Results 1,861-1,880 of 10,053 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a priority for me as Minister that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The removal of persons who have been refused permission to remain is an essential requirement for the immigration system to work effectively and to ensure that our people have confidence in the application of our laws in this area. In June 2024, a request for tender was published with a view to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me as Minister that our immigration system works effectively and that our laws are robust and enforced in this area. The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process in general. The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to discuss the specific circumstances of any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: While visits can be arranged for members of the relevant Oireachtas Committee, it is not the practice to arrange meetings with operational officials in the course of their work. My Department can of course arrange for a briefing for the Deputy with the senior officials responsible for managing the International Protection Office.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Up to the 1st of October 2023 it was the usual practice for a representative of the Department to attend at all oral appeal hearings held by International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT), to assist the Tribunal by explaining the reasons behind the recommendation made in the case in question. Attendance is not mandatory or a statutory requirement of the International Protection Act. From...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), Section (a) the Garda Commissioner is responsible "to direct and control the Garda Síochána" and Section (b) "to carry on and manage and control generally the administration and business of the Garda Síochána". As Minister I have no role in these independent functions and I am unable to seek to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application from the person concerned has been processed and completed by Immigration Service Delivery of my Department. The person cited can expect to receive their new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card in the next 10-15 working days. The person concerned can now directly check the status of their immigration applications on the Immigration Service’s...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all matters related to training and recruitment. As Minister, I have no direct role in these operational matters. I am assured however that the distribution of resources between the different Garda units and specialist roles is kept under constant review, in light of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Consultations (25 Feb 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: Ukraine War (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 649 and 650 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Temporary Protection Directive has been extended until March 2026 at a meeting of the European Council in June 2024, thereby providing certainty for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who can continue to avail of the protections that the Directive provides during this time. Consideration as to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a join family visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible. The entitlement to family reunification varies depending on the permission granted to the sponsor of the application. Accordingly, there is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Orders (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: While I cannot comment on individual cases, or matters before the Courts, I can detail some of the measures that have been put in place or are being advanced in order to tackle violent crime and reduce recidivism by people on bail. In considering such matters, it is important to note that restricting a person’s liberty is a serious issue, given the Constitutional presumption that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Electronic Tagging (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Section 6B of the Bail Act 1997 (as amended), which provides for the use of electronic monitoring for certain persons admitted to bail, has yet to be commenced. The Programme for Government commits to implement electronic tagging for appropriate categories of offender and work is underway to achieve this with a steering group in place made up of sectoral representatives who will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 654 and 655 together. Public procurement is governed by EU and national rules and my Department ensures that appropriate procedures are followed for procurement activity.Departments are obliged to ensure that public procurement is discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and that contract prices represent best value for money....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 04 October 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the Tehran office on 09 October 2024. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 01 November 2024 where it is currently being processed. It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when these applications will be finalised. Applications are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 657 and 661 together. My first priority as Minister for Justice is to get more Gardai on our streets through increased recruitment and appropriate civilianisation where possible. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe, including investment in recruitment, equipment, technology and in buildings. This is reflected in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. A member of An Garda Síochána is deemed to be a ‘Community Garda’ where that person is allocated to a Community Policing Team (CPT), and is responsible and accountable for applying a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 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. An Garda Síochána's budget allocation is over €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, however, this was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand.