Results 1-20 of 5,381 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. Vetting is carried out by An Garda Síochána in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 - 2016. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I believe the many...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to keep people safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology, and vehicles. I am informed by the Garda authorities that as of 30 June 2025, the latest date for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Investigations (16 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can confirm that I have been briefed on this matter. I refer the Deputy to the response provided to Parliamentary Question No. 801 of 15th July 2025 which relates and note that the position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (16 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Tackling Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice. The Zero Tolerance Strategy to address DSGBV is ambitious and is structured around the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention – Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination. One of the overarching goals of this Strategy is ensuring that everyone who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (16 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: A person who has been granted temporary release is deemed to be unlawfully at large (UAL) if they have not returned to custody before the expiry of their temporary release period, or if a condition of their release is breached. An Garda Síochána may arrest, without warrant, a person whom they suspect to be unlawfully at large. The person may be returned to the prison in which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together. The Deputy will be aware that all Garda Associations have signed up to the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026. It is important to note that any changes to pay terms and conditions of public servants can only be considered within the parameters of that agreement. This request more specifically relates to the Local Bargaining element of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed by An Garda Síochána that as of 31 May 2025, the latest date for which figures are available, the total number of serving members of An Garda Síochána was 14,198. In addition, there were: 3,507 Garda staff and 298 Garda Reserve members. This brings the overall Garda workforce, which includes Gardaí, Garda Staff and Reserves, to currently over 18,000. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Priorities (16 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In line with commitments in the Programme for Government, responsibility for the Property Services Regulatory Authority and the Property Services Appeal Board will transfer from my Department to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The transfer process is ongoing and, subject to Government approval, is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. The implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Housing Policy (16 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary objective of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments (MUDs), and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of OMCs. The Act includes provisions relating to inter alia:The setting of the annual service charge payable by apartment owners in a multi-unit...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (16 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation can only be made after an application is received. Applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (16 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and to ensuring that victims of these crimes have access to the supports that they need. A central element of delivering on the Zero Tolerance goal of the Third National Strategy was the establishment, in January 2024, of Cuan, the statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (10 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The National Action Plan Against Racism, published in March 2023, supports a range of actions designed to address racism and its impacts in Ireland. A whole-of-Government approach is set out, as racism is an issue that necessitates action by Government, public bodies, private bodies, communities and individuals. The first National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) implementation report was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cybersecurity Policy (10 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Cyber Security Research Centre of Excellence will bring together Government, academia and industry as agreed in the Programme for Government. The Centre will:operate from both a dedicated physical facility and a robust virtual platform;provide a focal point for researchers across the State to collaborate; anddrive cutting-edge cybersecurity research, nurture emerging talent and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (10 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to ensuring that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that the public has confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. If a person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Regulations (10 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: On 15 January 2024 the European Commission announced it had concluded its review of 11 existing Adequacy Decisions. In its published report, the Commission found that personal data transferred from the European Union to Andorra, Argentina, Canada, Faroe Islands, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Israel, Jersey, New Zealand, Switzerland and Uruguay, continued to benefit from adequate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (10 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to ensuring that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that the public has confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. If a person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (10 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Since 2017 my Department has administered a grant-aid scheme supporting groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area. To date, grants totalling over €950,000 have been approved for 36 Community CCTV schemes across the country. A further €1 million in funding was made available towards the development of community-based CCTV schemes in 2025. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In order to assist in achieving its strategic objectives, my Department is fully committed to enhancing the capacity and capability of staff and provides access to a full programme of learning & development resources to meet the needs of both staff and the organisation. By providing appropriate supports and encouraging staff to take ownership of their own development, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Emergency Accommodation (10 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Irish State and the Irish people have responded with exceptional support and generosity since 2022 in supporting people seeking temporary protection here from the war in Ukraine. The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (10 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: There has been a significant increase in investment into the international protection system which, combined with digitisation and process reengineering, has facilitated a major increase in processing capacity. 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)...