Results 6,021-6,040 of 7,312 for speaker:James Browne

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: Amendment No. 72 seeks to insert the Health Service Executive into section 34 as one of the listed bodies. Is that correct?

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I am not in a position to accept the amendment at the moment but I will take it under further consideration.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: It is a very good question and the Senator is correct. We are deleting section 43 and re-inserting the definition of "relevant date", which is referred to throughout the Bill. As the Senator correctly pointed out, the other definitions are also so I will get further clarity for him on that.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: With regard to inducements, the Bill is drafted in such a way that they cannot be targeted. We had an alternative position at the start when we were drafting this Bill of trying to cover everything, which we could not do. It became impossible so we flipped to a position where an inducement cannot be offered unless it can be offered to everybody and that people can walk in off the street and...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: Yes. I will be bringing in a range of amendments to the provisions relating to the operation of the national gambling exclusion register which have the same effect as the Senator's amendment.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I cannot accept amendment No. 97 as I am satisfied that sections 50 (1) (a) and 50 (1) (b) of the Bill already address this issue. As the Senators are aware, a key purpose of the social impact fund will be to support the provision of public education and awareness-raising measures for the purposes of highlighting the social impact of compulsive or excessive gambling. I fully expect that the...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: Given the alternative debt resolution procedures that have been introduced, including, for example, personal insolvency arrangements, we are widening the information required from licence applicants to include any other arrangements or compositions with creditors. That is provided for in amendment No. 101. On advice from the Office of the Attorney General, it was considered that the...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: As I said, we are satisfied that section 50 sufficiently addresses the issues raised by the Senator in this amendment. The issue is already covered.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: These are all technical amendments. I will not refer to them unless anybody seeks clarification.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: The purpose of the Senator's amendments is effectively to ban betting on the national lottery. I certainly appreciate the Senator's position that this betting potentially takes away from the money distributed to good causes supported by the lottery. We cannot say with certainty that prohibiting betting or similar activities with respect to the national lottery would mean those who bet on it...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: My understanding is that the general election will not be called for another five months so-----

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: There will be plenty of time to get the Bill through.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I can certainly bring it to the attention of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform but it does not come under the Department of Justice. That has been made clear to me by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on several occasions. There is where it resides. I can bring it to the attention of the Minister but I cannot undertake to seek...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I do not have an answer for that. I will inquire.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: The Senator's amendment speaks to some of the core issues addressed by the Bill and to the debate concerning the regulation of gambling advertising. The purpose of the amendment is to introduce an absolute prohibition on advertising gambling and provides for the offences for a breach of that prohibition. Unfortunately, I cannot accept it. As Senators will be aware, a key focus of the Bill...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Senator very much. I think at this stage that a complete ban is a step too far but I will certainly keep it under consideration. The authority does have the power to make further recommendations for further restrictions and it would be important, as the Senator has said, that the authority does exercise that role.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: The national lottery currently operates under the National Lottery Act 2013 and its activities are regulated by the office of the Regulator of the National Lottery. This also includes extensive oversight concerning the sales and supply of equipment to the holder of the licence to operate the national lottery and any of its agents. In this context amendments Nos. 118 and 119 to sections 68...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I actually disagree with the Senator. We are explicitly ensuring here that anyone doing business with the national lottery is not governed by this legislation because we do not have the jurisdiction to regulate those businesses in their dealings with the national lottery.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: On 25th July last, Minister McEntee and I received Government approval to publish the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024. This is an important Bill that balances and safeguards the rights to freedom of expression with the protection of a person's good name and reputation, and to access to justice. This legislation touches on the protection of our democracy itself and introduces measures...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that my colleague Minister McEntee and the whole of Government are absolutely committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources necessary to make sure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. As of the end of June, the latest date for which figures are available, there are currently over 14,000 Garda members...