Latest news with #JimOCallaghan
BreakingNews.ie
5 hours ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Citywest Hotel sale: Two protests planned on Sunday by residents group
Two protests by a residents group are to take place on Sunday outside the former hotel and conference centre Citywest and in Dublin city centre. The protests, the fifth by the Stop Citywest Hotel Purchase group, are aimed at highlighting residents' opposition to the Government's planned multimillion euro purchase of Citywest hotel in Dublin as accommodation for international protection applicants. Advertisement The Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, announced on Tuesday that the Cabinet approved the purchase of the site for €148.2 million. Mr O'Callaghan's announcement came after several months of negotiations and disquiet among the local Citywest community. A spokesperson for the group posted on social media outlined that they are 'calling on supporters from other counties to join us in a strong show of unity' for a peaceful protest outside Citywest Hotel. The first protest is to take place at 2pm from the Garden of Remembrance at Parnell Square through the city centre and the second at 6.30pm in Saggart village. Advertisement The group is also planning another vehicle protest next week in Mr O'Callaghan's constituency. The Minister highlighted that owning the hotel and conference centre, rather than leasing it, would provide great 'value for money' and long-term saving for the State. He added: 'In a sector that has seen extremely high costs in recent times, purchasing Citywest makes prudent financial sense for the State compared to costs of leasing the site. "The purchase represents a payback period to the State of approximately four years, and over 25 years, the purchase and operating cost model offer savings of more than €1 billion, while delivering a permanent State asset.' Advertisement Mr O'Callaghan said he is 'committed' to reforming Ireland's international protection system to ensure its efficiency and robustness. He noted that a 'stable and sustainable accommodation network' is a central element of that reform. The hotel has been used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers since 2022. The site has the capacity to accommodate up to 2,300 people. It was first used by the State as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Legal action is also being considered by the Stop Citywest Hotel Purchase residents group also based in Saggart. The group held a drive slow protest on the N7 last Friday and a protest outside the Dáil last Wednesday. Advertisement A spokesperson for the group claims that the government's decision to purchase Citywest Hotel and convert it into a permanent refugee centre will have an 'irreversible effect on our village'. Ireland Government to buy Citywest Hotel for €148.2 millio... Read More The spokesperson continued: 'Such an action will not only strain local infrastructure and resources but also place significant stress on both the existing and newly arrived' people. 'Both groups are likely to suffer from inadequate integration efforts, which are essential for fostering mutual understanding and harmony.' The group pointed out that 'transforming such a significant local landmark into a permanent centre is affecting local businesses reliant on tourism and disrupting the quiet ambiance many of us value. It is causing challenges in community integration and our security.' They claim the move will place a burden on public services, such as education, healthcare, and transportation, and that they 'have seen very little help from the Government'.
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Taoiseach backs Garda Commissioner after lack of clarity from minister
The Taoiseach has backed the Garda Commissioner days after the Justice Minister did not take an opportunity to express confidence in the policing chief. On Tuesday, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan was asked about his contact with Commissioner Drew Harris over a series of disclosures and developments about how the service deals with matters around guns. Advertisement This included the storage of firearms at garda headquarters, defective gun holsters, and garda interactions with a man facing gun charges who later died by suicide. At a press conference, Mr O'Callaghan said he had confidence that An Garda Síochána was dealing with the matters correctly. However, he did not explicitly answer in the affirmative after being specifically asked if he had full confidence in Mr Harris. The minister said: 'I'm not the person who's there to supervise operationally what An Garda Síochána are doing.' Advertisement He added: 'I ask the Commissioner questions that are of concern to me, he gives me answers in respect to them, that communication is confidential. 'I have no difficulty in telling you the issues I raised with him, obviously what he says back to me is a confidential process.' His Fianna Fáil party leader and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, however, said the Commissioner had served with 'dedication and commitment'. Asked on Friday if he had confidence in Mr Harris, Mr Martin said: 'I have confidence in the Commissioner. Advertisement 'I think, he has served very diligently over a long number of years. 'His term has come to an end, and the process is on the way for replacement.' While further pressed as the press conference closed on whether the Justice Minister should apologise, the Taoiseach did not provide a reply. Mr Harris is due to retire on September 1, after the Cabinet agreed a two-month extension beyond an earlier end date of June 1. Advertisement
