Results 2,361-2,380 of 7,179 for speaker:James Browne

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: The Deputy will accept that record funding was provided by the Government to the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána this year. Significant Garda recruitment has begun, and additional Garda recruitment will begin next year.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Community (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. The Irish Travellers' Access to Justice report, published by the University of Limerick in June, is a welcome and valuable contribution to research and evidence in this important area. It is clear that there is a lot more work to be done, building on the significant work under way across the justice sector to engage more effectively...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Community (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I am very much aware that Travellers are significantly over-represented in the prison population. The Irish Prison Service is providing targeted supports, including adult educational programmes, which cater to the specific needs of the Traveller community. Traveller liaison teachers have been appointed in each educational centre. The service has also introduced peer support services,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traveller Community (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: The Department is engaging on the report, examining its recommendations and assessing it. The first criminal justice sectoral strategy was published by my Department on 7 March 2022. The strategy aims to strengthen and improve how criminal justice organisations work together and communicate the work they do. Five subgroups have been established to oversee and monitor the implementation of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Smith for raising the important issue of reducing access to illegal drugs. My Department and the whole of government are acutely aware of the sustained and significant damage that drug dealing has on communities right across the country. I assure the Deputy that tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime gangs, is a top priority...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 31 August, there were 385 Garda members assigned to the Cavan-Monaghan division, representing an increase of 20% since the end of 2014 when the Garda College reopened. This figure includes 15 community gardaí assigned to the division as of 31 August, up from seven in 2014. Garda members in the division are supported by 57 Garda staff,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: In response to Deputy Durkan, we had a meeting yesterday afternoon with the antisocial behaviour forum and we had the Housing Alliance in. Our specific focus was on the issue of antisocial housing in housing estates. The antisocial behaviour forum will set up a subgroup to look at that particular issue. I will get Deputy Stanton a specific answer on the issue he raised. If it has not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Reserve (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: One of the things we can do is to highlight the importance of the Garda Reserve and the role it can play in supporting An Garda Síochána. Recruitment to the Garda Reserve did cease and it is regrettable that there has been a reduction in the strength of the reserve in recent years. The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland concluded that the Garda Reserve programme was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Reserve (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I reiterate the important role of the Garda Reserve, which is the reason a review was carried out to examine how to ensure that Garda reservists who attest in the future can play that important role and feel comfortable within their role in supporting An Garda Síochána. It also considered how to ensure that recruitment to the reserve reflects society. The breakdown of the current...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Garda Reserve (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Jim O’Callaghan for his important question. Established in 2006, the Garda Reserve represents a real opportunity for anyone wishing to support policing and to give something back to their communities. The reserve reinforces An Garda Síochána's essential community links, and provides the capacity to draw on additional resources to assist in policing. I would...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: Both myself and Minister McEntee are very aware that youth crime, including anti-social behaviour, can have a major impact on our communities, and poses significant challenges for An Garda Síochána, as well as other Justice agencies. The factors which underlie youth crime have significant implications across a range of areas of policy and service provisions, including Child and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy will appreciate one of the core duties of Government is to support people to feel safe and be safe within their communities. In addition to the extensive policing measures to build safer communities, there are several crime prevention initiatives including the Community Alert Service. The Department has for many years provided funding to Muintir na Tíre in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: The safety and welfare of every person, especially the most vulnerable in our communities, is of utmost importance. The Government is committed to ensuring that people across both rural and urban Ireland are safe and feel safe, and to ensuring that there is strong, visible and effective policing, including community policing. A key pillar of the Programme for Government is building stronger...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I was delighted to launch the Rural Safety Plan 2022-2024 at this year's Ploughing Championships in Co. Laois. People and communities in rural Ireland deserve to feel safe and to be safe. Community Safety is is a whole of Government responsibility and it requires a multi-agency approach if it is to be truly effective. The Rural Safety Plan is the result of strong collaboration between all...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (19 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Carroll MacNeill for raising the very important and serious issue of domestic violence and the funding granted by the Government to deal with this very serious matter. As the Deputy is aware, earlier this year the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, launched Zero Tolerance, our third national strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It is an...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (19 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I again thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I do not have specific numbers with regard to the expansion of spaces in 2022 or details on the situation in Dún Laoghaire but I will get answers for the Deputy from the Department in that regard. I will also bring the Deputy's concerns with regard to expanding the availability of refuge spaces beyond emergency situations...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Oct 2022)

James Browne: I can inform the Deputy that there are currently 6 Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) operating in Co. Limerick. In 2019, 3 YDPs in Ballynanty, Irishtown (including Henry Street Outreach) and Kings Island were combined to form Limerick Youth Service YDP. The attached table sets out the amount of funding allocated to each project for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and shows the Garda Divisions and...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (18 Oct 2022)

James Browne: Before addressing the amendments, I will briefly address another issue raised in both Houses, namely, the reason this scheme was not extended to civilian staff of An Garda Síochána. Civilian staff are not included under the current provisions of the Acts 1941 to 1945, nor were they included in the provisions of this Bill. This was due to the fact that they are not engaged in...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (18 Oct 2022)

James Browne: The view was taken that they would not be part of this scheme because they are not on the front line. Nonetheless, considering the increased civilianisation, it will be looked at. However, because of existing schemes for civil servants - the occupational injuries scheme and ex gratiapayments scheme - it would be very complicated and would slow up this Bill significantly. I give an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (18 Oct 2022)

James Browne: The Programme for Government gives a clear commitment to establish a gambling regulator focused on public safety and well-being, covering gambling online and in person, and the powers to regulate advertising, gambling websites and apps. As you will be aware, the General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill was published last October and drafting of the Bill is being finalised.  I...