Results 2,961-2,980 of 7,010 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (13 Jul 2021)

James Browne: For those who are in the international protection process, our objective is to have decisions made on their applications, including the permission to remain consideration, as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. My Department is committed to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gambling Sector (12 Jul 2021)

James Browne: I congratulate Deputy Bacik. I have had the pleasure of dealing with her in here over the past year on justice issues. She is a huge loss to the Seanad given her forensic analysis of justice legislation and ability to improve the legislation we have introduced. I look forward to engaging with her in the Dáil. I thank Senator Wall for raising this important issue. He has made this a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Gambling Sector (12 Jul 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Senator. The CEO-designate will be the gambling regulator and he or she will be appointed by the end of this year. The new scheme will be published in September. The regulator is expected to have up to 100 employees to support him or her and to implement the legislation. The legislation is making its way through the Houses. We want the regulator in place so that the necessary...

Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Bill 2021: From the Seanad (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: The Tánaiste has confirmed that it will be enacted as early as possible.

Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Bill 2021: From the Seanad (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: The amendments made to the Bill by the Seanad all relate to the deletion of references to UEFA Euro 2020 tickets or ticket packages in the Bill as passed by Dáil Eireann. Acceptance of the amended sections entails accordingly the deletion of such references and the technical amendments made in consequence of the removal of provisions relating to the UEFA Euro 2020 football championship...

Sale of Tickets (Cultural, Entertainment, Recreational and Sporting Events) Bill 2021: From the Seanad (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: On behalf of the Tánaiste, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Deputies for their interest in, and contribution to, the passage of this Bill through the Dáil. The organised purchase of tickets by touts and secondary sellers to make a quick profit at the expense of real music and sports fans is about to come to an end with this Bill, and rightly so. The Bill bans the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputies O'Sullivan and Moynihan for their commitment in supporting An Garda Síochána and highlighting its efforts and needs. The Garda Commissioner and the local chief superintendent determine the number of gardaí in an area and whether they should be designated as community gardaí but all gardaí have a role in community policing. It is at the heart of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: The last budget provided the largest ever amount of funding for An Garda Síochána. There is a commitment to the recruitment of additional gardaí to be distributed across the country as they graduate. There is a commitment under the 2021 budget for 620 new gardaí this year, although due to the pandemic it will be difficult to meet that number. The target is now 450 to be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment determines whether to issue an employment permit based on a labour market needs test. This decides whether employment opportunities that arise in Ireland should be offered to suitably skilled Irish and other EEA nationals before being offered to non-EEA nationals where no suitable candidate emerges from within the EEA system to fill that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.88 billion in 2020 and of €1.952 billion in 2021. This has enabled sustained ongoing recruitment into the organisation. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this very important issue. The pandemic has created significant challenges for visa processing. Applications are made to Irish embassies and missions worldwide, each with different public health measures in place. This has caused difficulties for individuals and families but the Government has had sound public health reasons for discouraging, and at times...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Visa Applications (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: We introduced the new statutory declaratory process last January to address the backlog of applications. A number of amendments were needed to be able to carry this out. In the normal course of events, people would make their declarations in the presence of the relevant Ministers at that time at a set location. Because that could not be done, however, this new statutory declaration process...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Asylum Applications (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. For people in the international protection process, the Government's objective is to have decisions made on their applications, including permission to remain, as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here in Ireland with a sense of safety and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Asylum Applications (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: The Deputy is correct in the statistics he provides. There were significant delays even pre-Covid. Covid has exacerbated the situation in a period when there was an intention to reduce the time for processing applications. However, processes are being put in place to ensure that we can meet the requirements that are set out both in the White Paper and our internal requirements to process...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Asylum Applications (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: I will give serious consideration to that report and how we can speed up the process. There is nothing in what the Deputy has said with which I can disagree. There have been long delays for a considerable time. We need to clear that backlog and get down to a quick, speedy and effective system for these people, many, if not all, of whom have been through serious traumatic experiences in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €1.952 billion in 2021. This has enabled sustained, ongoing recruitment. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the general management and administration of the Garda organisation. This...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: As the Deputy is aware, a key pillar of the Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, is building stronger and safer communities. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to ensuring that there is strong, visible community policing right across Ireland, both rural and urban. While An Garda Síochána has provided very dedicated service to assisting in the national...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: I appreciate how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it. My Department has continued to accept and process applications throughout the pandemic. However, processing rates have been negatively impacted by the necessary health and safety related restrictions and from a High Court case in 2019, which was subsequently successfully appealed. As a result,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, proposals for a draft scheme to regularise undocumented migrants are being developed in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to bring forward a regularisation scheme within 18 months of the formation of the Government. This will create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents. Applicants will need to meet specific...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (8 Jul 2021)

James Browne: I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to those who have been impacted by recent violent incidents. The Government is very conscious of the dangers presented by knife crime, and indeed all violent assaults. Clearly any stabbing has the potential to cause irreparable physical harm and tragic consequences and the Government is determined to ensure that similar problems to those which have...