Results 1,821-1,840 of 10,053 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (27 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Since the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 was signed by the President on 7 February 2024 intensive work has been underway in my Department working closely with our programme partners to prepare for commencement. I intend to commence the Act within the next month. When the Act is commenced, it will provide for:a new Policing and Community Safety Authority (replacing the...

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I know but I think it is appropriate that-----

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: -----I go down and launch that Hardest Stories campaign by Cuan. It is also working in partnership with the Department of education. I thank the Deputy for the motion. The Government is not opposing it. This is an issue that requires full attention from Government but I reiterate the Government will not have all the answers. There is a requirement for more and I will listen to all...

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: We will.

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: We will.

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I commend Deputy Coppinger and her colleagues on using their Private Members' time to table this extremely important motion. As the Deputy indicated, the Government will not oppose the motion. I assure her that is not a case of the Government saying to leave it in our hands. I am fully aware Government will not have all the answers on this issue. Many proposals have been put forward by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. Citizenship Division have taken a significant number of steps to speed up the process for applicants. These included...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence and misery on families and communities, is a top priority for the Government and my Department. I am advised by the Garda authorities that drug values and drug volumes are only published at a national level and are found in the Garda Síochána Annual Reports. The tables...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised that my Department and its agencies have no records of any payments made to the company referred to in the Deputy's question.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Establishing a zero-tolerance approach to domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is vital for safeguarding individuals and promoting a safer society. In 2022, the five-year ‘Zero Tolerance’ DSGBV Strategy was published and in January 2024, Cuan, the DSGBV Agency, was established to drive the Strategy forward. Cuan is now responsible for coordinating all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (26 Feb 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 process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department. There are several different legal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 12 December 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the Bangkok office on 23 December 2024. This application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 17 January 2025 where it awaits examination and processing. My Department's business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. The business target...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources, including the Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions and National/Specialist Units. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter. The Government is committed to providing An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My first priority is to get more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment. The Programme for Government commits to recruiting at least 5,000 Gardai in the coming five years. A new recruitment process commenced this month which will see a new intake of Garda recruits starting in the Garda Training College in Templemore in the coming months. The Government is committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all internal HR matters, the setting of overtime budgets for each Garda Division/national unit, and the recording of overtime data. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions. For the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: When a non-EEA national comes to Ireland to undertake a course of study, be that an English language course or a course at level 6 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), a Stamp 2 student immigration permission will be granted. A student may be granted an immigration permission for a maximum of three English language programmes of 8 months duration each. The total...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service held exploratory talks with the Department of Defence on the potential use of the Curragh Camp Military Prison. The IPS also engaged technical consultants to undertake a conditional survey and examination of the fabric of the buildings to identify any essential works which would be required to allow the prison to be used as a civilian...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (26 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Department understands that the Courts Service purchased a site at Kylekiproe in 2020 on which to build a new Courthouse. Further progress with the Portlaoise project and several others, as part of the Courts Service building projects in the National Development Plan, will depend on the next round of NDP funding. The construction of a purpose-built Family Law Court complex at Hammond...