Results 1-20 of 5,223 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: National Security (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department administers the current system of personnel security clearance in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, who have statutory responsibility for providing security services in the State. At present this system is available for persons working in sensitive areas of the civil and public service or where appropriate legislative provisions exist. As the Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that following the 1983 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act 1995-2023 provides the current mechanism through which a person may seek a transfer of their prison sentence between Ireland and the UK. Additionally, the Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act, 2023 significantly amended the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department is developing a proposal for a contribution to cost scheme for people in international protection accommodation. This proposal will consider options to require adults who are in receipt of income, and are living in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation, to make a contribution to their accommodation costs. Work is ongoing by officials in my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am committed to combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence as a central priority. 'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), set out an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin these crimes. An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 to 173, inclusive, together. 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. Knives may be used in the commission of many different types of offence, ranging from threats and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset, I acknowledge the Deputy's concerns and I want to repeat that it is absolutely my intention that the Local Community Safety Partnerships will be established as soon as practicable. The Partnerships are the cornerstone of our policy on community safety and so it is vital we get them up and running so that they can begin work on the development of a community safety plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Regulations (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: This issue is being discussed under REACH, the Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) which is the main EU law to protect human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is coordinating the Irish position on this matter. Given that the breadth of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that on 10 July 2024 visa requirements were introduced for nationals of South Africa, bringing our arrangements into alignment with the visa requirements of Schengen members states, and with those of the UK. The Dublin Visa Office have established a dedicated “South Africa desk” to process applications from residents of South Africa. My Department also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Artificial Intelligence (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The rate of development in AI tools is unprecedented. A whole of Government approach is required to address AI challenges effectively and harness AI opportunities. My Department has engaged, and continues to engage, with counterparts across other Departments on digital matters, including AI. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government includes a Minister of State for Trade Promotion,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (2 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. My Department has recently published guidelines for applications on the basis of Irish Associations under Section 16(1)(a) of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. The guidelines provide clarity to both...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department. I understand that extended...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Further to Parliamentary Question of 25 June 2025, the State is providing accommodation to almost 33,000 people who have applied for international protection, in over 320 centres nationwide. Over 90% of this accommodation is commercially provided at this time, and the State is actively working to shift this balance away from commercial accommodation, toward more State-owned provision. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together. Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice. The work that Women's Aid do to confront, challenge and end domestic abuse in Ireland is vital and its impact cannot be overstated. It was my privilege to launch the organisation's annual report last...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Victorian-era laws that criminalised consensual sexual activity between men are now rightly recognised as a historical injustice. In 2021, a multi-stakeholder working group was established to examine the disregard of such convictions. The group met eleven times, with follow up and wider outreach activities occurring between each meeting, before producing its final report in 2023. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the tables in the spreadsheet at the following link outline the number of Garda retirements (include Voluntary, Compulsory and Cost Neutral Early retirements) in each Garda Division between 2020 and 2025, as of 30 May 2025.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (2 Jul 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 is requested to provide personal documentation to the International Protection Office (IPO) at the time...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Implementing effective border security arrangements is a priority for me, and the Programme for Government commits to developing a border security strategy to deliver stronger border security. The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. At ports of entry, Immigration officials conduct passport checks, and run...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Miscarriages of Justice (2 Jul 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: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (2 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I would like to restate my commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of sexual violence 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 violence (DSGBV)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Traffic Fines (1 Jul 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am informed by An Garda Síochána that, as of 27 June 2025, the table below provides a breakdown by Garda division of the number of Fixed Charge Notices issued for offences related to parking or stopping in a disabled parking bay. In total, 7,518 such notices were issued between 1 January 2024 and 27 June 2025. Figures are based on date from Fixed Charge Processing System...