Results 1,601-1,620 of 10,053 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The person referred to by the Deputy can apply to renew their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card using the online portal, which is available at . The person concerned or an advocate acting on the person’s behalf can upload a scan of the person’s expired passport, or a copy of their previous IRP card to proceed when prompted to provide a scan of their passport. As an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Victorian-era laws that criminalised consensual sexual activity between men until being repealed in 1993 are now recognized as a historical injustice. In 2021, a multi-stakeholder working group was formed to examine the disregard of such convictions. The group met multiple times and conducted a public consultation in late 2022, receiving 148 submissions. My predecessor, Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that citizens of Thailand require a visa to travel to the State. Further information on visa requirements is available on my Departments Immigration Service website at Ireland supports the entry of migrants through various legal pathways including study, work or to join their family. Details of these pathways and associated requirements can also be found on my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I recognise the significance and sensitivity of the coronial investigation process for loved ones of the bereaved, and that delays in coronial investigations can cause distress for families of the deceased. The Coroner Service comprises a network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. Coroners are independent office holders whose function under the Coroners Act 1962, as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Department of Justice provides support for organisations that work in the Victims of Crime area, including provision of support, information and advice on the rights of victims, and court and other services, specialised counselling services, helplines and training initiatives. Funding is provided to organisations that can demonstrate that they comply with the objectives of the Victims...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the enforcement of road traffic legislation. The Commissioner is also responsible for procurement and related contract management. I have made enquiries in relation to the fixed speed camera referenced by the Deputy....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Paramilitary Groups (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I know the Deputy is familiar with the work of the Independent Reporting Commission. The Commission was established under the Fresh Start Agreement 2015 to report on measures aimed at ending paramilitarism. The Commission has submitted seven reports to the UK and Irish Governments to date, the most recent last month. Both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have welcomed the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that Israeli and United States of America citizens are not visa required. This means that they do not need to seek prior screening approval from the Immigration Service for the purpose of travel to Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Mar 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 (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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 service's compliance with data protection obligations. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. I am advised by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána has not received...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can confirm that my Department has not, to date, been issued with any fines in respect of breaching general data protection rules. This includes the areas of my Department that provide immigration services. My Department is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of all individuals in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation, 2016/679 (GDPR) and the Data...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Appointments (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1100 and 1101 together. The role of the Single Person Committee (SPC) arises in relation to refusals of Irish Citizenship where national security concerns arise. The role of the SPC is to review, upon request from the applicant, the material upon which the intention to refuse to grant a certificate of naturalisation was made, in circumstances where the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy has been received by the Citizenship division of my Department. I expect that going forward, the vast majority of applicants will 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. Given the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1103, 1123 and 1130 together. As part of my Department’s continued commitment to improving its services, an online citizenship application process was made available in October 2023. This has made the application process easier for applicants, allowing them to easily fill in relevant forms, make payments and submit their application online. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take questions Nos. 1104 and 1107 together. I am advised by the Courts Service that the existing Ashe Street site does not have sufficient space to provide a courthouse building on the scale envisaged. In December 2023, the Courts Service completed the purchase of a portion of the Island of Geese site from Kerry County Council for the purpose of building a new courthouse...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Responsibilities (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling rural crime is a priority for the Government. With regards to burglaries, which can be of particular concern for people living in rural areas of the country, I can say that An Garda Síochána have had considerable success in reducing the prevalence of this through Operation Thor, which focuses on the prevention of burglaries and associated crimes, throughout Ireland, using...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Personal Injury Claims (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Judicial Council adopted the Personal Injuries Guidelines, which were drawn up by the Council's Personal Injuries Guidelines Committee, in March 2021. The Judicial Council has conducted a review of the Guidelines and has submitted draft amendments of the Guidelines to me, in accordance with section 7 of the Judicial Council Act 2019. It is important to note that, under Section 6 of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the applications referred to were created on 19 July 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 08 August 2024 where it awaits examination and processing. The applicant will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer. It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when these applications will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1109 and 1110 together. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and while the whole of Government response is led by the Department of Transport, it is one which is taken very seriously across Government. Road traffic laws are enforced by both Roads Policing Gardaí and as part of the day-to-day duties of uniformed Gardaí nationwide. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (19 Mar 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Public jobs is the primary recruiter for the Civil Service and all new civil servants recruited to my Department and agencies under its aegis are subject to vetting in the usual way by the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) prior to assignment. Insofar as additional vetting may be required, in some cases this may be completed after employment has been taken up while the employee is...