Results 1-20 of 11,807 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Between 2021 and 2024, Ireland welcomed over 700 people who were refugees from Afghanistan through the Irish Refugee Protection Programme's (IRPP) Afghan Programme. Within the remit of IRPP, a Humanitarian Admissions Programme prioritises at-risk individuals such as human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, LGBTQ+ individuals, judiciary and journalists. The Humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes the distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. In the interest of transparency, An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 363, 364 and 366 together. Under Irish law, criminal investigations can only be carried out by An Garda Síochána, who submit a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP decides whether a prosecution should proceed, and what crime will be prosecuted. Under section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: While the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) cannot comment publicly on individual cases, I can advise the Deputy that officials are aware of this case. All accommodation centres are subject to routine inspections and compliance checks during the lifetime of the contract, either by Department officials, HIQA, or through IPAS-commissioned inspections. These inspections are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Nov 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: Legislative Measures (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 369, 370 and 371 together. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme continues to play an important and significant role in providing practical support by way of monetary compensation to victims of violent crime. The Government is committed to reforming the Scheme, including placing it on a statutory footing as provided for in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pension Provisions (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank the Deputy for submitting this question. The National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority (NAERSA) is responsible for the administration of the Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings System. The retirement savings system which commences next year is specifically for employees who do not already have a workplace pension scheme or similar. It does not apply to civil or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 373, 374 and 375 together. As the Deputy will be aware, management of the courts and operational matters, including matters pertaining to court buildings, are the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in the exercising of its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998. However, to be of assistance to the Deputy, my officials have made...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes the distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. In the interest of transparency, An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (13 Nov 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: International Protection (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department continues to focus on preparing for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact in advance of June 2026. Ireland’s national implementation plan sets out the State’s proposed approach to meeting the requirements set out in the Pact. It is not a binding prescription, but rather an indication of how Ireland intends to go about implementing the Pact. The plan allows for a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The safety and well-being of all residents in International Protection accommodation is the highest priority for the Department and fire safety is a critical requirement for all accommodation centres. The Department does not routinely collate data in the manner requested in the question, but all international protection accommodation centres are subject to inspections each year through...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Bodies (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me that our immigration system is robust and enforced. There has been significant investment in staff across the entire international protection process in recent years. As of 9 October 2025, the International Protection Office (IPO) had 614 staff, an increase of 190% since 2022 with recruitment ongoing. In addition, 241 case processing panel members were also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In relation to the property mentioned, my Department has held a contract with a provider at this location since 2023 for the provision of international protection accommodation. While all matters relating to essential services and utilities at an accommodation centre remain under the remit of the provider, my Department is aware that water supplies at the property have needed augmentation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together. My Department has been unable to provide a response to this question within the prescribed timeframe. A response will issue directly to the Deputy in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust, and rules based, and that our borders are protected. The number of International Protection applications have been rising over the past number of years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. This year, we are beginning to see application numbers noticeably reduce with 35% fewer compared with the same...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Properties (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can confirm that my Department owns no such buildings in County Mayo.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 699 of 13 October where you sought: "the number of Gardaí in each of the past five years and to date in 2025 who applied to rejoin the Gardaí, the number who were accepted back, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter." An Garda Síochána have provided the below table which shows the number of individuals in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 1703 of 8 September 2025 where you sought: “the average time in each of the past five years between application to join An Garda Síochána and attestation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter." An Garda Síochána have provided the following table with the average time from application to commencement...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Nov 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.