Latest news with #O'Callaghan
Sunday World
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Sunday World
Fed-up former gardaí reveal number one reason for leaving the force
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan confirmed the feedback came from 39 voluntary exit interviews The woman attempted to bite a number of gardaí during the incident on Park Street. Fed-up former gardai have revealed in exit interviews their number one reason for leaving the force - they can't manage family life while pursuing a career as a cop. The revelation was made by the Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan as he released data from ex-members as to why they resigned. The two other issues have emerged: commuting and the distance between home and their assigned Garda station. The Minister confirmed the feedback came from 39 voluntary exit interviews carried out in 2024 and 60 by the end of April this year with former Garda and Garda staff members leaving. The woman attempted to bite a number of gardaí during the incident on Park Street. News in 90 Seconds - May 31st Mr O'Callaghan said, 'In 2024, 39 voluntary exit interviews were conducted among sworn Garda and Garda staff. As this is a very small sample, it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions . 'But among the issues cited by people who participated was that they found it difficult to maintain their career as a Garda while also managing their family life. "Commuting and the distance between home and the station was also a concern. 'In 2025 an exit survey was introduced to further extend the sample reached. Up to the end of April there were 60 responses. 'This survey will increase the capacity of the organisation to collate, analyse and act upon the data gathered from colleagues who have chosen to resign. 'These are still small samples but the objective is that over time it will help develop better understanding of these issues and in turn allow further adjustments where possible. 'I am aware for example that Garda management seek to locate new recruits within a reasonable commuting distance of their homes but this is not always possible to achieve in every case.' The Minister was responding to a Dail question from the Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy. Mr O'Callaghan claimed the current rate of Garda resignations between 1-2 per cent is very low. He said this turnover rate is far below the UK level of 10 per cent, and the rest of the public sector in Ireland which is 10-20 per cent. The Minister also said resignations within the police in the United States, Canada and New Zealand are much higher than in Ireland. More than 280 gardaí have left the force within five years of joining since 2020 - 214 were male and 73 were female.
Extra.ie
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Leinster are damned if they do win URC... and damned if they don't
One of the staples of the entertaining 'Offload' podcast every Friday is Donncha O'Callaghan's rants against Leinster and what he sees as their 'blue media' cheerleaders. It has been a hot topic all season, revolving around the central theme of O'Callaghan believing Leinster enjoy unfair advantages over the other provinces, and it ramped up big time in the wake of the province's shock departure from the European Cup. The good-cop, bad-cop approach alongside Tommy Bowe works well on an entertainment basis over a number of topics, but especially when the former Munster and Ireland stalwart is ripping into his old rivals — as he was last week with the URC up for debate. Former Munster star Donncha O'Callaghan has questioned Leinster this season. Pic: Inpho 'The URC is not the prize Leinster were going for. Andrew Porter has said they are all about Europe. Who gives a s**t if Leinster win the URC?' said O'Callaghan, adding that he would prefer if Leinster's Lions were rested so they could be fresh for the summer tour to Australia. Controversial opinions are the bedrock of popular podcasts but this was still a particularly extreme position to take. Since the Champions Cup defeat by Northampton, a giant heat lamp has been trained on Leo Cullen, Jacques Nienaber and the Leinster squad — and it demands a reaction. Since the Champions Cup defeat by Northampton, a giant heat lamp has been trained on Leo Cullen, Jacques Nienaber and the Leinster squad — and it demands a reaction. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile The immediate response to 'who gives a s**t if Leinster win the URC?' is: Leinster do. Indeed, given how this season has panned out (on the back of a trophy drought extending to 2021 and a Champions Cup void going back to 2018) you could say winning the URC title is now non-negotiable for Leinster. Put it this way, picture a scenario where Leinster lose in the next few weeks and imagine the fallout then. Ending yet another season empty-handed, despite having access to Jordie Barrett, RG Snyman and Rabah Slimani (after an initial IRFU ruling on no overseas prop signings), not to mention two-time World Cup-winning coach Jacques Nienaber, would create a toxic fallout — one where there would be intense pressure for heads to roll. Put it this way, picture a scenario where Leinster lose in the next few weeks and imagine the fallout then. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile As the chief decision-makers, on and off the pitch, Cullen and Nienaber are most vulnerable but URC capitulation on the back of another Champions Cup flop would put pressure for change on the entire backroom staff. So, rather than be dismissed as an irrelevance, the URC has now assumed monumental importance for Leinster — with dire consequences for failure. And, although Leinster are overwhelming favourites to claim the URC trophy, it is far from a done deal. If they get past the Scarlets tomorrow (which they should do at home with relative ease), Leinster will face the winners of tonight's Glasgow-Stormers quarter-final. Glasgow are reigning champions, with a squad laced with internationals and should see off the South Africans at home but either side is capable of upsetting Leinster on their day. Then if they do make it to the final, Leinster will face either Munster, the Sharks or the Bulls (it is pretty safe to assume Edinburgh will not make it to the decider). Munster have shown their capacity for pulling out massive performances in knockout matches and if they make it past