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Afghans among 197 children deported from Ireland so far this year
Afghanistan was one of the 'top' countries of origin for almost 200 children deported from Ireland between January and May this year. The Government deported 197 children during the first five months of 2024, according to figures released in response to a parliamentary question from Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Of these, 148 were aged 13 and under and 49 were teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said that no unaccompanied child was deported, and that children and their mothers were not detained before deportation. The latest figures mark an increase from the 191 children deported in 2024, 27 in 2023, and three in 2022. Afghanistan was one of the 'top' countries of origin for children deported so far this year, along with Nigeria, Georgia, Brazil and South Africa, according to the Department of Justice. Afghan deportations were 'cases where there has been a lack of co-operation with the international protection process, such as when a person does not attend interviews or make representations that they and their family should be granted permission to remain in Ireland', the department said. In these cases, there was 'no alternative' but to make a deportation order. READ MORE Mr Gannon said children made up 14 per cent of those deported so far this year, despite only accounting for 7 per cent of all deportation orders issued since 2023. Children are being 'disproportionately targeted', he said. 'Most of these kids have been here for years. They're in our schools, in our communities, Ireland is the only home they know. They're facing the consequence of deportation, to countries they have no meaningful ties to, not because of anything they've done, but because the State didn't plan or staff the international protection system properly.' Ireland recorded the highest European increase in asylum-seeking child arrivals between 2023 and 2024, according to a new report from Save the Children. The number of migrant children to arrive in the State rose 81 per cent from 2,880 in 2023 to 5,225 in 2024. Slovenia, Malta, Poland and Greece also recorded significant increases in child arrivals. Last year, nearly a quarter of the 254,900 first-time asylum applications made in European countries came from children. Of these, more than a fifth came from Syria and 13 per cent were Afghan. Some 43,300 children who came to Europe in 2024 seeking asylum were unaccompanied, said Save the Children. The report warns children arriving at European borders face systematic abuse and detention as countries tighten migration controls in advance of the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum next year. The pact, which promises to balance stronger border security with greater migrant protection, risks failing to safeguard children, particularly unaccompanied minors, the report warns. [ Five children among 35 people deported to Nigeria on chartered flight Opens in new window ] Testimonies from migrant children shine a light on these harrowing journeys, during which they must rely on smugglers and are exposed to violence and exploitation. A 15-year-old Syrian recalled how 'every second we thought we would die' when crossing from Turkey to Greece across the Aegean Sea on a boat crammed with people. 'Whenever the water splashed over the side, we thought that we were going to die. I was scared, every second.' Another Syrian 15-year-old migrant described how Serbian police slapped and beat boys who were held in prison for two weeks. 'We went a whole day without any food or water. We had to drink water from the toilet as we were shut in this tiny room, as wide as my arms and three metres long. We were five people in that same cell.' In 2024, Germany received the highest number of children applying for asylum for the first time (84,315), followed by France (40,845), Spain (29,740), Greece (18,000) and Italy (12,215), according to Eurostat. However, the overall number of first-time asylum applications across Europe fell by 13 per cent between 2023 and 2024. Greece witnessed a fourfold increase in the number of migrant children arriving across its borders, with 86 per cent aged under 15. Many of these children endure 'perilous journeys' from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia before facing stays in 'restrictive, detention-like conditions in reception camps across the Aegean Islands and the Greek mainland', notes the report. Pushbacks and arbitrary detention remain in practice across the region, it adds. The Polish-Belarusian border, an increasingly common migratory route for unaccompanied children, remains a 'hotspot for serious human rights violations', with children on the Belarusian side subjected to 'physical and psychological abuse – beaten, attacked by dogs, stripped of clothing and shoes, and deprived of identity documents', said the report.
