Jim O'Callaghan | |
|---|---|
 O'Callaghan in 2025 | |
| Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration | |
| Assumed office 23 January 2025 | |
| Taoiseach | |
| Preceded by | Helen McEntee |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Dublin Bay South |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James O'Callaghan (1968-01-05)5 January 1968 (age 58) Dublin, Ireland |
| Party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Miriam O'Callaghan (sister) |
| Alma mater | |
| Website | jimocallaghan |
Jim O'Callaghan (born 5 January 1968) is an IrishFianna Fáil politician who has served asMinister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration since January 2025. He has been aTeachta Dála (TD) for theDublin Bay South constituency since the2016 general election.[1][2]
O'Callaghan has a BCL degree fromUniversity College Dublin, a master's degree in law and an M.Phil. in criminology fromSidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and a barrister-at-law degree from theKing's Inns. O'Callaghandevilled forRory Brady.[3]
In 2000, he represented TaoiseachBertie Ahern in defamation proceedings against a businessman, appearing with Rory Brady andPaul Gallagher, both of whom later served asAttorney General of Ireland.[4] He was made asenior counsel in 2008.[5] O'Callaghan also served as a legal adviser to Fianna Fáil from January 2011 to his election to the Dáil. In 2014, he co-edited a book titled,Law and Government: A Tribute toRory Brady.[6]
He was a member ofDublin City Council from 2009 to 2016. He unsuccessfully ran as a candidate for Fianna Fáil in the2007 general election inDublin South-East.[7]
He was a member of the Fianna Fáil negotiating team intalks on government formation in 2016.[8] Early on 9 April 2016, O'Callaghan's home hosted a covert meeting between O'Callaghan,Leo Varadkar, Deirdre Gillane (chief adviser ofMicheál Martin) andAndrew McDowell (a policy adviser ofEnda Kenny). It lasted for more than an hour.[9]
On 19 May 2016, he was appointed asFianna Fáil Spokesperson for Justice and Equality by party leaderMicheál Martin. He drafted and secured cross-party support for his Parole Bill which was passed by the Oireachtas and became an Act.[10] It reformed the parole system giving victims of crime and their families the right to be heard during the parole process.
O'Callaghan also introduced a Judicial Appointments Commission Bill on 18 October 2016 that sought to amend the process by which judges were appointed. Although the Bill passed second stage in the Dáil,[11] it was not supported by the Fine Gael minority government which instead pursued legislation proposed by the Minister for Transport,Shane Ross, though with changes.[12]
In November 2016, O'Callaghan met with some of those who had beensexually abused as boys by Bill Kenneally, Fianna Fáil tallyman and cousin of former Fianna Fáil TDBrendan Kenneally.[13][14] Brendan Kenneally had previously acknowledged that he had been aware of his cousin's crimes before his sentencing to 14 years imprisonment.[13] On 10 July 2018 the Government established a Commission of Investigation under Judge Barry Hickson to investigate the Kenneally allegations.[15]
During the 2018 referendum campaign toremove the constitutional prohibition of abortion by repealing the Eighth Amendment, O'Callaghan stated he was against the proposal to legalise abortion on request up to 12 weeks in pregnancy.[16][17]
At the2020 general election, O'Callaghan was re-elected as a TD forDublin Bay South.[18] In July 2020 O'Callaghan declined the position ofMinister of State at the Department of Justice in the32nd government of Ireland offered to him byTaoiseach Micheál Martin, stating that he wished to remain on the backbenches, providing a voice in Fianna Fáil outside of government, while also making the party more attractive to younger voters.[19] In September 2020 O'Callaghan toldRTÉ Radio he was interested in becoming the leader of Fianna Fáil following Martin.[20]
O'Callaghan was appointed as the party's spokesman on justice matters by Martin on 17 December 2020.[21]
O'Callaghan was the Fianna Fáil Director of Elections for the2021 Dublin Bay South by-election in which the party's candidate came in fifth position.[22]
At the2024 general election, O'Callaghan was re-elected to the Dáil. On 23 January 2025, he was appointed asMinister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in thegovernment led byMicheál Martin.[23]
| Elections to theDáil | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Election | FPv | FPv% | Result | ||
| Fianna Fáil | Dublin South-East | 2007 | 3,120 | 9.2 | Eliminated on count 4/5 | |
| Dublin Bay South | 2016 | 4,575 | 11.5 | Elected on count 8/8 | ||
| Dublin Bay South | 2020 | 5,474 | 13.8 | Elected on count 8/8 | ||
| Dublin Bay South | 2024 | 5,536 | 13.9 | Elected on count 10/12 | ||
He played rugby at a senior level, representing UCD, Cambridge University, London Irish, Wanderers, Leinster and Connacht. He was also capped for Ireland at under-21 level. He is a frequent cyclist, regularly cycling toLeinster House and advocates for the expansion ofcycling infrastructure in Dublin.
He has four sisters,[24] one of whom is the Irish broadcasterMiriam O'Callaghan.[5]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byas Minister for Justice | Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration 2025–present | Incumbent |