Results 4,541-4,560 of 7,312 for speaker:James Browne

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Connolly for her proposed amendments. I will speak to the three grouped for discussion: amendment No. 5 in respect of reporting around prosecutions in humanitarian assistance, and amendments Nos. 6 and 7 in respect of training and identification. Like Deputy Howlin, I would like to remember the tragic events that unfolded in Wexford 20 years ago yesterday, 8 December - we...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (8 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I can confirm to the Deputy that funding of almost €200,000 is being provided to eight community-based projects to work with young people involved in the anti-social use of scramblers and quad bikes and related crime. This is a very serious issue for the Government and is reflected in the Programme for Government commitment to enhance powers available to An Garda Síochána to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (16 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I can confirm to the Deputy that funding of almost €200,000 is being provided to eight community-based projects to work with young people involved in the anti-social use of scramblers and quad bikes and related crime. This is an important issue for the Government and is reflected in the Programme for Government commitment to enhance powers available to An Garda Síochána to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Appointments (16 Dec 2021)

James Browne: In October, the Government approved the publication of the General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill. The General Scheme sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new independent, statutory body – the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (“the Authority”) – to implement a robust regulatory and licensing regime for the gambling...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (16 Dec 2021)

James Browne: The legislation dealing with the sale and/or distribution of physical video games is the Video Recordings Act 1989. Video games are exempted works for classification purposes unless they fall within the terms provided for in section 3(1)(a) or (b), which covers the grounds for the prohibition of works. Ireland is part of the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) system, which is a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Belturbet Bombing (16 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Smith for raising this matter. He has championed this issue for many years to try to get to the truth of what happened. The bombing of Belturbet on 28 December 1972 was an appalling and callous act of violence that claimed the lives of two innocent young people - Geraldine O'Reilly and Patrick Stanley - and injured many others. The dreadful effects of this attack last to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Belturbet Bombing (16 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I again thank Deputy Smith for raising this very important matter. As he rightly pointed out, it is coming up to almost half a century since the bombings in Belturbet, but the pain is still very real for those families - the O'Reillys and Stanleys - who lost their loved ones, and the suffering continues for those families whose loved ones were injured in the horrific bombing. The Garda has...

Proceeds of Crime (Gross Human Rights Abuses) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 Dec 2021)

James Browne: As this is the last debate of the term, I thank the Ceann Comhairle and wish him a happy Christmas. I also wish the staff of the Houses a happy Christmas. We recognise the hard work a lot of people have done during the Covid period but we must recognise the contribution of the staff in the Houses to keeping both the Dáil and the Seanad going through that entire time. I also want to...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Chairman and members for making time available to consider these Supplementary Estimates for An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service and a technical Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Justice Vote. I am joined by officials from my Department, Mr. Seamus Clifford, principal officer, and Ms Martina Colville, assistant secretary. A net Supplementary Estimate...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: There is nothing specific to the dropped 999 calls. About this time last year, the AGS wrote to the Secretary General regarding examination of computer-aided dispatch priority 1 incidents specifically relating to cancellation of those 999 calls. In an update on 14 October this year the Policing Authority indicated that Mr. Penman's review is taking longer than envisaged due to legal issues....

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I do not have the information to hand as to how it is handled, but I will get it for the Chairman.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: Much of the money that is being used this year for ICT capital is money that was intended to be spent next year, but was brought forward to this year. This is to allow the Garda Síochána to get a head start on plans to deal with the likes of cybercrime next year. As I said, €2 million of the IT allocation was brought forward from 2022 to put the Garda Síochána...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: My understanding is that where members of the Garda have that skill set, it is being used. This particular hardware - I got a good briefing on the type of technology that is needed, some of which comes from the United States of America, in my Garda station in Wexford - is state-of-the-art technology. Where that training is needed it will be brought in from the outside, but in a secure...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: We are allowed to carry over up to 10% of an unspent capital fund from a particular year into the following year. Due to the Covid pandemic, a number of building projects probably faced challenging situations when it came to spending money, which we have seen across the construction sector. In that context, it would be expected that funding would be carried over. As we know, there is an...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Daly for his comments. I certainly hear what he is saying and I will take his comments back to Government. Obviously, the location is not a decision for me but the Deputy makes a strong argument for keeping that courthouse in the town centre. I come from a town that lost its courthouse ten years ago and I saw the impact of that in my town centre. A number of factors need to...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Chair. He will be aware the new Forensic Science Ireland, FSI, laboratory is a €99.5 million project comprising just over €90 million in capital with a contingency fund attached to it. It is something we should welcome. When it is established, it will be important for our justice system. The OPW has responsibility for delivering that project. In line with the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: Yes. The overall budget for the project is €99.5 million, comprising €90.5 million for the main contract and the balance, including a contingency fund, for site clearance, prep works and the contract itself. Up to September this year, €47.97 million, representing 52% of the total cost of the project, has been spent on the main contract. As I said, when an assessment...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: Criminal legal aid is a vital element of our criminal justice system. The 1962 Act gives effect to a constitutional right and states that legal aid may granted for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. As someone who practised criminal law as a barrister, there is the weight of the State on one side. Therefore, it is essential that whoever is facing a...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I will begin with waiting lists and delays in the courts. Our courts remained an essential service during the pandemic and were allowed to remain open, but there were some very real challenges around capacity in the courts system that resulted in a backlog. The Government is endeavouring to fill judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity to ensure the courts have the necessary judges in...