Results 4,241-4,260 of 7,973 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: As the Deputy is aware, the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) was established as a cross Departmental response to address the matter of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet, who are not currently eligible for permission under the employment permit system of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). The Scheme provided, for the first time, a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The immigration permission of the person referred to by the Deputy is extended to 15 January 2022 in line with the final extension of immigration permissions, which Minister Humphreys and I announced on 15 September last. This measure provides certainty to anyone who already holds a valid permission, including those in the State on visitor conditions, like the person concerned, that their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: My Department is aware that there have been issues in the past around the securing of registration appointments and has continually introduce software fixes designed to prevent such abuses of the system. These new measures have been partly successful in preventing the block booking of appointments by third party agents. However, some third party agents continue to provide appointment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 to 536, inclusive, together. I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it and my Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and at all levels of public health restrictions. However, the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The review of the Defamation Act 2009 is a legislative priority for the Government and my Department. The Justice Plan 2021 restates the Programme for Government commitment to review and reform our defamation laws to ensure a balanced approach to the right to freedom of expression and the right to protection of good name and reputation, as well as ensuring effective access to justice. I am...

Betting (Prohibition on Use of Credit Cards) Bill 2021: First Stage (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: No.

Maternity Care (Covid-19) Bill 2021: First Stage (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: No.

The National Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 and Supporting Community Safety: Statements (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I wish to share time with the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton.

The National Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 and Supporting Community Safety: Statements (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I am very happy to have this opportunity to address the House on the progress which is being made within the criminal justice system on interventions and initiatives to divert vulnerable young people away from criminal activity and to assist them with options for a better and more fulfilling life. I was pleased to be able to publish the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 on 15 April 2021,...

The National Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 and Supporting Community Safety: Statements (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Deputies for the great interest they have shown in this matter. We have had just over three hours of a debate and nearly all the speaking slots were taken up. Given the demands on Deputies' time with committees and other work in the Houses, the fact that so many Members came in to express their views is testament to their interest in youth justice and the issues underlying it. I...

The National Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 and Supporting Community Safety: Statements (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: If there are any other questions Deputies want me to respond to I am happy to do that.

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I move amendment No.1: In page 5, to delete line 5. This amendment proposes to delete section 6(b) of the Bill as published. Section 6(b) of the Bill repeals subsections (3E) and (3F) of section 27 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. These subsections provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than ten years imprisonment for a second or subsequent possession or importation of...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The Bills Office will amend the Bill so that we will have sections 6(a), (b) and (c).

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: Yes.

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: No.

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: Effectively, what the court has found in both the Ellis case and the McManus case is that a mandatory sentence for a second or subsequent conviction is unconstitutional because it is only applying the criminal law to a very small subset of people. That is the basis on which the court found it to be unconstitutional. A provision in criminal law should effectively apply to everybody.

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: Exactly.

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I move amendment No. 2: 2. In page 5, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “Retrospective application of certain amendments 10. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the amendments effected by this Act (other than those effected by subparagraphs (i) and (iii) of section 5(c) and by section 6) shall apply in respect of a relevant offence committed before the date of the...

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I do not have any numbers on that. It is belt-and-braces approach. There may be no cases affected but considering the relevant pieces here, it is possible or even probable that there will be a couple of cases going through the system. We have to make sure.

Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: That is correct. The way the interpretation of retrospection works is that those people could still be subject to the law as extant at the time of a second or subsequent offence that carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum sentence. Therefore, such persons would have grounds for appeal and there would be all sorts of consequences from that. This is to ensure the provisions we pass here...