Results 2,721-2,740 of 7,789 for speaker:James Browne

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The Deputy has been working on it for some time. I am providing a response outlining to the House the major building project that will be undertaken at Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin, and also recent interactions between the school, its patron body and the Department of Education on the current condition of the existing school building....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I thank Deputy McAuliffe for raising this very important matter. I confirm that the Department of Education is aware of the current building conditions and that Department officials will assist and advise the school authorities in maintaining the current school premises in advance of the delivery of the major building project. The Department will shortly advise the school authorities of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be fully aware, I will not be discussing a specific case. However, I will answer the question that was posed, which sought to discuss with the Minister for Justice the technologies and methods used as part of the Garda vetting process. On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy Humphreys, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue in the House today. The Deputy will...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: Again, as the Deputy is very well aware, it is not possible for me to address the very specific case he has raised. I would also point out that the Deputy asked a very generic question asking the Minister for Justice to address issues around the technologies and methods used. If he wanted a more specific answer, he could have asked a more specific question or highlighted what he was going...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: The Deputy did not do so before I came in here.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: The Deputy asked a generic question. Again, on behalf of the Minister for Justice, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue today. I again emphasise that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of the Garda vetting system. The Minister for Justice has no role in such matters and cannot direct An Garda Síochána in the operation of the vetting...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Child and Family Agency (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: The Deputy should ask a more specific question next time.

Income Eligibility for Social Housing Supports: Statements (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I thank Deputies for their valuable contributions to this important discussion. As stated earlier by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, the income eligibility thresholds for social housing supports were introduced in 2011 with the key objective of reserving housing assistance for households unable to secure accommodation from their own resources....

Defects in Apartments - Working Group to Examine Defects in Housing Report: Statements (15 Dec 2022)

James Browne: On behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, I thank all Deputies who have contributed to this debate. We can all agree that many homeowners and residents of apartments and duplexes have found themselves in a difficult and stressful position when defects have arisen in respect of their buildings through no fault of their own. As...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Investigations (14 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. Almost 50 years ago, bombs exploded at Belturbet, Clones and Pettigo. In Belturbet, this callous act of violence claimed the lives of two innocent young people - Geraldine O'Reilly and Patrick Stanley - and injured others. My deepest sympathies go out to the bereaved and the injured. The dreadful effects of this attack last to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Garda Investigations (14 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I will certainly endeavour to ensure that the Department keeps the families updated regarding any developments I would expect to happen. I would expect that An Garda Síochána will do likewise. As the Deputy noted, a Garda liaison officer has been appointed. Of course, we think of all those who lost their lives in the immediate events of all these bombings where people were...

Seanad: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I thank the Senator for his contribution. The proposed amendment relates to a report that Tailte Éireann be required to prepare, within six months of the passing of this Act, in respect of a review of the digitisation of the land registry and proposed reforms to expedite land disputes where title deeds are unclear. To add this additional function in the manner proposed would not have...

Seanad: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

James Browne: There will be no consequence.

Seanad: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I thank the Senator for his contribution. The intention of this Bill is to bring about the merger of the PRA, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Valuation Office. The provisions of the Bill include the transfer of the current functions of these bodies into Tailte Éireann. It is not envisaged at this point to expand the current functions of the existing bodies during the merger process....

Seanad: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I understand the intention of this amendment is that Tailte Éireann would commission a report to explore the feasibility of creating a register for land transactions. While I appreciate the objective of the Senator’s amendment, I will mention a number of reasons I am not disposed to accept this proposal. As part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process for this Bill, the joint...

Confidence in Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Motion (13 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I stand in support of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Government's motion of confidence in response to the cynical exercise of a motion put down to deflect from the work of the Minister and the Government. Fianna Fáil sought the portfolio of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage at a difficult and challenging time. We sought it, when many others ran away...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (13 Dec 2022)

James Browne: The Gambling Regulation Bill was approved by Cabinet on 15th of November, published Friday, 2nd December and completed second stage in the Dáil on Tuesday, 6th December. The Bill sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new, independent statutory body – the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland – and for a robust regulatory and licensing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (7 Dec 2022)

James Browne: As the Deputy will 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. There are over 100 YDPs nationwide providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (6 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Carroll MacNeill for raising this important matter of funding for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, services. As the she is aware, Zero Tolerance, the new national strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence was launched earlier this year. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform and a whole-of-society plan of action. Implementation...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (6 Dec 2022)

James Browne: I again thank the Deputy for raising a very important matter. She has been consistent in raising this important and serious issue since she became a Member of Dáil Éireann, and I am very conscious of that. I am confident combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a priority that is not going to drop off the agenda, and I have no doubt the Deputy will ensure focus on...