Results 5,461-5,480 of 7,312 for speaker:James Browne

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill 2023: Second Stage (28 Sep 2023)

James Browne: There has been a number of important questions here. I will not be able to address every single one of them but I will certainly endeavour for the Department to get responses to each of them. I wish to thank the Deputies for their contributions to a very important Bill. I am pleased to respond where I can on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. It is very...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legal Aid (3 Oct 2023)

James Browne: I thank the Senators for raising this very important issue. I can assure the House that the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and I fully recognise the important role played by barristers in the administration of justice, both in the context of working to defend those accused and working with the DPP in respect of prosecutions. We are engaged in discussions with the Department of Public...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legal Aid (3 Oct 2023)

James Browne: Again, I thank the Senators for raising what is a very important matter. As I said already, the Minister for Justice and I are engaging with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform on the issue of criminal legal aid fees as part of the budgetary process. It is also worth mentioning that I am progressing legislation to modernise and improve the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Human Trafficking (3 Oct 2023)

James Browne: I thank the Senator for raising the important issue of the necessity of regulating non-government immigration services and establishing legal criteria that must be met by those doing business as immigration consultants in order to limit and prevent exploitative immigration arrangements and aid the fight against human trafficking in Ireland. Legal services are heavily regulated. I recommend...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Human Trafficking (3 Oct 2023)

James Browne: Solicitors in this country are very heavily regulated and anyone who has any concerns about the actions of any solicitor should report them to the LSRA. On the position of immigration consultants, as I said, this encompasses a very broad spectrum of people, from family members or friends giving legal advice, to some who are offering services. I ask that people make sure that whoever they...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

James Browne: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to bring the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 before the House. The Government approved the drafting of the Bill in July of last year. Following publication of the report on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme by the Oireachtas joint committee in March, the Bill was published...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

James Browne: The Bill sets out a package of measures that will introduce important reforms across a number of areas. I would like to stress that the common ground underpinning all of these measures is our commitment to strengthening the protections of vulnerable victims. Victims of sexual crimes and human trafficking undergo harrowing personal journeys. These can often be long, difficult and traumatic....

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Referral to Select Committee (4 Oct 2023)

James Browne: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (5 Oct 2023)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 284 together. The Programme for Government includes a clear commitment to reform gambling legislation, with a focus on public safety and well-being from both an online and in-person perspective. The Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new, independent statutory body –...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Family Law Cases (11 Oct 2023)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising the very important matter of proposals for family law reform with particular reference to the need for an indicative timescale. As the Deputy is aware, we are leading an ambitious programme of family justice reform. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I published the family justice strategy in November of last year. It sets out a vision for a family justice...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Family Law Cases (11 Oct 2023)

James Browne: I can assure the Deputy that the review is a priority for the Department. The voice of the child in court proceedings is essential to everything this Department does in terms of reviews. In relation to parental alienation, as the Deputy will be aware, my Department published a research report and policy paper on parental alienation on our website last May. Officials from the Department...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Citizenship Applications (11 Oct 2023)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising the important matter of the measures undertaken by the Department to reduce citizenship application processing times in particular in respect of applications submitted in 2021 and 2022. My Department is focused on improving the naturalisation process for applicants and reducing the backlog of cases as soon as possible. Additional staff have been assigned and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Citizenship Applications (11 Oct 2023)

James Browne: Regarding the backlog, I fully appreciate applicants for citizenship wish to have their decision made as quickly as possible and without any delay. There certainly has been a backlog but it is one we are working through as quickly as possible. The nature of the naturalisation process is such that for a broad range of reasons some cases take longer than others to process. In some cases,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Citizenship Applications (11 Oct 2023)

James Browne: If the Deputy wants to give me details of the specific case, I can look into that particular situation.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Citizenship Applications (11 Oct 2023)

James Browne: Obviously, there are a lot of moving parts in any process when dealing with a backlog, such as how many applications will be made in a particular year and, of course, as the Deputy mentioned, staffing as well, but it is being given priority. We are moving to a digitisation of e-vetting, replacing a largely paper-based process with a simple email link. This is speeding up the process...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Court Accommodation (11 Oct 2023)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for asking this very important question on the action the Department is taking to ensure provision of appropriate facilities and interview suites in Courts Service buildings for those who are vulnerable or who have invisible or visible disabilities. The Government has invested substantial additional resources into the Courts Service in recent years to support the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Court Accommodation (11 Oct 2023)

James Browne: I again thank the Deputy for her very important question. In addition to its approach to physical facilities the Courts Service is also continuing to invest in initiatives to improve the experience of all court users. I will mention two projects in particular, the first is the "just a minute", JAM, card. The Courts Service provided JAM card training to all of its staff in 2021. As the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Court Accommodation (11 Oct 2023)

James Browne: I hear the Deputy's genuine concerns on this issue in regard to disabilities both obvious and hidden. As I say in terms of physicality we are putting in that programme to ensure our courts are accessible but also in terms of training for people to be able to deal with vulnerable witnesses, vulnerable victims and all vulnerable court users so they can be dealt with in a sympathetic manner....

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2023)

James Browne: My colleague, the Minister for Justice, has informed the House about the record justice budget for 2024, which prioritises building stronger and safer communities. The future of our communities lies with our young people, and I warmly welcome the allocation of €33 million for youth justice, which is an increase of 10% or €3 million. This will have a significant impact on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (11 Oct 2023)

James Browne: Both Minister McEntee and I recognise that the role played by barristers and solicitors in undertaking criminal legal aid work is a fundamental part of the criminal justice system. The Constitution obliges the State to provide an accused person with the means to obtain appropriate legal representation. To protect that right and ensure due process, the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act, 1962...