Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan meets French Minister for Justice Gérald Darmanin in Dublin

In preparation for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in July, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan today met with French Minister for Justice Gérald Darmanin in Dublin. This meeting follows a recent meeting between both Ministers in Paris on 27 March. Minister O’Callaghan also met the French Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez on that occasion.

The Ministers discussed a wide range of topics including data retention, prison management and the treatment of sex offenders and domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV).

Describing the meeting, Minister O’Callaghan said:

Prior to the meeting, both Ministers were provided with a tour and historical overview of Arbour Hill Prison, followed by a visit and tour of the cemetery, delivered by the Office of Public Works.

During his visit, Minister Darmanin also met with representatives from Cuan, the DSGBV Agency, to discuss Cuan’s key responsibilities and priorities, awareness raising and prevention campaigns, protecting child victims of sexual or domestic violence and the protection of children in DSGBV and family law proceedings.

Following the meetings, Minister O’Callaghan said:

“While there are differences of scale between Irish and French prisons, we face similar challenges including the management of organised crime groups in prisons.

“We had a valuable exchange of views on security regimes, factors contributing to recidivism and also the Irish approach to managing those convicted of sexual offences. The insights were augmented by meetings with Cuan and my officials about the priority placed on tackling DSGBV in our society”