the Sharks tomorrow at a sold-out Kings Park, they will be fuelled by the same levels of confidence and verve that took them all the way a couple of years ago. The Sharks have not been equal to the sum of their parts so far, but their squad is jammed with elite Springboks and, if they click, they can take anyone out. Meanwhile the Bulls, while not carting the same levels of South African stardust as the Sharks, still possess plenty of potency and have an impressive collective spirit — finishing second only to Leinster in the URC table, with 14 wins from 18 outings. Key to all of this is the attitude of the South African sides. Unlike the apathy they reserve for the Champions Cup (South African sides competing in the European Cup has always seemed an ill-fit), they are all-in when it comes to the URC and it makes them extremely dangerous. Lots of pitfalls then for Leinster as they seek to justify their 4/9 favouritism. There is no question that Cullen has the tools at his disposal to reel off three knockout victories to end their trophyless hell. However, if the litany of near-misses over the last few seasons has taught us anything, it is that Leinster's mental fortitude is questionable on the big stage. The nature of their Northampton defeat could have sent them one of two ways. Either, it has instilled a ruthless determination to put things right that will narrow focus all the way to glory, or it has riddled the squad and coaches with self-doubt that will kick in whenever pressure comes on. We will not know which until the situation presents itself again but there is no questioning the desire to put things right. This is a rock and hard place situation for Cullen and crew. Win the title and the likes of O'Callaghan and a host of others dismiss it as the least that should be expected from this Leinster operation — fail to win the title, and you get absolutely rinsed with calls for change probably impossible to stave off in the fallout. However, there is one final aspect to all of this that people have overlooked. In 2007-08, Leinster had the same type of 'nearly men' tag that the current side labours under after years of coming up short. But under the radar, Michael Cheika was steadily introducing steel to the squad and, after a long tough campaign, they landed the league title. It got lost in the wash of Munster landing their second European Cup around the same time and Leinster's achievement was not seen as a significant step towards closing the gap on their southern rivals. But that is just what it was. Brian O'Driscoll has spoken many times about how that 2008 league win gave Leinster the belief they could go on to bigger and better things — and the following season they established a dominance in Irish rugby they have yet to relinquish. Cullen was part of that journey as a player and he will see similar opportunities now also. Win this title and it could be just the springboard this team is so desperately seeking — whatever others may think of it.
Irish Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Failed asylum seekers kept in overcrowded prisons before deportation flights
Failed asylum seekers are being held in overcrowded prisons before being put on deportation flights, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has confirmed. Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has now raised concerns about more people being added to overcrowded prisons and the 'performative cruelty' of flights. On Friday, May 30, capacity in prisons across the country was at 115 per cent. Mr Gannon, who is the Soc Dems spokesman on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, asked Minister O'Callaghan to outline the policy governing the detention of individuals pending deportation on chartered flights. The Minister confirmed that, to date this year, two charter flight operations have removed 71 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State. A further 48 were removed on commercial airlines. Some 20 people verified with the Department of Justice that they have left the State following a deportation order being issued against them. He also stated that 119 enforced deportations requiring escort have occurred so far this year, up to May 23. The Minister confirmed: 'The majority of these cases have involved periods of detention prior to Departure. 'Of the 71 people removed by charter flight, 56 were held in custody immediately prior to the flight. Any children removed were part of family groups and were not detained. 'When a person does not comply with a deportation order, they can be arrested and detained for the purposes of ensuring their deportation. 'The enforcement of deportation orders and the detention of people prior to their removal is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau. 'Most people have been detained in Cloverhill Remand Prison or the Dóchas Centre as appropriate. People have also been detained in Cork prison, Limerick prison and Midlands prison.' On Friday, prison capacity at Cloverhill was 111 per cent. In the Dóchas Centre, the women's prison in Mountjoy, the capacity was at 127 per cent. Cork (118 per cent), Limerick men's prison (119 per cent), Limerick women's prison (141 per cent) and Midlands Prison (116 per cent) were all also overfilled, according to daily figures produced by the Irish Prison Service. Deputy Gannon told the Irish Mirror that it is 'unjust' to put failed asylum applications in these overcrowded prisons before deportation. He said: 'Our prisons are overcrowded to the point that we have recorded the highest level of deaths in the prison systems in decades. 'Adding an entirely different cohort of people into an already broken system is entirely unjust. 'These deportation flights are clearly an attempt at performative cruelty. 'For that purpose, an already broken prison system is being stretched further and the effects of that will leave a lasting impression on all of us.' Minister O'Callaghan further confirmed to Deputy Gannon that the number of deportation orders signed in 2024 increased by 180 per cent compared to 2023, rising to 2,403 from 857. He continued: 'This year, 1,816 deportation orders have been signed up to May 23 2025. 'Last year, 1,116 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.), an increase of 252 per cent compared to 2023 (317). 'This year, 796 persons have had their departure confirmed through these pathways up to 23 May 2025.'