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Protest against Government's purchase of CityWest hotel to be held this evening
A protest by a residents group against the Government's multi-million euro purchase of Citywest hotel in Dublin to increase international protection applicants accommodation is to be held this evening. The Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan announced earlier on Tuesday that the Cabinet approved the State purchase of Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre as an international protection accommodation for €148.2m. Advertisement Minister O'Callaghan's announcement comes after several months of negotiations and disquiet among the local Citywest community. The Minister highlighted that owning the hotel and conference centre, rather than leasing it would provide great 'value for money' and long-term saving for the state. He added: 'In a sector that has seen extremely high costs in recent times, purchasing Citywest makes prudent financial sense for the State compared to costs of leasing the site. The purchase represents a payback period to the State of approximately four years, and over 25 years, the purchase and operating cost model offer savings of more than €1billion, while delivering a permanent State asset.' Minister O'Callaghan said he is 'committed' to reforming Ireland's international protection system to ensure its efficiency and robustness. Advertisement He noted that a 'stable and sustainable accommodation network' is a central element of that reform. 'My goal is to improve processing systems so that people can receive a decision quickly and fairly, curtailing the need for constant growth in our accommodation system. Purchasing Citywest is a hugely significant step towards achieving this,' he said. In a statement the Saggart Village Residents Association said they are 'very disappointed,' with the government's plans. The statement added: 'There was no indication that the decision was going to be made this quickly and that it happened without any community engagement is very disappointing. Advertisement 'Value for money is just one aspect of such a decision, the loss of the Hotel and Convention Centre, and the permanent addition of an IPAS centre is a significant impact on a village that was already under pressure.' The hotel has been used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers since 2022. The site has the capacity to accommodate up to 2,300 people. It was first used by the state as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, legal action is being considered by the Stop Citywest Hotel Purchase residents group also based in Saggart. The group held a drive slow protest on the N7 last Friday and a protest outside the Dáil last Wednesday. A spokesperson for the group claims that the government's decision to purchase Citywest Hotel and convert it into a permanent refugee center will have an 'irreversible effect on our village'. Advertisement The spokesperson continued: 'Such an action will not only strain local infrastructure and resources but also place significant stress on both the existing and newly arrived' people. 'Both groups are likely to suffer from inadequate integration efforts, which are essential for fostering mutual understanding and harmony.' The group pointed out that 'transforming such a significant local landmark into a permanent center is affecting local businesses reliant on tourism and disrupting the quiet ambiance many of us value. It is causing challenges in community integration and our security.' They claim the move will place a burden on public services, such as education, healthcare, and transportation, and 'we have seen very little help from the government for our village'. The group is holding another protest in Saggart village this evening at 6.30pm at Jacob's B
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Government to buy Citywest Hotel for €148.2 million
The Government has approved the purchase of the Citywest Hotel and convention centre for €148.2 million, the Justice Minister has said. Jim O'Callaghan said that it would be 'far cheaper' to own the facility in west Dublin instead of paying private providers for the services and accommodation. Advertisement He said it would be used as a screening centre where applications for asylum will be processed. He said it was in line with the commitment in the programme for government to own 14,000 accommodation units for asylum seekers. He said there are no 'immediate' plans to expand the number of places at Citywest, which is currently being used as a reception centre for asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees. 'Over a period of four years, we believe we'd be in the position where we would have got our money back in terms of the investment. Advertisement 'Over a longer period of time, if you compare what we're spending in the private sector from the amount of money we'll be spending in terms of a state-owned entity, over a period of about 25 years, we'll be looking at a saving of €1.25 billion.' Locals from Saggart protested outside Leinster House last week over government plans to buy the Citywest facility. They raised concerns about losing the amenity of the hotel complex and about demand for services. Minister of State Colm Brophy said that local representatives would be engaged with so that the local community are informed. Advertisement He said the decision was being made on a 'value for money' basis and that if it is directly owned by the State, it can save around 50 per cent of the operating costs. 'Very importantly, the purchase of Citywest will not result in any immediate increase in numbers,' he said. 'The plan with Citywest is very simply, to develop the asset and make sure that we have the ability, particularly under the Migration Pact, to have a state-of-the-art processing facility whereby people's applications can be cleared within 13 weeks from when they arrive in the country.' He added: 'Citywest has actually been working very effectively in terms of having an Ipas centre there, having Ukrainians also present, and having a range of services and facilities which have been working effectively and successfully for many, many years. Advertisement 'We are not planning on changing those numbers.'
