Results 1-20 of 11,437 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am conscious that this is the first time Senator Conway has spoken on this grouping of amendments. At the end of his contribution, Senator McDowell mentioned that insurance companies are dictated to by the bottom line, and he is absolutely right about that. However, as legislators, we cannot be dictated to by people whose only interest is the bottom line. We need to enact legislation...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank Senator Higgins for her amendments. She has put forward two amendments, Nos. 6 and 7, which are identical and which seek the removal of the words "or is likely to cause" in the new section 12 governing defamation of a body corporate. I think it is always important when we are discussing and debating amending legislation that we recall what the underlying existing legislation...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is causation.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Oh dear.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Senator Higgins gave the example of a statement to the effect that a company has been shut down on five occasions in the past ten years. If that statement is absolutely true, no one who I am aware of would contemplate issuing defamation proceedings in respect of it. They would not get a lawyer to stand over it. A solicitor has got to swear an affidavit of verification in respect of it. If...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed) (15 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have no objection. We can go back to section 11.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I want to dispute the Deputy's categorisation of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, in terms of her role in the previous Government. It was the policy of the previous Government and the previous Government made a decision to change that policy. It is unfair of the Deputy to focus on her individually. In regard to challenging hate speech, it is important to point out that, as I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I have answered that already. I said we have fully transposed the Council decision. It is part of Irish law. We fully transposed it. There are no further steps for Ireland to take. However, I believe we all have a responsibility to ensure we challenge hate speech. Irrespective of whether it is challenged in the courts or by the Garda, we have a responsibility to challenge it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: No, but I will give the Deputy an overview of why that is the answer. I am fairly satisfied that Ireland has transposed the European Council framework decision on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia in a manner appropriate and tailored to the domestic system of law in Ireland. I assure Members of the House that Ireland's position has been communicated to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Deputy recognises our population is increasing at such a rate it is inevitable we are going to have to increase the number of prison units available. Last year our population increased by 98,000 and this year it is probably going to somewhere similar. When the population increases we expect there is going to be an increase in the prison population as well because there is going to be an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for her question. As colleagues are aware, the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau operates See Something, Say Something. It is an initiative that uses a text messaging system to allow members of the public to alert the Garda to any issue that might be of concern. It is a very positive development. Technology can be used very effectively for the purpose of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy. I certainly think this is the type of initiative local community safety partnerships should be considering. As she will be aware, they are being rolled out. I approved the membership of a whole series of them over a week ago and I want to see those local community safety partnerships up and running in communities as quickly as possible. The type of technology we are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I will certainly speak to the Garda Commissioner in respect of it. I am aware of the point the Deputy makes about community gardaí. Obviously this type of technology is no replacement for them, but it is of great assistance to them and complements the work being done by them. I assure the Deputy that the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Deputy Cleere and the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Court Accommodation (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I agree with Deputy Aird. Courthouses can have a positive impact on a town or city. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle will know the impact a new courthouse can have on a city like Kilkenny. They attract people who come as witnesses and members of the legal profession. There is a buzz around a town in which there is a busy courthouse. I appreciate the economic benefits of a vibrant courthouse...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Court Accommodation (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I agree with the Deputy. We need to develop a situation where prison officers are not used frequently throughout the day for the purpose of transporting prisoners from prisons to courts. I will bring forward legislation later this year, in the form of a miscellaneous provisions Bill, in which we will seek to give effect to that for many more remote hearings. People can have their hearings...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Our population has risen significantly over the past 20 years but our prison capacity has not risen on a corresponding basis. There is a requirement to ensure that we have more prison spaces. This does not mean that I or the Government believe the solution to all antisocial or criminal behaviour is incarceration. We recognise, however, that prisons need a greater number of spaces because...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I agree with the Deputy. There are certain types of offenders who have been convicted and who require incarceration. The justice system has directed that they be incarcerated, and the Irish Prison Service does not have an option. It must take in people on whom the courts have imposed custodial sentences. Since I became Minister, I have visited seven prisons. I am extremely impressed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Court Accommodation (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for his question about the courthouse in Portlaoise. At the outset, in the area of provision of funding and services for the courts, it is important to note we secured an increase of €11 million, or 8.3%, in funding, for day-to-day court operations and the development of services in budget 2026. As the Deputy will also be aware, the Government is supporting...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (9 Oct 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I agree that many efficiencies could be introduced into the system. I am trying to urge those efficiencies at present. For instance, if people are vetted to train a hurling team, why can they not rely on that vetting when they come to coach a soccer team a year later? We need to ensure that those sensible efficiencies are permissible in the system. I know there are issues in respect of...