Results 5,961-5,980 of 7,312 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (27 Jun 2024)

James Browne: I can assure the Deputy that this Government is deeply committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in all its forms. The prioritisation of this hugely important work is evident in the policy and legislative developments implemented by this Government and those that are currently being progressed. Let me be quite clear that any behaviour from accommodation providers...

Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (3 Jul 2024)

James Browne: I express many thanks to the Labour Party for tabling this important motion on gender-based violence. I acknowledge the deeply-considered contributions of all the speakers here. Many important issues have been raised and I know the Minister, Deputy McEntee, will address many of them later this afternoon when we will be hearing statements on tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (3 Jul 2024)

James Browne: I thank Senators for devoting time to their consideration of this important Bill through its various Stages. The Bill sets out a package of measures that will introduce important reforms in a number of areas. The common ground underpinning all these measures is our commitment to strengthening protections for vulnerable victims. A number of recommendations in the O'Malley review of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Restorative Justice (3 Jul 2024)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, restorative justice is a criminal justice process which has been shown, through mediation, to help victims recover from crime, reduce reoffending and save public resources. It is one of a suite of measures available to the criminal justice system. It is delivered by the Probation Service both pre and post-sentence; by An Garda Síochána within the...

Inquiry into the death of Shane O'Farrell: Motion [Private Members] (9 Jul 2024)

James Browne: I thank all Deputies for their contributions this evening. Like them, I express my deepest sympathies to the O'Farrell family on the loss of Shane. As the Minister has already said, the Government will not be opposing this motion. To assist the Government in considering the Haughton report, the Minister is going to write to the Joint Committee on Justice to ask it to look at its...

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Motion [Private Members] (10 Jul 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Social Democrats for tabling this motion on domestic and sexual violence. I acknowledge the emphatic and empathetic contributions made by all of the speakers this morning. As the Minister, Deputy McEntee, outlined, the Government is not opposing this motion. We are all in agreement that we need to keep the momentum of change going in working towards zero tolerance for domestic,...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023: From the Seanad (10 Jul 2024)

James Browne: Amendments Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, are technical amendments which are to replace the word "vulnerable" with "relevant". The reason for that is that the word "vulnerable" has a more particular meaning in a number of other places in legislation. This is to avoid confusion in relation to it. A vulnerable person is currently defined in the Bill as a person with capacity issues. However, a...

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

James Browne: The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. I know the Deputy appreciates the importance of this task and I am sure he agrees with the need for it to be carried out thoroughly and correctly. I believe the many organisations concerned with the safety, enjoyment and comfort of children and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (9 Jul 2024)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, restorative justice is a criminal justice process which has been shown, through mediation, to help victims recover from crime, reduce re-offending and save public resources. It is one of a suite of measures available to the criminal justice system. It is delivered by the Probation Service both pre- and post-sentence; by An Garda Síochána within the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Sector Staff (10 Jul 2024)

James Browne: 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 Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland – and for a robust regulatory and licensing regime to regulate gambling in-person and online, and for the regulation of gambling...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Control of Firearms (10 Jul 2024)

James Browne: 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 putting the FCP into...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (9 Sep 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. YDPs are run by community-based organisations and are a vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme. A top...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (9 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1168 and 1174 together. In line with a Programme for Government commitment, an Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) was established in 2020. The Forum is examining a broad range of issues with a focus on developing measures which will counteract the negative impact of ASB on community morale and quality of life. The Forum most recently met on 10 July...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Restorative Justice (9 Sep 2024)

James Browne: As part of the Probation Service’s overall strategy to further develop capacity to deliver a high quality service and meet the requirements contained in section 26 of the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017, the Service established a National Restorative Justice and Victim Services Unit (RJVSU) in October 2018. The Unit meets two core objectives:Provide leadership and support...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (9 Sep 2024)

James Browne: As the Deputy may be aware, the Greentown programme was established by the Department of Justice in 2020 with an objective to incorporate the latest scientific thinking into an intervention design, which is specifically focused on improving the outcomes for children at risk of or actively engaged in criminal networks. The Greentown Programme has been in place in two trial sites since 2021 and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (9 Sep 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. YDPs are run by community-based organisations and are a vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme. In Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (9 Sep 2024)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, in line with a Programme for Government commitment, I established an Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in 2020. The Forum is examining a broad range of issues with a focus on developing measures which will counteract the negative impact of ASB on community morale and quality of life. The forum has established four sub-groups to consider the specific...

Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (19 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Deputies. This is an important Bill that balances and safeguards the rights to freedom of expression with the protection of good name and reputation, and to access to justice. This legislation touches on the protection of our democracy itself and introduces innovative measures to protect responsible...

Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (19 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. In the time available to me, I want to address some of the issues raised. On the pre-legislative scrutiny and recommendations made, there is an increasing tendency on the Opposition side of the House to state that because the Government does not blindly accept the recommendations of an Oireachtas committee, it somehow has not taken them into...

Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Referral to Select Committee (19 Sep 2024)

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