to process applications from residents of South Africa. My Department also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Artificial Intelligence (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The rate of development in AI tools is unprecedented. A whole of Government approach is required to address AI challenges effectively and harness AI opportunities. My Department has engaged, and continues to engage, with counterparts across other Departments on digital matters, including AI. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government includes a Minister of State for Trade Promotion,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. My Department has recently published guidelines for applications on the basis of Irish Associations under Section 16(1)(a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. The guidelines provide clarity to both...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department. I understand that extended...