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The Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Justice Minister concerned ‘majority' of attacks on Indian community ‘carried out by young people'
JUSTICE MINISTER JIM O'Callaghan has said that he is concerned that the 'majority' of recent attacks on members of the Indian community 'appear to have been carried out by young people'. O'Callaghan today met with representatives of the Ireland India Council and the Federation of Indian Communities in Ireland, to discuss recent racist attacks on members of the Indian community. In recent weeks, there has been a spate of physical attacks on members of the Indian community in Ireland. In one instance, a man who was attacked by a group of teenagers has decided to return to India as a result of the assault. Advertisement Other recent incidents have included a man being stripped and beaten after a false accusation in Tallaght , a man being assaulted on his way home from a friend's apartment, and an attack on a six-year-old girl in Waterford. This resulted in the Indian embassy in Dublin recently warning citizens 'take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours'. Speaking after the meeting, O'Callaghan remarked that 'any attack against innocent members of the public is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated'. 'Attacks on individuals because of their inherent characteristics including race are abhorrent to the values of our republic and are condemned by any right-thinking people,' said O'Callaghan. He added: 'What I find most concerning about these attacks is that the majority appear to have been carried out by young people.' The Justice Minister said he has been informed that Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers are 'engaging with the respective communities and youth groups on the matter'. Related Reads Indian man to leave Ireland after being attacked by a group in Dublin over the weekend Ambassador to India says attacks on migrants are 'deeply at odds' with Irish values Attack on Indian man in Dublin: 'Words aren't enough, Irish people need to do more' O'Callaghan also said that he has been engaging 'extensively' with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and that Harris has 'taken action to support the Indian community'. 'Importantly, Senior Investigating Officers are assigned to investigate all reported incidents, so I hope to see progress on those investigations soon,' added O'Callaghan. He also noted that Irish law has 'recently been amended by the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences ) Act 2024 to ensure any attack motivated by hate will on conviction result in increased sentencing parameters for the sentencing judge so there are severe consequences for the perpetrators of these attacks'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Minister claims legal case could see asylum seekers entitled to damages, but not homeless people
JUSTICE MINISTER JIM O'Callaghan has claimed that an upcoming court decision could see asylum seekers entitled to damages from the State for failures to provide them with accommodation, but that homeless people may not be eligible to apply for similar claims. The Dublin Fianna Fáil TD was referring to the case of two asylum seekers who had been left sleeping rough as the State was unable to provide them with beds. O'Callaghan said he was concerned about how the situation may be viewed by the public and other EU member states, adding that it would be 'very hard to justify' a scenario where asylum seekers can receive compensation while homeless people could not. He said he expects a decision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will grant the two people the chance to take action for damages. The minister said the Government needed to ensure that in trying to 'vindicate certain rights, we do not marginalise or demote other equally legitimate rights', such as those of homeless people. In a wide ranging address at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) in Dublin on the topic of 'balancing competing human rights' in his brief of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, the minister said he believes the Government is 'getting the balance right' in how it addresses accommodation of asylum seekers in Ireland, amid attempts by 'people on the hard right' to pressure politicians on the issue. Delighted to welcome @iiea this morning @OCallaghanJim , Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration @DeptJusticeIRL , to speak on Balancing Competing Human Rights in the Area of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. #iieaevents #JusticeAndHomeAffairs #HumanRights #Migration … — IIEA (@iiea) July 16, 2025 The minister also ruled out the construction of centres for holding people seeking international protection. Instead O'Callaghan committed to the purchase of larger scale properties such as City West for the same purpose . O'Callaghan likened the crackdown on asylum seekers and use of government charter deportation flights to 'a bit of a correction', compared to the fewer deportations that took place in previous years. Three deportation flights have taken place this year so far, the first time they have been used in recent years. Advertisement Ireland's preparations for the overhaul of the asylum system came under the spotlight this week , with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission commenting that it believes the new system will be 'prone to legal challenge, administrative dysfunction and human rights violations' given the short timeline. The government has one year to introduce new legislation to bring Ireland in line with EU requirements under the Asylum and Migration Pact. O'Callaghan said that the international protection system is 'not working', as it has seen people waiting for three years and even longer for a decision on their status. 'Like nobody thinks the current system is working,' O'Callaghan said. 'I think there is a benefit in people being given a decision as quickly as possible. Obviously I'm conscious that if in making quick decisions, you've got to ensure that people's rights are protected and vindicated.' 'Diet of coverage' about crackdown He had been challenged by a retired civil servant in the audience about whether the Government could do more to 'emphasise the positive contribution' which migrants, refugees and asylum seekers make to society. The ex-civil servant said that while immigration measures appeared 'reasonable', there was 'a diet of almost daily coverage' about the the government's immigration crackdown. This had the cumulative effect to 'imply that migrants, refugees and asylums are kind of a threat to Irish society', the man added. Defending the government's record, O'Callaghan said that he believed the government had struck the balance and that it was important that the 'public are aware that there is a rules based system' in international protection. 'There has to be a recognition that if somebody comes in and they're not they don't succeed in their application, there has to be a consequence,' O'Callaghan said. 'So I think it is important that the public are aware that there is a rules based system, and maybe there's a bit of a correction in terms of what happened in previous years.' O'Callaghan said that the area has become a 'contentious political issue, no doubt manipulated by people on the hard right' and added: 'We're trying to get the balance right. We always won't, but I think we are getting the balance right.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Justice Minister to seek government approval for new terrorism offences bill today
