Results 2,041-2,060 of 7,003 for speaker:James Browne

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: We will always have a significant number of probationer officers as these new trainees are rolled out from Templemore. The distribution of An Garda Síochána remains a matter for the Garda Commissioner based on operational security reasons. That remains a matter for the Commissioner. The Department of Justice and the Ministers have no role in that regard. That is the current position.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: The McManus review is being carried out to assess the number of additional judges we need in the District Court, Circuit Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. In addition, last week an amendment was tabled to the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill on freeing up Court of Appeal judges. As the legislation is written at present there must always be a panel of three judges no...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: They are and this has been acknowledged.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: I can certainly say as a former member of the Leinster Bar and the south-eastern circuit that judges travelling outside of Dublin is an important part of our Courts Service. It links our population with what the courts do and they are not simply something up in Dublin. The vast majority of judges traditionally have welcomed the opportunity to travel. Obviously the arrangement of the courts...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: It address all levels of the Courts Service and the number of judges needed at various levels throughout the country. Any appointment of a judge comes with the additional resources that are required, whether it be researchers or offices. It is not simply a case of appointing a judge and nothing else. Significant resources go with judges. The report of the judicial planning workgroup, or...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: With regard to Roscommon courthouse, the Courts Service has commenced the process of identifying and acquiring suitable sites for the projects to be completed over the period of the national development plan. Additional space on the historic Roscommon courthouse site has already been acquired from the local authority to facilitate the future expansion and refurbishment of the courthouse....

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: I will get the Chair a formal update from the Department on Naas. I do not have one to hand.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: Does the Chairman's comment concern criminal legal aid or the family legal aid board?

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: On criminal legal aid, unfortunately that is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I mean that remuneration is not dealt with by the Department of Justice.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: I had a view when I was practising but not as a Minister of State. On the parole board and the underspend, it has taken a little bit longer to get that statutory board up and running in terms of recruitment. That is the only reason. The delay in recruitment has resulted in an underspend in pay.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: As I have said, there have been significant increases in the budget for criminal legal aid but that does not address the individual pay of representatives, which is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. That Department is responsible for all issues around pay. A review of civil legal aid is under way in terms of how it works and what qualifies for aid. Obviously...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: The day-to-day cost of running domestic refuges is under the remit of Tusla, and that is where they remain at the moment but it will come under the remit of the Department of Justice. The capital funding is under the remit of the Department with responsibility for housing but that too will transfer to the Department of Justice. Last Friday, we turned a sod at the site for the Wexford...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy will know, we are establishing a new agency to co-ordinate all of the supports around refuges and supports for domestic violence. The agency is expected to be fully up and running in 2024. The services will be transferred to the agency, which will be under the auspices of the Department of Justice.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: Yes, legislation is needed. In the meantime, we have the third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, working with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and with Tusla ensures that the strategy continues to be rolled out while we await the State agency to be established and then the agency will take over...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: Absolutely. The Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and I believe in the victim-first approach to all of our strategies and policies, and in ensuring the victim is at the centre of everything we do. I agree with Deputy Kenny that restorative justice is something we need to develop further. It is a priority for the Department. We are trying for it to become a natural part of our youth...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Justice (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2022)

James Browne: I thank the Chairman, the members and the committee staff.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sentencing Policy (23 Nov 2022)

James Browne: On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, who cannot be here today, I thank Senator Crowe for raising this very important matter around the sentencing for those found guilty of attacks on emergency service workers. I echo the Minister's and the Deputy's unequivocal condemnation of the attack on two members of An Gardaí Síochána in Ballyfermot on Monday of this...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sentencing Policy (23 Nov 2022)

James Browne: I again thank the Senator for raising this very important matter in the House today. He will appreciate that the Judiciary is independent in the matter of sentencing subject only to the Constitution and the law. An important safeguard rests in the power of the Director of Public Prosecutions to apply to the Court of Appeal to review any sentence which she feels is unduly lenient. However,...

Seanad: Public Order and Safe Streets: Statements (23 Nov 2022)

James Browne: I thank Senators for the opportunity to address the House on this matter today. Everyone has the right to be safe and, importantly, to feel safe in our communities.That principle is central to my Department's mission to have a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland. It is also central to our community safety policy and the provisions of new legislation, such as the policing, security and community...

Seanad: Public Order and Safe Streets: Statements (23 Nov 2022)

James Browne: I thank the Senators for their detailed and wide-ranging contributions. That a significant number spoke shows the genuine interest in what we have been discussing. I thank the Acting Chair and the Senators for giving me the time to speak. Policing is just one facet of community safety, as the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has stated. I assure Senators and the public that the Government is...