Results 3,541-3,560 of 7,789 for speaker:James Browne

The National Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 and Supporting Community Safety: Statements (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: I am very happy to have this opportunity to address the House on the progress which is being made within the criminal justice system on interventions and initiatives to divert vulnerable young people away from criminal activity and to assist them with options for a better and more fulfilling life. I was pleased to be able to publish the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 on 15 April 2021,...

Betting (Prohibition on Use of Credit Cards) Bill 2021: First Stage (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: No.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: The Deputy will wish to note that I introduced the Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021 on 16 September 2021. The purpose of this Bill is to implement EU framework decision 2008/909/JHA on the mutual recognition of judgments in criminal matters imposing custodial sentences and other measures involving deprivation of liberty. The implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (6 Oct 2021)

James Browne: An application for a certificate of naturalisation was received from the person referred to by the Deputy on 11 February 2020. This application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. The granting of Irish...

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

James Browne: In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the person concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (5 Oct 2021)

James Browne: My Department has taken a pragmatic and compassionate approach to immigration and international protection arrangements in the context of COVID-19 and will continue to do so for as long as is necessary. 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...

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...