Results 121-140 of 11,957 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Judgments (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 763 and 764 together. The management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the Constitution. The collation of data on convictions is a function of the courts. The Department does not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the average annual cost of an available, staffed prison space during the calendar year 2024 was €99,072, an 11.9% increase on the 2023 cost of €88,523. This equates to an average weekly cost of €1,905 in 2024 compared to €1,702 in 2023. This includes net expenditure incurred within the year (such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Schools Building Projects (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: At the outset, it is important to note that, as Minister, I do not comment on individual Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) applications. I can advise you that further details concerning the processing of outstanding IIP applications is published on the Immigration Service website of my Department, including an FAQ document. Both can be accessed at the following link:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Electric Vehicles (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777 and 778 together. Below is a yearly breakdown of the number of incidents in which an e-scooter was detained or seized by Gardaí since 1 January 2024. 2024 2025 Total Nationwide 326 744 1,070 Dublin region 227 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Garda authorities have provided the below table which outlines the number of emergency calls received at each Regional Control Centre (RCC). I'm informed that the figures below do not capture calls for service which are not considered to be emergency in nature. Year Dublin Metropolitan RCC Eastern RCC North Western RCC Southern RCC ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is important to note that, as Minister, I do not comment on individual cases. It is a central priority for me as Minister that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The removal of people 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: My Department's International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) is not currently examining any property for future use as international protection accommodation in Navan, County Meath. There are a number of existing accommodation centres in the Navan area providing accommodation for people fleeing the war in Ukraine, or for international protection applicants. While the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: As the Deputy will be aware, Periodic Payment Orders (PPOs) are an alternative to lump sum awards as a method of paying compensation to catastrophically injured people. Instead of receiving compensation in one tranche, a payment is made annually on an agreed date. The annual payment amount is calculated to meet the cost of permanent and long-term care and treatment. An indexation rate is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (18 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 34% fewer compared with the same period...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection hold temporary permission to remain in Ireland, renewable annually for as long as the Directive remains in force. On 15 July 2025, the Justice and Home Affairs Council extended Temporary Protection by a year until March 2027, providing certainty for beneficiaries who can continue to avail of the protections that the Directive provides. Under Article...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 786, 787, 788 and 789 together. 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: Proposed Legislation (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: The proposed Life Sentences Bill 2024 will give sentencing judges a formal role in informing decisions on the release of life-sentenced prisoners on parole. When sentencing, judges will make a recommendation on what minimum term should be served in prison before parole is granted, and the Parole Board will be required to take that recommendation into account in making their decisions. It...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 793, 794 and 795 together. The Road Traffic Act 1994 (Detention of Powered Personal Transporters) Regulations 2024 came into operation on 20 May 2024. These regulations give An Garda Síochána the power to detain, remove, and store powered personal transporters (PPTs), such as e-scooters, that are in contravention of road traffic laws. Since the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Any death of a resident in IPAS accommodation is a tragic event for their family, friends and neighbours, and also for the accommodation centre staff who know them. While the Department has not commissioned specific research as outlined in the question, we do publish information on deaths of people resident in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres on a biannual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Reviews (18 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: An Garda Síochána (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division, Station and rank, including for Castlerea, Ballaghaderreen, and Boyle Garda Stations, County Roscommon and Ballinasloe Garda Station, County Galway, is publicly available and can be found at the following link: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is a central priority for me 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 there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area A deportation order is enforced following a full assessment of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I would like to assure the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service Action Plan in respect of Cork Prison outlines the plans for implementation of accepted recommendations from the 2023 General Inspection of Cork Prison, and is currently being finalised. Additionally, the GP at Cork Prison is no longer attending Castlerea Prison, as recommended by the OIP. Healthcare staffing within a prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome the publication of the Office of the Inspector of Prisons 2024 Annual Report and acknowledge the important work undertaken by the Inspector and his team in 2024. Oversight and evaluation are vital elements in developing and improving our penal system. I acknowledge the Deputy has requested my Department's response to recommendations with a particular focus on Cork prison....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (18 Nov 2025)

Jim O'Callaghan: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the Constitution. The collation of data on convictions is a function of the courts. To be of assistance, I have referred your question to the Courts Service for their...