On Monday, June 30, 2025, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan TD visited Kilkenny, accompanied by local TD John McGuinness. The visit was part of a wider initiative to highlight community-based justice programmes and underline the government’s commitment to strengthening local support services and public safety.
Minister O’Callaghan’s day began with a visit to Aiséirí, a respected addiction recovery centre, where he met staff and service users. This stop reinforced the government’s ongoing support for rehabilitation services addressing addiction and mental health challenges within communities. He then visited the Amber Refuge, a critical facility offering safety and assistance to victims of domestic and gender-based violence. The visit followed the recent rollout of the national Zero Tolerance Strategy, which aims to combat domestic violence through expanded refuge spaces and improved training for frontline workers.
Later in the day, the Minister toured Kilkenny and Thomastown Garda Stations, meeting with Gardaí and hearing directly about the needs and priorities of local policing. His discussions highlighted the importance of community engagement in ensuring public safety.
Throughout the day, Minister O’Callaghan’s engagements underscored a strong government focus on justice reform, victim protection, and the delivery of well-resourced local services to support safer, healthier communities.