Irish Examiner
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Paul Hosford: Jim O'Callaghan making up for lost time with leadership whispers
If a week is a long time in politics, five years is equivalent to a geological era. Go back a little over five years, and Jim O'Callaghan was the forgotten man of Fianna Fáil. Overlooked for a Cabinet position — ostensibly in favour of a party interloper in Stephen Donnelly — O'Callaghan rejected Taoiseach Micheál Martin's offer of a junior role, saying he would focus of strengthening the Fianna Fáil party. 'At a time when many of our party's senior members will be pre-occupied with their ministerial duties, I want to devote more time to strengthening our great party by making it a more attractive option for young voters,' he said at the time. 'I also believe Fianna Fáil needs strong voices outside government who can ensure that our party's identity can be protected during the term of this coalition government.' The pitch was clear as O'Callaghan set off on a covid-era road trip around the country, meeting party members and trying to position himself as their voice. The man inside the tent willing to shout out However, somewhere between covid lockdowns and a lack of spotlight, the assumption that the Dublin Bay South man would emerge as the obvious successor to Micheál Martin burned out without much incident. For a party which internally argued it needed to be stronger in Dublin, the idea of a Dublin TD with huge name recognition being somewhat sidelined was odd Micheál Martin's quiet control of his party and a lack of real openings meant that, for the most part, O'Callaghan was relegated to the backbenches for the last Dáil term. As the Cabinet reshuffle in 2022 came and went, there he remained — a high-profile TD who was a good media performer, but had to work to find something to perform. Fast forward to the election campaign of 2024, however, and something had shifted. While in 2020, Micheál Martin was perceived to have effectively ended any leadership aspirations O'Callaghan would have had by publicly offering him a junior role, knowing he would refuse, he was a key player in the 2024 campaign which saw Fianna Fáil come out the largest party in the Dáil. A large part of this was his utility in justice debates leading up to polling day, even sparking a sexism row with his now Cabinet colleague and predecessor in the role Helen McEntee. 'We need to build on the good proposals that Fianna Fáil came up with before,' he told RTÉ's Prime Time, effectively dismissing Ms McEntee's work as being built on his own ideas. 'Far more effective' When McEntee shot back that she had 'turned up' and he had refused the call to the junior ministerial ranks, O'Callaghan was quick to say that he had been 'far more effective as a backbench Fianna Fáil TD… than being the minister's assistant'. It was combative and hardly collegiate, but many in his party found it energising. Many attributed, unfairly in many cases, much of the coalition's woes to McEntee's performance. But this went further, in that it showed clear water between the two parties in a campaign which forced them to run on a joint record. Yet, Even his leading role in the campaign did not make him an automatic pick for many who read the cabinet tea leaves, with then junior justice minister James Browne among those who were tipped as potentially pipping him to the justice seat at Cabinet. At one point, an agreement where O'Callaghan would simultaneously be Attorney General and a TD was floated in the press — though this was never really seen as a runner. Due to his closeness to the justice role — he is a qualified barrister — O'Callaghan was seen by many as only fitting that role in the run-up to the announcement of ministers, which ended up being both delayed by a Dáil row and truncated by the incoming Storm Éowyn, though nobody who got the call to Áras an Úachtaráin that evening seems to have minded the short victory lap. When O'Callaghan's name was confirmed as justice minister, it marked an arrival at Cabinet that some felt was delayed. He has set about making up for lost time Perhaps aware of his predecessor's last few months under the microscope, since his appointment as justice minister, O'Callaghan has worked quickly to establish a public narrative that he is on top of his brief — particularly in the area of migration. Within weeks of the Government being formed, he was keen to publicise the fact that Ireland had commenced deportation flights to Georgia. A second flight followed weeks later. While these were an initiative kick-started under McEntee, and led to relatively small numbers of people being deported, they impress upon the public the idea that O'Callaghan is on top of the issue. Of course, some of this is circumstance — data shows there has been a 43% drop in applications for Ireland's asylum system here, compared to the same timeframe for last year — and he has been helped by the fact that large scale protests around individual sites for international protection services applicants have not been much of a feature in this year's discourse. However, O'Callaghan seems aware of perception as much as reality. To that end, his language is tougher than McEntee's. In an early radio interview he said 'too many people' are coming to Ireland seeking international protection who are not entitled to it. He