Jim O'Callaghan

I thank the Deputy.

I thank the Deputy for acknowledging the progress that has been made. I want to ensure that we speed up the process. It is important that we have a good geographic spread of refuges and safe homes throughout the country. It probably will be the case that every county will have one but I am cautious about trying to adopt it as though it is just a county thing. It needs to be spread out in areas whe…

Safe homes are very important too and local authorities are providing safe homes, which are places that can be used as safe accommodation for women fleeing violence. Monaghan County Council have promised three safe homes. It is the same with Cavan. There is a need for refuges. If we have more time to have a debate on this, we really need to look at the root causes of these issues as.well. One thin…

I thank the Deputy. He asks an opportune question because last week, along with the Tánaiste, I launched Ireland's third national risk assessment on money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. Risk assessments are key in identifying the risks from money laundering and terrorist financing. There was a report that contains a lot of useful information. One of the things I was t…

An Garda Síochána has a good record when it comes to organised crime. I was at an event last Friday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the murder of Veronica Guerin. If we think about that, in terms of the organised drug gangs in Ireland, many of them have been taken out of action by An Garda Síochána. They went to Spain. They were then chased out of there. They went to the United Arab Emirate…

The Criminal Assets Bureau has a good record. To go back to Veronica Guerin, her murder inspired the enactment of the proceeds of crime legislation and the establishment of CAB. The bureau has a strong record. Other European countries are interested in the fact that one can have a non-conviction based seizure process. People have assets taken from them which are the proceeds of crime, but it is on…

I thank Deputy Ward for raising this issue. It is appropriate that he raises it during Pride week. Part of the reason we have Pride week is not just for the purpose of people being able openly to celebrate their sexuality, but also to recognise that historically people who were gay were suppressed and were not able to express their sexuality within society in the way that other people could do. It…

I thank the Deputy. It is worthwhile having this debate and discussion. My own view, as Minister for justice, is that An Garda Síochána, which is responsible for investigating the types of criminal offences to which the Deputy referred, is vigilant and aware of ensuring thorough investigations in respect of crimes that are motivated by hate. We see that in respect of people who are gay. We see it …

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann resolves that the Civil Liability (Child Sexual Abuse Proceedings Against Unincorporated Bodies of Persons) Bill 2025 be deemed to be read a second time this day six months, to allow for the consideration of the legal and policy implications of the Bill's provisions to be undertaken.". I thank D…

I apologise, as I had to step out for a number of minutes to meet a group that I had a long-standing arrangement with. I thank Deputy Bacik again for putting forward this legislation. As I indicated earlier on, it is important legislation that aligns with Government policy but there are areas in respect of it that I need to give consideration to. I also want to speak in general about how we get ju…

Like my colleagues, I too welcome Mr. David French to the Gallery. I commend him on his perseverance and the encouragement he has provided, not only to me in terms of trying to ensure the legislation could be introduced to the Houses of the Oireachtas but also in terms of the encouragement and support to other Members of the House. It is unusual to have legislation that is universally supported. …

We had a good discussion about this on Committee Stage. I note what Deputy Carthy is trying to do but I have to stick with what I have in terms of the six months and the statutory requirement. The last thing any of us in the House want is for an application to be challenged in the courts by a person who is convicted and who says it is an extra penalty being imposed on them, that they are a person …

I thank the Deputy for his amendment. I do have a better type of wording and it is set out in section 12I of the legislation. The section is entitled "Notice parties to proceedings under this Part". Section 12I(i) states, "An application to the court for an order under this Part shall not be made in relation to the child concerned other than on notice to each guardian of that child". Whether it is…

I am not dismissing Deputy Carthy's proposed amendment because it is coming from him. I listen carefully to what he says and what other colleagues contribute. We want to get this right. I must be honest with the Deputy in the House about what I think the consequence of his amendment would be. It is true that there is no definition for who is the next of kin. The first thing a court will do when it…

I thank Deputy Carthy for his amendment. In paragraph (1A), in effect what Deputy Carthy is seeking to achieve is already the law under the provision. Deputy Carthy's amendment states "where a guardian ad litem of the child, another guardian of the child, or a relative of the child ... is of the opinion that an application ... ought to be made in the best interests of the child", he can request Tu…

I spotted that. Well spotted, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

And he told us not to bring them into the House.

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am grateful for the opportunity to bring this important Bill before the House. Electronic evidence is now central to almost every criminal investigation. While data flows globally, law enforcement authorities across Europe are often in need of foreign-held evidence for domestic cases, including data held by service providers in this jurisdictio…

I move: That Standing Order 194 is modified in accordance with Standing Order 241(2) to provide that it be an instruction to the Committee to which the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 may be recommitted in respect of certain amendments that it has the power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing subject matter of the Bil…

Good. We are getting a lot done.

I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. I am not a very philosophical person, but one thing I do know is that ministerial careers come and go very quickly and as Deputy McAuliffe said-----

I am well aware of it.

I hope individuals in this House have the great privilege to be Ministers at some stage in the future-----

-----but it comes and goes-----

-----and the officials, with the greatest respect, are outstanding people but they will be there for many years. If you want to get something done as a politician-----