Results 3,161-3,180 of 9,174 for speaker:James Browne

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: These are all technical amendments. I will not refer to them unless anybody seeks clarification.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: The purpose of the Senator's amendments is effectively to ban betting on the national lottery. I certainly appreciate the Senator's position that this betting potentially takes away from the money distributed to good causes supported by the lottery. We cannot say with certainty that prohibiting betting or similar activities with respect to the national lottery would mean those who bet on it...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: My understanding is that the general election will not be called for another five months so-----

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: There will be plenty of time to get the Bill through.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I can certainly bring it to the attention of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform but it does not come under the Department of Justice. That has been made clear to me by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on several occasions. There is where it resides. I can bring it to the attention of the Minister but I cannot undertake to seek...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I do not have an answer for that. I will inquire.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: The Senator's amendment speaks to some of the core issues addressed by the Bill and to the debate concerning the regulation of gambling advertising. The purpose of the amendment is to introduce an absolute prohibition on advertising gambling and provides for the offences for a breach of that prohibition. Unfortunately, I cannot accept it. As Senators will be aware, a key focus of the Bill...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Senator very much. I think at this stage that a complete ban is a step too far but I will certainly keep it under consideration. The authority does have the power to make further recommendations for further restrictions and it would be important, as the Senator has said, that the authority does exercise that role.

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: The national lottery currently operates under the National Lottery Act 2013 and its activities are regulated by the office of the Regulator of the National Lottery. This also includes extensive oversight concerning the sales and supply of equipment to the holder of the licence to operate the national lottery and any of its agents. In this context amendments Nos. 118 and 119 to sections 68...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I actually disagree with the Senator. We are explicitly ensuring here that anyone doing business with the national lottery is not governed by this legislation because we do not have the jurisdiction to regulate those businesses in their dealings with the national lottery.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizenship Applications (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I acknowledge that in the past there were significant delays in processing citizenship applications. What the Minister, the officials in the Department and I have done to streamline matters and introduce a new processing system with the online application form and e-vetting has led to a significant change in the processing time relating to citizenship applications. I am confident that by...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizenship Applications (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: Significant work is being done in the Department to ensure that all applications, be they in respect of citizenship, asylum or whatever, are dealt with in a speedy and timely fashion. It is acknowledged that significant work needed to be done in this area. This work is being carried out.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Policing Authority (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Naughten for this very important question, which relates to supporting policing in our rural communities. Community safety is a top priority for my Department. Everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe in their community, and rural Ireland is no exception in that regard. Our approach to community safety is a whole-of-government one. Enhancing rural safety includes...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Policing Authority (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I acknowledge that we do not have as many gardaí as we need, but significant efforts are being made to address this. We have had a very large increase in the number of recruits coming through Templemore. Regarding safety in rural Ireland, the national rural safety forum was established in 2019. In 2022, we published the national rural safety plan. Yesterday, I met the deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Policing Authority (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: There is no question that there is a challenge regarding the number of gardaí, but that arose out of the situation during Covid when recruitment was paused. We are now addressing the situation by significantly increasing recruitment through Templemore. Up to the end of June of this year, 581 gardaí were assigned to the Mayo, Roscommon, Longford division and 599 were assigned to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Citizenship Applications (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for the question on citizenship applications. I am pleased to provide an update to the House on the ongoing improvements being made to the processing of citizenship applications. Just last week, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, had the honour of attending a ceremony in Dublin Convention Centre, and on behalf of myself and the Minister I congratulate all of our newest...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: On 25th July last, Minister McEntee and I received Government approval to publish the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024. This is an important Bill that balances and safeguards the rights to freedom of expression with the protection of a person's good name and reputation, and to access to justice. This legislation touches on the protection of our democracy itself and introduces measures...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that my colleague Minister McEntee and the whole of Government are absolutely committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources necessary to make sure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. As of the end of June, the latest date for which figures are available, there are currently over 14,000 Garda members...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (26 Sep 2024)

James Browne: 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. Youth Diversion Projects are run by community-based organisations and are a vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme. There are...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2024)

James Browne: Briefly, on amendment No. 1, this is simply a technical amendment. On amendments Nos. 2 and 107 to 109, inclusive, I thank the Senator for his amendments but I cannot accept them. His amendments seek to introduce a provision that is similar to sections 12 and 13 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956, and for related matters. Those sections require a local authority to adopt a resolution to...