Results 2,501-2,520 of 7,789 for speaker:James Browne

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Work Permits (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the necessary resources for the entire country. Budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána. This is an increase of 38% since 2016. There is a planned recruitment of up to 1,000 additional gardaí this year. I am informed there will be 400 Garda staff as well, which will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Tully for this very important question on the number of gardaí in the Cavan-Monaghan division. The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has all the necessary resources it needs to deliver a very modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provided funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána. In total since 2016,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: There can be all sorts of reasons for gardaí retiring earlier. We are in an exceptionally tight labour market at the moment. An Garda Síochána intends to start carrying out exit assessments to determine why individual gardaí may be leaving. The actual number compared with the overall force is still quite low. On the Cavan-Monaghan area, I assure the Deputy that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Work Permits (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. My Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment work closely together to ensure the arrangements in place to facilitate legal migration to Ireland for employment purposes are efficient, fair and responsive to the needs of our economy and society. The atypical working scheme is one element of these arrangements and...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: I have given my position on the matter.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: Section 9 deals with the membership of the judicial appointments commission and it provides, in line with the Government programme, that the commission will be chaired by the Chief Justice. It provides for an equal number of lay members - four - and judicial members - four. Judicial membership comprises the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal and two nominees of the Judicial...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: I thank Senator Flynn. Amendment No. 8 relates to section 9 of the Bill, which deals with the membership of the judicial appointments commission. Amendment No. 8 proposes that one of the lay members of the commission shall be nominated for appointment by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC. In drafting the Bill, the Minister has carefully considered the most equitable...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Report Stage (Resumed) (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: I thank the Senators. Amendments Nos. 11, 29, and 30 are being taken together. I will deal with amendment No. 29 first. Section 63 provides for the amendment of the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961, including the insertion of a new section 45A, to provide for the qualification of certain legal academics for judicial office as an additional basis for qualification. The new section...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Immigration Policy (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: Generally speaking, the pathway to citizenship is clear and is set out in legislation. There was a cut-off point but it was acknowledged internationally that our cut-off point for the regularisation scheme was quite generous. It was for the long-term undocumented, but we kept it down to quite a short period for people to qualify. There will always be people, unfortunately, who just miss...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Immigration Policy (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for tabling this very important question respect of the regularisation of the long-term undocumented migrants scheme. I am pleased to be able to advise the Deputy that 76% of all applications under this extremely successful and impactful scheme have been processed since it opened in the past year, with 89% of all decisions to date being positive ones. As the Deputy is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Immigration Policy (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: A total of 284 appeals have been received. I agree with the Deputy in that we have all been calling for a regularisation scheme in the United States of America for some time. It was important for this State to set out that it was prepared to do what it called on other states to do and bring in a regularisation scheme to help those people. The people who needed the regularisation scheme are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: As the Deputy may be aware, the Probate Office is an office of the High Court. Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in its functions. Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at District Probate Registries in 14 provincial court offices, and these office holders are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Control of Firearms (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: I can advise the Deputy that I established the Firearms Expert Committee (FEC) on a non-statutory basis, with representation from stakeholders, my Department and An Garda Síochána. The purpose of the FEC was to serve in an advisory capacity to me as Minister, providing guidance on a wide range of matters related to firearms licensing in the State. In line with its comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Staff (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. The Courts Service Act 1998 sets out the nature of the relationship between the Courts Service and the County Registrar. The post of County Registrar is a statutory officer appointed by the Government, with a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: The Rural Safety Plan 2022-2024, published by my Department, is the result of strong collaboration between all the relevant organisations and brings together the excellent work already underway in relation to rural safety. The Plan is not intended to replace, but rather supplement, this work. The vision of the Rural Safety Plan is for people and communities in rural Ireland to feel safe...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: I am very conscious of the effect that knife crime can have on the quality of life for local communities and the Government is determined to tackle this issue. The Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), which I am pleased to chair, is examining a broad range of issues to address the factors which give rise to ASB, including knife crime. The knife crime sub-group of the ASB Forum...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: As the Deputy may be aware, the Rural Safety Plan is the result of strong collaboration between all the relevant organisations and brings together the excellent work already underway in relation to rural safety. The Plan is not intended to replace, but rather supplement, this work. The vision of the Rural Safety Plan is for people and communities in rural Ireland to feel safe and be safe in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: As the Deputy may be aware, Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives which primarily seek to divert young people who have been, or are at risk of becoming, involved in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour. A top priority is the expansion and deepening of the services offered to young people by the Youth Diversion Projects, which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: 589. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the development of a school (details supplied) is going ahead; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17885/23]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (18 Apr 2023)

James Browne: Restorative justice is one of a suite of measures available to the criminal justice system. Restorative justice practices take different forms, founded on the principle of consent, and aim to enable those affected by an offence to participate actively in repairing the harm done and find a positive way forward.  At present, restorative justice is delivered by the Probation...