Results 1,521-1,540 of 11,583 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Further to Parliamentary Question of 25 June 2025, the State is providing accommodation to almost 33,000 people who have applied for international protection, in over 320 centres nationwide. Over 90% of this accommodation is commercially provided at this time, and the State is actively working to shift this balance away from commercial accommodation, toward more State-owned provision. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together. Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice. The work that Women's Aid do to confront, challenge and end domestic abuse in Ireland is vital and its impact cannot be overstated. It was my privilege to launch the organisation's annual report last...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Victorian-era laws that criminalised consensual sexual activity between men are now rightly recognised as a historical injustice. In 2021, a multi-stakeholder working group was established to examine the disregard of such convictions. The group met eleven times, with follow up and wider outreach activities occurring between each meeting, before producing its final report in 2023. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the tables in the spreadsheet at the following link outline the number of Garda retirements (include Voluntary, Compulsory and Cost Neutral Early retirements) in each Garda Division between 2020 and 2025, as of 30 May 2025.

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

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me as Minister that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process in general. When it comes to international protection applicants, each person is requested to provide personal documentation to the International Protection Office (IPO) at the time...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Implementing effective border security arrangements is a priority for me, and the Programme for Government commits to developing a border security strategy to deliver stronger border security. The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. At ports of entry, Immigration officials conduct passport checks, and run...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Miscarriages of Justice (2 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: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I would like to restate my commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of sexual violence and to ensuring that victims of these crimes have access to the supports that they need. A central element of delivering on the Zero Tolerance goal of the Third National Strategy was the establishment, in January 2024, of Cuan, the statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traffic Fines (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed by An Garda Síochána that, as of 27 June 2025, the table below provides a breakdown by Garda division of the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued for offences related to parking or stopping in a disabled parking bay. In total, 7,518 such notices were issued between 1 January 2024 and 27 June 2025. Figures are based on date from Fixed Charge Processing System...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: A new CSO survey providing national prevalence figures on sexual violence in Ireland was published in April 2023. The Sexual Violence Survey, commissioned and funded by my Department, focused on respondents’ experiences of a broad spectrum of sexual violence and harassment. The survey covers a range of behaviours from non-contact sexual violence right through to non-consensual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), international protection applicants can apply for labour market access permission if are fully cooperating with the IP process. While an application for labour market access can be made five months after the IP application, permission will only be granted once an applicant has waited six months from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 550 together. The State is currently accommodating almost 33,000 people who have applied for international protection in Ireland, almost 9,500 of whom are children. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) provides accommodation in over 320 centres around the country. From 2022 to 2024, this demand-led system had to grow rapidly,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that it is a priority to have decisions made on all international protection applications as soon as possible. This will give status to those who are entitled to international protection to rebuild their lives here, while also ensuring faster decision making in respect of those who do not meet the criteria. There are currently 33,853 pending International...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Strengthening An Garda Síochána is one of my main priorities and retention of experienced qualified Gardaí is of course an important element of this. By any objective standard, the proportion of resignations from An Garda Síochána remains very low with the resignation rate currently between 1 and 2%. I understand this turnover is far below the level experienced by UK...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 575 together. Under section 181(2)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, in emergency circumstances, certain sections of that Act can be disallowed through the development of a Ministerial Order. The purpose of this section is to ensure that the State, in emergency circumstances, has the power to take action to meet urgent need within...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Building safe and secure communities across the country by investing in An Garda Síochána is a top priority for this Government. I want every part of the country to be a safe space for people to live and work in, and our major cities are no exception to this. While Ireland is generally a safe community, with relatively low crime rates, some communities may experience a different...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Details of Integration funding opportunities for 2025 will be announced by my Department very shortly. This will be shared and publicised to reach organisations working within the community and related sectors, to enable awareness and invite applications. The National Integration Fund (NIF) typically opens every three years; the next round of NIF funding is planned for 2026.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Citizenship Division of my Department requested further documentation from the person cited by the Deputy. This information has been 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 log in to their existing account, at: As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the visa applications referred to were granted on 25 June 2025. Any person can now directly check the status of their visa application on the Immigration Service’s new Customer Service portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 569 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including by arranging for the recruitment, training and appointment of its personnel, and this includes members of the Garda Band. I can...