upped that ante last month by proposing new laws around international protection that seeks to cut processing times and majorly cuts the usage of oral hearings, as he said the existing asylum laws in Ireland were not fit for purpose. Law and order O'Callaghan has leaned into the perception that he is a man of law and order and, to a large extent, it has worked. He has not fallen out with the garda rank and file members, but an ongoing struggle to fill the Garda Commissioner's job remains. Likewise, a pair of high-profile stabbings in Dublin early in his tenure did not become the crises they might have and this week's extradition of Sean McGovern, a senior figure in the Kinahan group, from Dubai was something put in train months ago — but was good news that happened on his watch. His decision this week to give a State apology to the family of Shane O'Farrell was the right thing to do, and avoided a subject which O'Callaghan had been vocal on from the backbenches becoming a problem in Government. All of this has seen O'Callaghan re-emerge as a name mentioned as a Fianna Fáil leader in waiting, whenever Martin departs Privately, members of the party believe that O'Callaghan has shown the political instincts that the party leader would need and is considered a better media performer than his most obvious rival: Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers. Those close to Martin insist he is going nowhere for now — he has over two years left of his second term as Taoiseach — but there is also a recognition that he cannot be the leader forever. Sources in the party say that O'Callaghan's challenge is to avoid becoming a lightning rod for the coalition — easier said than done from a beefed-up justice portfolio which once again includes migration. Along the way, he has to avoid controversies in a department which has derailed potential party leaders on a number of occasions, many through scandals and controversies which nobody could have foreseen. While many consider him the current leader in the non-existent-but-still-kind-of-happening-but-also-not-happening race to succeed Martin, that is based largely on a good start to his time in justice. However, as the saying goes, a good start is half the work.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Louth man (35) cleared of wrongdoing after allegedly admitting to driving crashed jeep
Barry O'Callaghan (35), Mountbagnal, Riverstown, Dundalk, was summonsed for alleged dangerous driving and for failing to remain at the scene following a single vehicle collision at Mullatee, Carlingford, on July 17, 2023. Gda David Woods testified that at 1am he was dispatched to the scene which was on the main R176 road to Carlingford. He found a red Hilux jeep on its side, substantially damaged. A passenger was being attended to by ambulance personnel and had a bandage around his head. There was no driver present. A large amount of debris was on the road. Gda Woods said that a vehicle check showed the jeep was registered to the accused. He called to the address and was told Mr O'Callaghan was not there. He spent one-and-a-half hours searching for him, while calls to Daisy Hill and Our Lady of Lourdes hospitals proved fruitless. The witness continued that afternoon he became aware that the defendant went to Dundalk Garda Station looking for his vehicle back. An arrangement was made that he call to Carlingford Garda Station to make a statement. On the day Mr O'Callaghan attended and said he wasn't making a statement on legal advice. Gda Woods said he made a lawful demand as to who was driving and that the accused said that he was. The officer told barrister Martin Dully that this happened in the hallway of the station. He didn't record it in his notebook. Counsel said that the entire case depended on this demand, and Garda Inspector Gerard Collins agreed. Judge Nicola Andrews remarked that it was a significant concern that the driver wasn't cautioned and that the garda said Mr O'Callaghan didn't make a major admission. An independent witness gave evidence that on the night he saw lights in front of him in his lane. He moved towards the hard shoulder. The other driver pulled sharply to the left causing the crash. Afterwards an injured man was bleeding from the head. He said that his friend was driving. They realised that this person was gone. It was an 'SUV or a pick-up, red, I'd say', the witness added. Mr Dully applied for a direction on the prosecution's reliance on an alleged admission to the garda by Mr O'Callaghan which, he submitted, was difficult to understand when the defendant arrived at the station and said he was unwilling to make a voluntary statement. Counsel asked the court to treat that alleged admission with a considerable amount of scepticism. The circumstances of this alleged admission were enough to trouble the court. Inspector Collins responded that Gda Woods simply made the demand. It would be best practice to have recorded it. The evidence was given under oath that he made the demand and that the defendant admitted driving. Judge Andrews said that Mr O'Callaghan indicated he didn't want to make a statement and following that the question was asked of him. 'I have concerns around the procedure being asked that question in the corridor of a garda station and I'm not willing to accept it as evidence,' the judge added. The summonses were dismissed.
