Results 4,821-4,840 of 7,312 for speaker:James Browne

Coercion of a Minor (Misuse of Drugs Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: No.

Coercion of a Minor (Misuse of Drugs Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, I thank Deputies for this interesting and constructive discussion on this important issue. In particular, I thank Deputies Mark Ward, Denise Mitchell and Martin Kenny for bringing their Bill forward for discussion. I acknowledge all of the work involved in doing so. The Minister and myself are concerned about children being lured into criminality...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: Both myself and Minister McEntee are very aware that youth crime, including anti-social behaviour, can have a major impact on our communities, and poses significant challenges for An Garda Síochána, as well as other Justice agencies. The factors which underlie youth crime have significant implications across a range of areas of policy and service provisions, including Child and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy will appreciate one of the core duties of Government is to support people to feel safe and be safe within their communities. In addition to the extensive policing measures to build safer communities, there are several crime prevention initiatives including the Community Alert Service. The Department has for many years provided funding to Muintir na Tíre in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: The safety and welfare of every person, especially the most vulnerable in our communities, is of utmost importance. The Government is committed to ensuring that people across both rural and urban Ireland are safe and feel safe, and to ensuring that there is strong, visible and effective policing, including community policing. A key pillar of the Programme for Government is building stronger...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I was delighted to launch the Rural Safety Plan 2022-2024 at this year's Ploughing Championships in Co. Laois. People and communities in rural Ireland deserve to feel safe and to be safe. Community Safety is is a whole of Government responsibility and it requires a multi-agency approach if it is to be truly effective. The Rural Safety Plan is the result of strong collaboration between all...

Seanad: European Arrest Warrant (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (25 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I am pleased to bring the European Arrest Warrant (Amendment) Bill 2022 before the House on Second Stage. The Bill aims to address issues raised by the European Commission in infringement proceedings with regard to the State’s transposition of Council Framework Decision 2002/584/JHA on European arrest warrants and the surrender procedures between member states. Enactment of the Bill...

Seanad: European Arrest Warrant (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (25 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I thank the Senators for their contributions. I reiterate that the changes provided for in this Bill will enable the State to effectively respond to the issues that have been presented by the European Commission in formal legal infringement proceedings against this State. It is in our collective interests that there is consistent and effective operation of a European arrest warrant system....

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

James Browne: Amendments Nos. 4, 6, 11, 12 and 13 are being taken together. It was agreed that amendment No. 4 would be included in the group. They all seek to amend section 9.Section 9 provides for the membership of the commission. It provides that the commission will be chaired by the Chief Justice. It provides for an equal number of lay members and judicial members, that is, four of each. Judicial...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

James Browne: We are opposing them.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

James Browne: Section 9 provides for the membership of the commission in line with the Government's programme that the commission would be chaired by the Chief Justice. It provides for an equal number of lay and judicial members, with four each. Judicial members comprise the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal and two nominees of the Judicial Council. Section 12 provides for a more...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

James Browne: This is a proposed amendment to section 11, which deals with the power of the commission to appoint consultants and advisers and enter into contracts. The effect of the amendment would be to provide that for the stated number of years, the commission shall not appoint a person as a consultant or adviser where the person has been a Member of the Oireachtas, a Minister of the Government, an...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

James Browne: Amendments Nos. 15, 16 and 17 seek to amend section 12, which is a comprehensive provision setting out the arrangements for the nomination by the Judicial Council of members of the commission. It is important for me to be clear about these arrangements. The Judicial Council shall nominate two members of the council to be members of the commission. These nominees shall be appointed to the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I would say in response to Senator Higgins's point that a replacement nomination is just that - a replacement meeting the same criteria for the same period only of the unexpired term occasioned by the vacancy itself. On Senator Ward's point, I fully agree that once on the Bench, a judge is not acting in the capacity of a former solicitor or a former barrister. He or she is simply a judge....

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2022)

James Browne: This is a proposed amendment to the section that deals with recommendations for the appointment of lay members. Effectively, the amendment would require the Minister for Justice in developing the selection criteria applicable to a selection process under the section to demonstrate regard to section 42 of the 2014 Act, which deals with the obligations of public bodies to eliminate...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (26 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I thank Senator Boyhan for raising the important issue of trihalomethanes, THMs, in our public water supplies, which gives me an opportunity to give an overview of the work being undertaken to improve the quality and resilience of our public and private water supplies. The programme for Government sets out clear and ambitious commitments to ensure that Irish Water accelerates the resolution...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (26 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I highlight the fact that solutions typically consist of water treatment plant upgrades, a new connection or water schemes being taken in charge by Irish Water. The works to resolve the water quality issue are being funded under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's multi-annual rural water programme. As the Senator said, the European Commission first raised the issue of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (26 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I thank Senator Lombard for raising this important matter regarding a statement on the progress of the new extension for Ballinspittle National School and an outline of the timelines for each project stage. The major building project for the school is included in the Department’s construction programme, which is being delivered under the national development plan. The brief provides...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (26 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I again thank the Senator for raising the important issue of Ballinspittle National School's new project. I hear the Senator's concerns about the population growing, how there is a real need for this school in a strong community that is very positive towards it, and about the delivery of this new important project. From the information provided to me, I understand the project is at the end...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna (Atógáil) - Commencement Matters (Resumed): Control of Dogs (26 Oct 2022)

James Browne: On behalf of the Minister for Rural and Community Development, I thank Senator Boylan for affording me the opportunity to speak on this very important matter. I understand there has been some concern about this issue. The Department of Rural and Community Development has policy responsibility for dog control and dog-breeding establishments, while the local authorities are responsible for all...