Results 2,641-2,660 of 7,179 for speaker:James Browne

Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: Everybody in this House is coming from the same perspective, which is that of trying to protect the lives of those people who are so desperate for a better life that they are prepared to pay somebody to smuggle them into another country, a country they see as providing a better opportunity. We have seen that those people have lost their lives. We saw it only last week, and we saw it in my...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Antisocial Behaviour (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I thank Senator Crowe for raising this very important matter relating to antisocial behaviour throughout Ireland but specifically in Eyre Square. Senator Crowe has been raising concerns not only here in the Chamber but also behind the scenes with the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána. I understand how important it is to him to ensure members of the public and his local...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Antisocial Behaviour (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: Community safety is a core priority of the Department of Justice and for the Government in terms of the different programmes it is bringing forward. The deployment of gardaí throughout the country is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. Once gardaí are deployed to the various divisions, it is a matter for the chief superintendents whether they are deployed as...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I thank Senator Ruane for putting forward very cogent amendments. I certainly heard her very strong arguments in regard to the purpose of the amendments. I will not be accepting the amendments and I will set out why. I note amendments Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, have been taken together. Amendments Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, provide for the further amendment of sentencing provisions in the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I do not have the rationale to hand for the Senator but all the aspects of minimum sentencing could be examined when the review is being carried out.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Chairman and members for making time available to consider these Supplementary Estimates for An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service and a technical Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Justice Vote. I am joined by officials from my Department, Mr. Seamus Clifford, principal officer, and Ms Martina Colville, assistant secretary. A net Supplementary Estimate...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: There is nothing specific to the dropped 999 calls. About this time last year, the AGS wrote to the Secretary General regarding examination of computer-aided dispatch priority 1 incidents specifically relating to cancellation of those 999 calls. In an update on 14 October this year the Policing Authority indicated that Mr. Penman's review is taking longer than envisaged due to legal issues....

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I do not have the information to hand as to how it is handled, but I will get it for the Chairman.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: Much of the money that is being used this year for ICT capital is money that was intended to be spent next year, but was brought forward to this year. This is to allow the Garda Síochána to get a head start on plans to deal with the likes of cybercrime next year. As I said, €2 million of the IT allocation was brought forward from 2022 to put the Garda Síochána...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: My understanding is that where members of the Garda have that skill set, it is being used. This particular hardware - I got a good briefing on the type of technology that is needed, some of which comes from the United States of America, in my Garda station in Wexford - is state-of-the-art technology. Where that training is needed it will be brought in from the outside, but in a secure...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: We are allowed to carry over up to 10% of an unspent capital fund from a particular year into the following year. Due to the Covid pandemic, a number of building projects probably faced challenging situations when it came to spending money, which we have seen across the construction sector. In that context, it would be expected that funding would be carried over. As we know, there is an...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Daly for his comments. I certainly hear what he is saying and I will take his comments back to Government. Obviously, the location is not a decision for me but the Deputy makes a strong argument for keeping that courthouse in the town centre. I come from a town that lost its courthouse ten years ago and I saw the impact of that in my town centre. A number of factors need to...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Chair. He will be aware the new Forensic Science Ireland, FSI, laboratory is a €99.5 million project comprising just over €90 million in capital with a contingency fund attached to it. It is something we should welcome. When it is established, it will be important for our justice system. The OPW has responsibility for delivering that project. In line with the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: Yes. The overall budget for the project is €99.5 million, comprising €90.5 million for the main contract and the balance, including a contingency fund, for site clearance, prep works and the contract itself. Up to September this year, €47.97 million, representing 52% of the total cost of the project, has been spent on the main contract. As I said, when an assessment...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: Criminal legal aid is a vital element of our criminal justice system. The 1962 Act gives effect to a constitutional right and states that legal aid may granted for the defence of persons of insufficient means in criminal proceedings. As someone who practised criminal law as a barrister, there is the weight of the State on one side. Therefore, it is essential that whoever is facing a...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I will begin with waiting lists and delays in the courts. Our courts remained an essential service during the pandemic and were allowed to remain open, but there were some very real challenges around capacity in the courts system that resulted in a backlog. The Government is endeavouring to fill judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity to ensure the courts have the necessary judges in...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: I am aware of the case put forward by the Judiciary for an increased number of judges. That is why the judicial planning working group has been put together. We are looking forward to the report, which is being compiled independently by Ms Brigid McManus. This is in line with the programme for Government. We need to see not just how many judges are needed, but where they are needed at the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: Yes. I have not practised as a barrister for 14 years but I know how important registrars are and how important it is they be looked after as well.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Supplementary)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Supplementary)
Vote 24 - Department of Justice (Supplementary) (1 Dec 2021)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, there is a programme commitment to reopen six Garda stations. In conjunction with the Office of Public Works, OPW, there has been successful completion of the refurbishment of four of the six Garda stations that have been reopened: Donard in County Wicklow; Ballinspittle in County Cork; Stepaside in County Dublin and Rush, also in County Dublin. Two remaining...