Jim O'Callaghan

I was focusing first on the issue of counselling notes. I again acknowledge the distress that the disclosure of such personal and sensitive information can cause. As Deputies will be aware, section 19A of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992, which was amended in 2017, was drafted with the intention of ensuring an appropriate balance between an accused’s right to a fair trial and a complainant’s right t…

I know.

I thank all 13 Deputies for their contributions this afternoon. I also want to acknowledge the presence in the Gallery of survivors of sexual assault and rape and representatives of survivors and, indeed, representatives of those advocating for a disregard scheme. I hope the debate has been sensitive in terms of what they have had to listen to and I hope it has been in some way illuminating. Gene…

I also commend Margaret Loftus on her courage in coming forward in public and on securing a conviction, which is a very significant achievement that she achieved. We also need to recognise that Margaret Loftus commended the investigating gardaí. There has now been a conviction. Once a member of An Garda Síochána is convicted of a criminal offence, there is a process under the Garda conduct regulat…

I thank the Deputy for the question. I acknowledge his work in this area in respect of the publication by him of the Bill in 2017. His question is opportune. When I came into office, one of the issues I wanted to expedite was "disregard legislation", as it is referred to. The information I got back was that a lengthy process was ongoing in respect of the preparation of a Bill. I am pleased to say …

I am satisfied that An Garda Síochána now takes seriously complaints of domestic violence. I am concerned about the detail provided by the brave Margaret Loftus in respect of how she was concerned that her complaint was not initially taken seriously. However, I recognise that she acknowledges the excellent work done by the investigating gardaí, who got her case and then pursued it relentlessly. In…

-----extremely seriously.

I thank the Deputy for his question. He is incorrect to say this Government has it in for disabled people and carers. That is simply incorrect, and his categorisation of what happened in the budget is not accurate. In terms of what he states about tax bills, the laws in respect of taxation of carers have not changed whatsoever. A letter was sent out by the Revenue Commissioners in November 2025, b…

I thank Deputy McGrath for his question. Like every other Deputy in the House, the one demand he wants to see met is to see more gardaí in his constituency. I know everyone in this House wants to see the same. That is a good reflection on An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will know that the number of gardaí in Cork city increased significantly after the most recent attestation in Templemore. I am plea…

Again, the Deputy wants to see more gardaí in his constituency. I do not get involved in directing the Commissioner as to where I think he should send gardaí. That would be far too political. What I say to the Commissioner, and it is something he agrees with, is that I want to see high-visibility policing. That means high-visibility policing not just in our urban areas and cities such as Dublin, C…

I thank Deputy Timmins for that question. It is important that we acknowledge that reference in a very prestigious magazine such as The Economist that Ireland is the second most successful economy in the world. It also has to be acknowledged that did not happen by chance. It happened because of political decisions made by previous governments in this country to adapt our economy to be in such a wa…

I thank the Deputy for his question. Obviously, I agree with him about Garda visibility. That is not happening by accident; it is happening because we are getting the number in An Garda Síochána up and a decision has been made by Government, and implemented by the Commissioner, to have high-visibility policing. I am very pleased to hear there is apparent visibility of gardaí in Rathcoole and Sagga…

I thank the Deputy. I am aware from my constituency, and throughout the country, the stress it can put on a parent of a child with special needs in terms of trying to get the child admitted into a school, whether primary or secondary. I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, dealt with these issues last week. There were reasons deadlines were put in place. It was to give people some le…

I thank Deputy Kenny for his question. I am not aware of the full details he has outlined. I am aware it is an issue that is being considered by Government. I am conscious that what the Deputy said happened did happen at the Committee of Public Accounts when there was an examination of the report. The report provides a detailed assessment of governance and control weaknesses within the IFI over th…

I thank Deputy Whitmore for her question. Like her, I also had the pleasure of meeting the women from the Wexford Rape Crisis Centre when the Ceann Comhairle invited them to the Dáil a number of months ago. I will raise within the Department the fact that there is not a rape crisis centre in Wicklow. Obviously, the Department does not directly employ individuals and put rape crisis centres into co…

I thank Deputy McGreehan for raising this issue. She is correct in stating that drug-related intimidation is a scourge on our society. As the instances of drug taking increase, there is regrettably more drug intimidation. The model behind drug dealing is generation of profits for drug dealers. As a society, we all need to recognise that and people need to understand when they start experimenting w…

The Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor will move the amendment when she is closing. I will begin in the same way all the other speakers have begun, by commending Deputy Ward on the Bill he has put before the House this evening. It is important that we can have a debate on nitrous oxide. Regrettably, everyone in this House is aware of the prevalence of nitrous oxide being used throughout th…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. He is correct to say that he has raised this issue with me privately. It does not come as a surprise to me. He is correct in stating that the issues that have been identified have been raised in the media. At the outset, I commend the Deputy. It is important that we take into account the position of victims in the criminal justice system. Histo…

I acknowledge what the Deputy has said and agree with him. What happened to Fionnuala Bourke was that a harrowing and desperately traumatic crime was perpetrated on her. The perpetrator received a sentence and justice was done. My understanding is that she did not commence that sentence because at the time, she was being detained within the Central Mental Hospital. What happened in this instance w…

Hear, hear.

I move: "That the Bill be read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce the Bill to the House. I look forward to hearing the contributions of colleagues. As Deputies will be aware, back in 2023 the Houses enacted the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act. The Bill I am introducing today is an amendment to that legislation. The legislation the Houses enacted in 2023 constituted an importan…

That is wrong.

The Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025.

This is the last time I will speak before Christmas. I wish the Ceann Comhairle, all Members and the staff who work here tirelessly throughout the year a happy Christmas. I thank them on my behalf and on behalf, I would say, of all Members of the Oireachtas for their outstanding work. I also want to thank my officials in the Department of justice for their tireless commitment to providing assistan…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)(b) and 188(1).