Results 2,701-2,720 of 7,179 for speaker:James Browne

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Housing Provision (18 Nov 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputies Bríd Smith and Costello for raising this important matter around St. Michael's estate and how the rents will be set. Within the past year, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has developed an entirely new policy framework to enable the development of cost rental housing in Ireland, culminating in its inclusion in the Government’s Affordable...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (18 Nov 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputy O'Donnell for raising this very important issue around University Hospital Limerick. The Deputy has been passionate on this issue for a long time and raises this matter on a consistent basis, both behind the scenes and in the Dáil Chamber. I acknowledge the scale of the challenge facing our emergency departments as we head into what is expected to be a very difficult...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Facilities (18 Nov 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputy O'Donnell again for raising the important matter around University Hospital Limerick and capacity. The health service capacity review 2018 was clear on the need for a major investment in additional capacity in both acute hospitals and community, combined with a wide-scale reform of the manner and location of where our health services are provided. In January 2020, 795...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Home Care Packages (18 Nov 2021)

James Browne: Enabling people with care needs to continue living independently at home for as long as possible is a priority for the Government. That is why there have been significant inroads in some of the waiting lists. I acknowledge, however, that almost 5,000 people have been assessed and are waiting for home care hours to be delivered. It is a distressing situation for anybody to be in, but I...

Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Referral to Select Committee (18 Nov 2021)

James Browne: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice pursuant to Standing Orders 95 and 181.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Home Care Packages (18 Nov 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this very important matter. I know the issue of the home care sector is an important one for the Deputy. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and the Government are committed to the development of improved community-based services, shifting care to the home and offering greater choice for older people. Last year, an additional €150 million was...

Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputies for their contributions on this important Bill over the last number of days. As Minister of State at the Department of Justice, I am determined to see our communities made safer. We make our communities safer by ensuring that the most vulnerable, women and children in particular, are protected. The Sex Offenders (Amendment) Bill 2021, which I am recommending here today,...

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion (16 Nov 2021)

James Browne: I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that the period of operation of sections 1 to 7 and 9 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 (No. 14 of 2021) be extended for a period of 6 months, beginning on the 1st day of December, 2021 and ending on the 31st day of May, 2022. I am here to introduce a resolution to extend the sunset clause in the Civil Law (Miscellaneous...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Nov 2021)

James Browne: Based on extensive legal advice, the options being proposed by the Senators would further complicate matters for all concerned, be likely to incur litigation and increase legal costs, and bring little benefit, if any, compared with the legal rules already set out in the Bill. I will give a number of reasons for this. It is worth recalling that, before the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Nov 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Senator for her amendment. I also thank for her engagement on this matter and for raising the importance of addressing matter, which has caused considerable distress for some people. Section 2 of the Bill already makes provision for cases that are pending on 30 November 2021 when the Bill will come into operation, including court proceedings and applications under the...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Nov 2021)

James Browne: The acceptance of the amendment would delete section 3 of the Bill, which refers to special restriction periods for State lands and for foreshore. Senator Boylan spoke to amendment No. 6 but Senator Higgins spoke to amendment No. 7. I must make a couple of important points. As with the earlier amendments seeking to delete section 2(b), this proposes a significant shift in established policy...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (16 Nov 2021)

James Browne: 185. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a driving test for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55568/21]

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Senators for their contributions. I wish to point out, as noted in my introductory remarks on Second Stage, that the Supreme Court ruling does not affect the provisions in statute that provide for presumptive minimum sentences where there is judicial discretion. That issue is not addressed in the Bill.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2021)

James Browne: I move amendment No. 1: In page 7, line 15, to delete “European Union, and” and substitute “European Union,”. I thank the Cathaoirleach. Amendments Nos. 1, 2 and 4 are to be taken together and allow for non-European Union states operating to a framework decision. This is particularly relevant for Schengen-associated states, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2021)

James Browne: Yes, I will flag that on a later Stage but I am happy to deal with that point now. The hope was to bring a number of significant amendments on that on Committee Stage. Due to the complexities of these issues, they were not ready for Committee Stage but they will be ready on Report Stage. Again, due to their complexity I am happy to share those amendments in advance with the committee in...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2021)

James Browne: We are hoping to have this entire Bill through the House before Christmas and, therefore, we are aiming to have these amendments available as soon as possible and we are looking at the first week of December.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2021)

James Browne: We will give committee members as much time to consider the amendments in advance as possible because this Bill must be passed to meet Schengen requirements. We will certainly facilitate the members. As soon as I get the amendments, I will send them across.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2021)

James Browne: I am told there was one transfer very recently. However, the position remains the same in that it is very difficult because of the decisions in the courts here in Ireland to try to meet those criteria in terms of how we implement restrictions that are put on prisoners in the UK. Effectively, it is almost impossible to apply them because we do not have those same restrictions here and...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2021)

James Browne: A bit of a backlog would be expected because there have been so few transfers and, as I said, there has only been one in the last five years. For some of those who wanted to transfer five years ago, their prison time would have passed anyway. The estimate is that there may be a backlog of about 30 to 40 and once they are dealt with, we are probably looking at about ten per year thereafter....

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (10 Nov 2021)

James Browne: I move amendment No 2: In page 7, line 20, to delete “2011;” and substitute the following: “2011, and (c) a state that is declared under section 58to be a Member State;”.