Results 1,961-1,980 of 10,120 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The restricting of a person’s liberty is a serious issue, given the Constitutional presumption that a person is deemed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the Bail Act contains robust provisions on both dealing with and pre-empting breaches of bail. Where an individual fails to comply with any bail conditions, the judge may issue a bench warrant, mandating An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the Bail Act, if a person fails to comply with any bail conditions, the judge may issue a bench warrant, mandating An Garda Síochána to arrest and bring the person before the court.Furthermore, a Garda member may immediately arrest a person without a warrant where the member has reasonable cause to suspect that that person has breached, or is about to breach, a bail condition...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Jury Service (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, jury service exists to protect an individual's rights and to involve the public in the administration of justice. Jury service is one of the most important civic duties that a person can be asked to perform. While there are no expenses paid to jurors who are called for jury duty, lunch and refreshments are provided for those who ultimately serve on a jury. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Feb 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 that enters the process is fingerprinted and photographed. These fingerprints are checked against...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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. There are no quick-fix solutions to tackling knife crime. Long term, evidence-based strategies are needed that address knife crime as part of a wider strategic response to...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me as Minister that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The removal of persons in the immigration system who are involved in criminality or who are a danger to society is an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that our people have confidence in the application of our laws in this area. Criminal convictions are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Misuse of Drugs (25 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. A number of key actions have been taken as part of our plan to tackle illegal drug use. This includes:Increasing the maximum sentence for conspiracy to murder from 10 years to life in prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Medical Inquiries (25 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 686, 687 and 688 together. The Office of the State Pathologist (OSP) plays a key role in providing independent expert advice on matters relating to forensic pathology and in performing post mortem examinations in cases where foul play is suspected playing a vital role in Ireland’s Criminal Justice system. The Office of the State Pathologist...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: The Court Proceedings (Delays) Act 2024 provides for the establishment of an independent assessment process, under the aegis of the Department of Justice, to assess claims for breach of the right to the conclusion of proceedings within a reasonable time. Arrangements to operationalise the requirements of the Act are currently being finalised with a view to the Act being commenced this autumn.

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

Jim O'Callaghan: Citizenship Division of my Department receives a significant number of applications which are incomplete. In such cases, the application is returned to the applicant to upload the additional required documentation. If the required documentation is not submitted by applicants within the specified timeframe, then their application is deemed incomplete and subsequently refused. I can advise...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traffic Management (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.

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

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. In 2024 the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 14,000 first decisions compared to over 8,500 in 2023, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed around 3,100 appeals in 2024...

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

Jim O'Callaghan: In February 2024, my predecessor Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, announced the establishment of the Ballymun Implementation Board. The Board is being hosted by Dublin City Council, and includes representatives from the following agencies/organisations: Dublin City Council, An Garda Síochána, Tusla, HSE, City of Dublin Education and Training Board, City of Dublin Youth...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected. In 2024 the International Protection Office (IPO) delivered over 14,000 first decisions compared to over 8,500 in 2023, while the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) closed around 3,100 appeals in 2024...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Bodies (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279, 280 and 281 together. My Department holds meetings with individual firearms organisations on request and engages with various firearms stakeholders in other ways, while An Garda Síochána also meets with stakeholder organisations in respect of relevant matters. The Firearms Consultative Panel (FCP) was a non-statutory forum comprising...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: 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 arrangements to be put in place following the expiry of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters and cannot seek to direct the Commissioner in relation to such. There has been a major increase in Garda staff numbers over the last ten years where the number of whole-time equivalents has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 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 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 (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda equipment. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. Garda Management was unable to furnish me with the requested figures in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (20 Feb 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on 16 October 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the New Delhi Visa Office on 19 November 2024. It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process...