Results 2,761-2,780 of 7,003 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: My Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of non-EEA students and continually consults and engages with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, among other key sectoral stakeholders, in this area. Their primary purpose for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in line with the eligibility criteria set out under the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: As the Deputy is aware, the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) was established as a cross Departmental response to address the matter of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet, who are not currently eligible for permission under the employment permit system of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). The Scheme provided, for the first time, a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The immigration permission of the person referred to by the Deputy is extended to 15 January 2022 in line with the final extension of immigration permissions, which Minister Humphreys and I announced on 15 September last. This measure provides certainty to anyone who already holds a valid permission, including those in the State on visitor conditions, like the person concerned, that their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: My Department is aware that there have been issues in the past around the securing of registration appointments and has continually introduce software fixes designed to prevent such abuses of the system. These new measures have been partly successful in preventing the block booking of appointments by third party agents. However, some third party agents continue to provide appointment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 to 536, inclusive, together. I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it and my Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and at all levels of public health restrictions. However, the combined impact of the 2019 High Court judgment in the Jones...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The review of the Defamation Act 2009 is a legislative priority for the Government and my Department. The Justice Plan 2021 restates the Programme for Government commitment to review and reform our defamation laws to ensure a balanced approach to the right to freedom of expression and the right to protection of good name and reputation, as well as ensuring effective access to justice. I am...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Antisocial Behaviour (30 Sep 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputies O'Callaghan and Gannon for raising what is clearly a very important matter. The Government, the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and I are determined to tackle antisocial and violent behaviour. We are conscious of the effect it can have on people's quality of life and safety. We are, of course, aware of the effect it can have on residents and businesses of Dublin city, and on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Antisocial Behaviour (30 Sep 2021)

James Browne: I again thank the Deputies raising this matter. I understand what they have said and I am in full agreement with them. There can be all sorts of underlying reasons the violence is happening and it needs to be confronted head-on. On tackling the underlying issues, perhaps something driving some of that violence is a lack of understanding or comprehension of the exact damage they are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (30 Sep 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Richmond for raising this important issue. I know he has been consistent in raising his concerns about this matter. He is 100% right. We need to have clear engagement with communities around ensuring Garda presence and Garda involvement in communities. As the Deputy correctly pointed out, the community safety fund is important. Under the fund, the money taken from those...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (30 Sep 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Richmond for raising this important matter. I assure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and I are aware of the effects of antisocial behaviour on our communities. We are also both aware of the importance of high-visibility policing and know people feel safe when they see the presence of An Garda Síochána in our towns and cities. The Minister met senior...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (30 Sep 2021)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 298 together. As the Deputy may be aware, Peace Commissioners are appointed by the Minister for Justice under section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924.  A Peace Commissioner is an honorary appointment and those appointed receive no remuneration or compensation by way of fees or expenses for their services. An application for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (30 Sep 2021)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 300 together. In response to the worsening humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, my Department is currently focused on processing applications for Afghan family members of Irish citizens and Afghan nationals living in Ireland. We are prioritising all such applications and processing them speedily and sympathetically. All visa applicants are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (30 Sep 2021)

James Browne: The application of the person referred to by the Deputy has been received by the Immigration Service of my Department. I am advised that their passport will be returned to them in the coming days. My Department has not suspended the receipt or processing of citizenship applications at any stage during the pandemic. However, processing rates have unfortunately been negatively...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (30 Sep 2021)

James Browne: My Department’s Justice Plan 2021 identifies the enactment of legislation to licence and regulate the gambling industry as a key objective. Work on the General Scheme of the Gambling Regulation Bill is at an advanced stage. 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...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Measures (29 Sep 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I know it is something she has been working on for some time. It is a matter of concern for quite a number of people. This matter relates to a change in the law on prescriptive rights of way that was due to take effect on 30 November 2021. A prescriptive right of way is one acquired by long use as of right by a property owner over a neighbour's...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Legislative Measures (29 Sep 2021)

James Browne: I agree about public awareness. My office was contacted by people asking what they should do about registering rights of way. Problems have arisen as Ireland has become more mobile. Where there might have been a farmer at the end of a laneway with one neighbour, there might be extra houses now and that can be challenging. I know of the case of a couple where the people who own the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021: Second Stage (29 Sep 2021)

James Browne: I welcome the opportunity to present this Bill to the Seanad. Its purpose is to strengthen Ireland's regime against the smuggling of persons, and to implement several important international instruments. People smuggling is the facilitated, irregular movement of people across borders for financial or other benefit. It is distinct from human trafficking in that smuggling occurs with the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021: Second Stage (29 Sep 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Senators for their important contribution, general welcome for the Bill and making constructive comments and information. Several Senators referenced submissions by IHREC and a number of other bodies in regard to the pre-legislative scrutiny. There was significant criticism at the time. In drafting the Bill versus the scheme, we tried to address as many of those as possible...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (29 Sep 2021)

James Browne: The persons referred to by the Deputy submitted online Join Family visa applications on 14 July 2021.  The supporting documentation and relevant fees were received on 13 August 2021 in the Hanoi visa office. These applications are currently awaiting comprehensive examination. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date...