JUSTICE MINISTER JIM O'Callaghan will seek government approval this morning for a bill that would add three new terrorist offences to existing law. Those three new offences are receiving training for terrorism, travelling for the purpose of terrorism, and organising or facilitating travelling for the purpose of terrorism. The aim of the Terror Offences Bill is to give the state the ability to prosecute people who travel abroad to take part in terrorist activity, known as the 'foreign terrorist fighter phenomenon'. The Department of Justice said this new bill would bring Ireland's counter-terrorism laws into line with those of other EU countries. 'It will facilitate Ireland's participation in enhanced counter-terrorism networks across the EU, giving An Garda Síochána the ability to tap into those networks to respond to both domestic and cross-border terrorist threats,' the Department said. The Department said the bill marks 'a significant step forward in ensuring that Ireland's counter-terrorism framework is robust and fit for purpose in the face of modern terrorist threats'. Advertisement In cases where people are being sentenced for terrorist training or recruiting, the bill would also allow courts to treat the targeting of children as an aggravating factor. The UN Security Council has defined 'foreign terrorist fighters' as people 'who travel or attempt to travel to a State other than their States of residence or nationality, and other individuals who travel or attempt to travel from their territories to a State other than their States of residence or nationality, for the purpose of the perpetration, planning, or preparation of, or participation in, terrorist acts, or the providing or receiving of terrorist training'. Examples of such actors include people who travelled to join ISIS. According to the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), there are some concerns about the definition and the impacts on people's rights. Those issues include 'the labelling of individuals, as well as their families, by association, as foreign terrorist fighters, difficulties related to the criminal regulation of individuals' intentions, and the blurring of lines between terrorism and armed conflict'. These, UNCCT said in a report on the impact of the phenomenon on children, 'have consequences for human rights protection and the protection regime under international humanitarian law'. 'There are concerns that the term may also lead to stigmatization and dehumanization, especially for children.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Justice Minister says €325,000 deportation flight to Nigeria is ‘value for money'
JUSTICE MINISTER JIM O'Callaghan has said last night's chartered flight for deportations which cost close to €325,000 is 'value for money'. Last night, 35 people were deported on a chartered flight to Lagos, Nigeria. This included 21 men, nine women and five children – the children removed are all part of family groups. It's the third chartered flight so far this year and was carried out by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, following two previous chartered flights to Georgia. O'Callaghan said the flight 'landed safely this morning', though it did have to make an unscheduled stop due to a medical incident on board. When a person does not comply with a deportation order they can be arrested and detained to ensure their deportation. The Department of Justice said carries out enforced removals as a 'last resort' when a person does not remove themselves from the State. Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, O'Callaghan said the exact cost of last night's flight was €324,714. The first chartered flight to Georgia in February cost just over €102,000 , and O'Callaghan told the Dáil that the second flight in April would cost around €200,000 . O'Callaghan said the cost of last night's flight includes the cost of employing gardaí for this purpose. He described the fee of close to €325,000 as the 'standard price'. Advertisement 'You have to look at the alternative to it,' said O'Callaghan. 'My department is spending €1.2 billion this year just in terms of accommodation for people who are seeking asylum. 'We do it because we're obliged to do so, but there has to be a consequence.' He added that the flight costs provides 'value for money'. 'Not just in terms of the cost of a charter flight,' said O'Callaghan, 'but also it is sending out a very clear message that deportation orders mean something. 'If you have a deportation order, you're required to leave the country. If you don't do so voluntarily, it will be enforced.' He added: 'It's in the interest of people who are granted asylum, that persons who are rejected for asylum are forced to leave. 'Otherwise the asylum system becomes meaningless.' Meanwhile, O'Callaghan remarked that such enforced deportations 'is not a very pleasant part of the job'. 'But in terms of ensuring that we have a rules based system, it is absolutely essential that we have a response and a consequence to people who have been served with a deportation order yet do not comply with it,' he added. O'Callaghan also said that such chartered flights will be a 'fairly frequent and regular response to the issue'. 'People have to know that if they're served with a deportation order, it has meaning. 'If it is the case that you're not permitted to stay, there must be a consequence otherwise the whole system becomes meaningless.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Minister to bring forward plans to purchase Dublin's Citywest Hotel
JUSTICE MINISTER JIM O'Callaghan is to bring forward proposals to purchase the Citywest Hotel in Dublin for asylum-seeker accommodation. The minister got Cabinet approval today to extend the use of the hotel for international protection and Ukrainian applicants for another three months, until the start of September. This will cost an estimated €17 million to cover lease of the facilities and the provision of services. Along with the proposal to purchase the 764-bedroom hotel, a detailed value for money appraisal will be brought to government shortly. Advertisement There is ongoing engagement between the minister's Department and the Department of Public Expenditure on the details of the planned purchase of the facility. The move to purchase the hotel comes as the Department of Justice stepped back from contentious plans to convert the site of the former Crown Paints in Coolock to Ipas accommodation. The site had been at the centre of many protests – some of which turned violent. The Citywest Transit Hub is used to provide emergency stay-over facilities for approximately 400-450 IP applicants and separately accommodation for 1,350 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. Need more clarity and context on how migration is being discussed in Ireland? Check out our new FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank Related Reads Gary Gannon: Fear is what drives immigration protests in neglected communities, not hatred Anti-immigration picket over refugee accommodation sparks tensions in Dublin's Liberties Opinion: Irish people being against immigration is like Brazilian people being against football Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
