Results 4,281-4,300 of 7,312 for speaker:James Browne

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (7 Oct 2021)

James Browne: At this stage, I am not minded to accept the amendment but we can look at it again on Report Stage.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (7 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Senator. As a general rule, the question of whether powers have been properly exercised is a matter for evidence for the courts. It can be challenged in court. Enforcement officers are routinely required to provide evidence that reasonable grounds existed for the exercise of the powers. I do not believe this amendment is necessary. For the most part, those officers will be...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (7 Oct 2021)

James Browne: It is reasonably rare, thankfully, that any of our enforcement officers, whether from the Naval Service, the Revenue Commissioners or An Garda Síochána, abuse their powers. When this does occur or when a person may feel abused, there are outlets to complain about those, such as to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, for example. Of course, there is the option...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (7 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Senators. Unfortunately, I cannot accept this amendment. Effectively, recklessness is being aware of a risk and deciding to take it anyway. As Senator Ward said, it is not about a mistake. If the decision as to why action taken is made in good faith, it is not recklessness either and such a person should be okay in that regard. It is not absolute liability for the making of an...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (7 Oct 2021)

James Browne: Recklessness has been well defined by the criminal courts over the years and they have dealt with this situation through our criminal code. It is more than mistake and more than negligence. It is just shy of actual deliberate intent. It concerns someone acting with a lack of regard in the face of a situation he or she should be very much aware involves a real risk. To remove the reference...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (7 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I acknowledge that a broader discussion needs to happen in respect of safe passage. Ireland has to be part of this. It has to be part of an international discussion. I do not believe that a relatively narrow criminal justice Bill is the appropriate place for these provisions. In the circumstances, I oppose the amendment.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (7 Oct 2021)

James Browne: Any involvement by the State in international humanitarian search-and-rescue missions and operations, including the involvement of the Naval Service, is done in co-operation with our EU partners and in the context of our UN missions. The Naval Service's involvement in the Mediterranean was as part of Operation Pontus and Operation Sophia. The Naval Service has not been deployed to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (7 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The Justice Plan 2021 identifies the enactment of legislation to licence and regulate the gambling industry as a key objective. Work on the General Scheme of the Gambling Bill is at an advanced stage. The Programme for Government gives a clear commitment to establish a gambling regulator focused on public safety and well-being, covering gambling online and in person, and the powers to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (7 Oct 2021)

James Browne: It is open to the person referred to by the Deputy to apply for a change of immigration status from Stamp 3 to Stamp 4 if they meet the criteria for doing so. Further information on the criteria for changing immigration permission, including instructions on how to change permission are available on the Immigration Service website at:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (7 Oct 2021)

James Browne: In early 2019 the International Protection Office began exploring options to facilitate international protection interviews outside Dublin using video conference technology. One of the options explored was a building in Cork City which was due to be vacated by the Probation Service which is under the remit of my Department. I am informed that following testing of systems in the spring of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (7 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The person referred to is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 1 February 2019. However, they made a request on 23 October 2020, under section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), to have that Order revoked and this will be considered as soon as possible. The decision will be that the existing Deportation Order will be either ‘affirmed’ or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Humanitarian Access (7 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 359 together. I am very conscious of the plight faced by the Afghan people following the collapse of the former Afghan government and the takeover by the Taliban, that has further fuelled the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Ireland's national response to the current crisis includes opening the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (12 Oct 2021)

James Browne: An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 25 September 2019. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. The granting of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (12 Oct 2021)

James Browne: An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 25 September 2019. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. The granting of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (12 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from Muintir na Tíre and I will contact him directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (12 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from Muintir na Tíre and I will contact him directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (12 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The body referred to by the Deputy is a voluntary organisation and registered charity. The body administers the scheme referred to by the Deputy on behalf of the Department of Justice, however, neither I, as Minister, nor the Department play any role in the operations of the body, including efforts it makes in advertising/communicating the scheme to interested parties. My Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (12 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from Muintir na Tíre and I will contact him directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (12 Oct 2021)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department provides funding to Muintir na Tíre to cover costs incurred by communities in administering the Text Alert Scheme. The scheme is administered on a refund basis whereby communities submit their annual costs to Muintir na Tíre and a maximum refund of up to €350 is provided to the community. For the last two years, my Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (12 Oct 2021)

James Browne: My officials have been engaging with Muintir na Tíre in relation to continuing this scheme including reviewing whether newer technologies, including apps, would be appropriate for use. The Garda authorities have advised that to date, the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau has not evaluated any other models of alerting or seeking the assistance of the public by way of the...