Results 2,401-2,420 of 7,003 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Sector Staff (10 Feb 2022)

James Browne: 472. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a breakdown of Departmental civil servants and State agency employees under her remit, respectively working in County Wexford and their respective Departmental section in tabular form. [7241/22]

National Minimum Wage: Motion [Private Members] (9 Feb 2022)

James Browne: I referred to a wage inflation spiral. Quote directly.

National Minimum Wage: Motion [Private Members] (9 Feb 2022)

James Browne: I thank Solidarity-People Before Profit for tabling this motion. The Government notes the motion on the minimum wage. It expresses concerns with rising inflation and with the welfare of the low paid. These are two concerns that this Government shares. However, the motion ignores what this Government has done and is doing to address issues around the cost of living and to ensure rising...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (9 Feb 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing decisions and direction of priorities for An Garda Síochána. Neither Minister McEntee nor I have a role in these independent functions. Minister McEntee is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (8 Feb 2022)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 553, 554 and 555 together. Violent crime has no place in our society. Fear of harassment and violence should never be normalised and nobody should have to think about it as they go about their daily life. As the Deputy will be aware, in line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, I have established an Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, Minister McEntee and I published the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-27 in April 2021. The Strategy is designed to provide a developmental framework to address key ongoing challenges, as well as new and emerging issues in the youth justice area. This includes preventing offending behaviour from occurring and diverting children and young adults who commit a crime...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2022)

James Browne: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy will appreciate, there is no singular offence of 'knife crime' and it is therefore not possible to provide average sentences as requested. It should be noted that, where a more serious offence is committed and a knife is used in the commission of that offence (for example, assault or murder), that the charge brought forward will usually be for the more serious offence, and not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy is aware, the Government shares the public concern arising from serious crimes involving knives in recent months and years. We are all conscious of the very serious impact which violent crime has on victims and families, particularly attacks of a random nature. I condemn such crimes in the strongest possible terms. In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (8 Feb 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy will appreciate, there is no singular offence of 'knife crime' and it is therefore not possible to provide average sentences as requested. It should be noted that, where a more serious offence is committed and a knife is used in the commission of that offence (for example, assault or murder), that the charge brought forward will usually be for the more serious offence, and not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (8 Feb 2022)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 to 575, inclusive, together. 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. The Government has approved the Gambling Regulation Bill for priority drafting and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Juvenile Offenders (8 Feb 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, part 4 of the Children Act 2001 (as amended) provides the statutory basis for the Garda Diversion Programme. The aim 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 considered for...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2022)

James Browne: I thank the Senator for tabling these amendments. I understand the concerns and the reason they have been brought forward. However, I can allay his fears. His concerns are unnecessary. I cannot accept the amendments. They appear to be drafting changes primarily substituting "an inspector" for "the inspector". On the first amendment, the inserted section 25CA. provides that a...

Seanad: Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Feb 2022)

James Browne: Again, unfortunately I cannot accept the amendment. The DNA Act provides that if a sample is incorrectly labelled or insufficient and must be retaken a superintendent in the district must be informed. This is being changed in the Bill to a superintendent in the division. The section is a transitional provision, which states that if a superintendent in a district was informed before the...

Seanad: Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (3 Feb 2022)

James Browne: I thank Senators Flynn, Higgins, Ruane and Black for bringing forward this very important Bill. I understand it is Senator Flynn’s first Bill. I congratulate her hugely on bringing forward this very important legislative contribution.I want to acknowledge the very genuine intentions of all of the sponsoring Senators in bringing forward this Bill. The objective of this Bill is to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (2 Feb 2022)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Quinlivan for raising the very important matter of Operation Copóg, which targets the sale and supply of controlled drugs in Limerick. The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, GNDOCB, is having significant success in disrupting drug trafficking and supply of illicit drugs by organised crime groups. The bureau's work is supported by Garda divisional drugs...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (2 Feb 2022)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Quinlivan for raising this very important matter around the issue of Garda Operation Copóg, the aim of which is to target the sale and supply of controlled drugs in Limerick. The Government is acutely aware of the sustained and significant damage that drug dealing has on communities across the country. Organised criminal activity, including drug dealing, represents a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (2 Feb 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) and ensuring that people both feel safe and are safe in their communities. In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, I have established an Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB). The Forum is examining a broad range of issues with a focus on developing measures which...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (1 Feb 2022)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Connolly for raising the important issue of staff shortages in Galway City Council which have led to the cancellation of some essential services in the city. I would like to clarify that under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, the chief executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authorities (1 Feb 2022)

James Browne: I am representing the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.