Results 181-200 of 5,347 for and speaker:James Browne

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: ...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 patients in Ireland. This...

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: ...in the daytime. Instead of the current train pattern, the DART extension arrangements under consideration by the NTA would allow an hourly DART service from Wicklow town into Dublin city centre and significantly enhance the train service to and from Wicklow town. I am not sure that gives much succour to the people of Gorey, however. At a later stage, when infrastructure proposals are...

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...

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

James Browne: I again thank the Senator for raising this very important issue around air quality. I assure her of the Government's commitment to addressing the challenges facing Ireland in that context. The Government is committed to addressing this critical public health and environmental challenge through measures including the introduction of enhanced solid fuel regulations, increased support for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: Corruption and economic crime can have a hugely negative impact on our society and have the potential to harm Ireland’s reputation as a global hub for financial services and business. They can also be enormously distressing for the unfortunate victims of these crimes and we must ensure that we have the tools, policies and strategies to tackle and vigorously pursue criminals in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Strategies (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: I want to thank Deputy Stanton for his question and acknowledge his leadership in developing the Strategy when he was Minister of State. I am glad to say that we have maintained the momentum and substantial progress has been achieved. Every young person deserves the opportunity to improve their quality of life and our commitment to expanding Youth Justice services and increasing funding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: There are many complex and interlinked reasons for the use of knives in the commission of offences. Long term, evidence-based strategies and local interventions by trusted youth workers are most effective as part of a wider strategic response to the types of crime in which knives are a feature, including anti-social behaviour, street violence, youth offending and domestic violence. As the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: ...(DPP) is fully independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). The Office of the DPP is not an agency or body under my remit as Minister for Justice and, as I have no role in the operations, functions, oversight or governance of the Office of the Director, I am unable to provide any statistics related to the work of the DPP. For the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Bodies (23 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: Youth Services (23 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 youth...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: ...Deputy will be aware, Part 4 of the Children Act 2001 (as amended) provides the statutory basis for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme (GYDP). The intention of the programme is to divert children and young people who have engaged in criminal or anti-social behaviour away from the criminal justice system and towards more positive life choices. Children who commit criminal offences are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (23 Apr 2024)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, Part 4 of the Children Act 2001 (as amended) provides the statutory basis for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme. The intention of the programme is to divert children and young people who have engaged in criminal or anti-social behaviour away from the criminal justice system and towards more positive life choices. Children who commit criminal offences are...

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: ...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 Programme. A top priority for my department is the expansion and deepening of the services offered to young people by the Youth...