Results 5,681-5,700 of 7,312 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (9 Apr 2024)

James Browne: The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 was published on 17 July 2023 and passed Committee stage in the Dáil on 14 November 2023. Dáil Report stage is expected to take place in April 2024. The main objectives of the Bill include To implement recommendations from the O’Malley Review of Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses in the Investigation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (9 Apr 2024)

James Browne: Every young person deserves the opportunity to improve their quality of life and our commitment to expanding Youth Justice services and increasing funding similarly reflects our commitment to these young people. This commitment is a central point of our Youth Justice Strategy, launched in 2021, which provides a developmental framework to address key challenges and emerging issues in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (11 Apr 2024)

James Browne: 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 – Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (11 Apr 2024)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 to 174, inclusive, together. Reform of gambling legislation, licensing and regulation is a priority for the Government and my Department. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (16 Apr 2024)

James Browne: 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 – údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na héireann, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (16 Apr 2024)

James Browne: We are all sadly very conscious of the effect that knife crime can have on the quality of life for local communities and I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to supporting An Garda Síochána to tackle this issue. While I am conscious that Ireland has a comparatively low level of knife crime compared to neighbouring jurisdictions, every incident where a person is...

Transfer and Processing of Passenger Name Record Data: Motions (17 Apr 2024)

James Browne: I move the following motions: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application...

Transfer and Processing of Passenger Name Record Data: Motions (17 Apr 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy, first for raising the tangential issues of the Law Society, the concerns about power of attorney, and the issue of the Tralee courthouse. I will bring those issues to the attention of the senior Minister. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, this debate relates to two Commission proposals on Council decisions which authorise the signing and a conclusion of an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (17 Apr 2024)

James Browne: 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 – Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Control of Firearms (18 Apr 2024)

James Browne: As the Deputy may be aware, the Firearms Consultative Panel (FCP) was a non-statutory forum comprising various firearms interest groups. I understand that it last met in 2019 and I am informed that a breakdown in relations between some of the major firearms interest groups represented on the panel meant that it was not possible for meetings to take place with all groups represented, in effect...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (18 Apr 2024)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community-based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour. Youth Diversion Projects are run by community-based organisations and are a vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: I thank Senator O'Reilly for raising the important matter of the recruitment and retention of Reserve Defence Force members. I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, who unfortunately cannot be here. The Tánaiste asked me to pass on his apologies to the House. On his behalf, I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter and thank Senator...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: I hear Senator O'Reilly's concerns. I again thank him for raising this important matter. I know the Defence Forces are very important to him and I assure him that the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence shares those concerns. That is why he has implemented the regeneration plan, which he intends to advance as quickly as possible. The ongoing staffing challenges in the Defence Forces...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: I thank Senator Boyhan for raising this very important matter relating to the increase in core funding for ECCE services and, in particular, concerns about Taney Playschool in Dundrum. Investment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels, with public funding for early learning and childcare for the first time reaching more than €1.1 billion in 2024, a clear...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Early Childhood Care and Education (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Senator again for raising the important issue of ECCE funding. I noted his passion and concern for Taney playschool in Dundrum and I will certainly relay his concerns to the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, and ask him to have his officials engage with the organisation.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: I thank Senator Conway for raising this important issue, which I know he is very passionate about. I am answering on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly.The State acknowledges the importance of access to medicines and has made considerable investments in new medicines in recent years. Last year, a record of more than €3 billion of public funding was spent on medicines for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Medicinal Products (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: Investing in the health of our people is exactly what the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, is doing. That is why the Minister has put record funding into medicines and he continues to do the important work he is doing in this area.That funding was not always made available by previous Governments. A medicines sustainability task force has been established as a priority work stream of the joint...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: The Minister for Transport sends his apologies. He would like to thank the Senator for the opportunity to address this issue. Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens' quality of life and addressing our climate action challenge, and this Government is committed to a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland. The Minister for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Rail Network (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I thank the Senator again for his comments. As mentioned, no decisions have yet been made to alter services on the Rosslare line. Currently, three train services run from Wicklow to Dublin during weekday morning hours.There are gaps of up to approximately five hours between consecutive services in the daytime. Instead of the current train pattern,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Air Quality (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: The Minister for Transport, and for Climate, Energy and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, sends his apologies. Clean air is fundamental to our well-being and quality of life and is essential for the health of the environment on which we depend, hence the high priority given to improving Ireland’s air quality in the current programme for Government. Ambient air quality standards for...