Results 3,541-3,560 of 9,126 for speaker:James Browne

Seanad: Finance (State Guarantees, International Financial Institution Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

James Browne: The Minister for Finance does not propose to accept amendments Nos. 2 and 4 as the existing text mirrors, and is consistent with, the approach taken in legislation on the Statute Book, which contains similar reporting requirements for guarantees that the State has entered into, for example, the financial provisions Covid Act 2020 and the European Financial Stability Facility Act 2010, where...

Seanad: Finance (State Guarantees, International Financial Institution Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

James Browne: The Senator is indeed right to point to Ireland's leadership in relation to cluster munitions, and there certainly will be no change in policy from the Government in regard to this matter or concerning investment into those types of horrific munitions. The memorandum of understanding entered into by the European Commission and the Ukrainian Government makes it very clear that the objective...

Seanad: Finance (State Guarantees, International Financial Institution Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

James Browne: Similar to the previous group of amendments, the Minister for Finance is not proposing to accept these two amendments, as the democratic accountability in the oversight of the MFA operations takes place at a European Union level, where the European Commission is obliged to report to the European Parliament and the European Council. With specific regard to the issue of conditionality, the...

Seanad: Finance (State Guarantees, International Financial Institution Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Feb 2024)

James Browne: Slava Ukraini. The conditionalities have been decided through EU regulations. The Commission is obliged to report to the European Parliament and the Council about those conditionalities and how Ukraine disburses and uses the funding. The funding has been disbursed so what we are deciding here is whether Ireland will participate in something that has effectively happened. It is important...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (1 Feb 2024)

James Browne: The information requested is currently being compiled and I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 Jan 2024)

James Browne: I am pleased to bring the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023 before the Seanad today. This Bill addresses a very specific issue: to recognise and make punishable in law the harm caused to children by drawing them into a life of crime. Two programme for Government commitments are being delivered through this Bill. The first is to legislate against the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 Jan 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Senators for their valuable contributions. The provisions in the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Bill 2023 will make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children who have been groomed into criminal activity. The Bill will introduce important new measures to enable us to tackle adults who groom children into a life of crime. For the first...

Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland: Statements (30 Jan 2024)

James Browne: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on immigration. While I recognise it can often cause concerns, particularly around housing and services, it is important we understand the overwhelming benefits inward migration brings. With an ageing population and an economy at almost full employment, we need overseas workers to fill labour shortages and continue to drive our economy. Some...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (30 Jan 2024)

James Browne: I welcome the opportunity to introduce the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024. The Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024 is a necessary interim legislative amendment pending a broader review of the Coroners Act 1962 and it should be considered against the backdrop of a public consultation process which has recently been launched by the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. The Coroner Service provides...

Seanad: Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (30 Jan 2024)

James Browne: On behalf the Minister, Deputy McEntee, who regrets she cannot be here in person today, I thank all the Senators who have contributed to this important debate on the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024. There is general agreement that there needs to be reform, more efficiency and for the coroner to be more reflective of society and more comprehending of people who have to attend before them. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (23 Jan 2024)

James Browne: As background, I established the Firearms Expert Committee (FEC) with representation from firearms users, the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána, under an independent chairperson, to advise on a range of firearms matters. The Committee’s terms of reference were made publicly available. The FEC held nine in-person meetings, in addition to one videoconference...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Jan 2024)

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. Youth Diversion Projects are run by community-based organisations and are a vital support to the statutory Garda Youth...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (17 Jan 2024)

James Browne: The Programme for Government includes a clear commitment to reform gambling legislation, with a focus on public safety and well-being from both an online and in person perspective. The Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new, independent statutory body – údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na héireann,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (17 Jan 2024)

James Browne: I strongly condemn any use of knives to threaten, intimidate or harm others. The Government, and I as Minister, are committed to ensuring that the problems that we have seen in neighbouring jurisdictions do not repeat themselves here. As the Deputy will be aware, 'knife crime' is a broad term, which has no official classification in crime statistics compiled by An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (17 Jan 2024)

James Browne: We are all sadly very conscious of the effect that knife crime can have on the quality of life for local communities and I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to supporting An Garda Síochána to tackle this issue. While I am conscious that Ireland has a comparatively low level of knife crime compared to neighbouring jurisdictions, every incident where a person is...

An Bille up an Daicheadú Leasú ar an mBunreacht (Cúram), 2023: An Dara Céim - Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution (Care) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

James Browne: The proposed fortieth amendment of the Constitution or care referendum will delete Article 41.2, removing outdated language on the role of women. It would also insert a new Article 42B to recognise the value of family care. The Irish Constitution is our foundational document. It holds a special place in the hearts and minds of Irish people. When the Constitution was adopted by the Irish...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (An Teaghlach), 2023: An Dara Céim - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (The Family) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

James Browne: Bunreacht na hÉireann is the bedrock body of law that governs our society. As such, it should reflect our values and be representative of our society. The provisions in the Constitution on the family are not a reflection of the broad range of families and compositions that make up families in daily Irish life. In recent years, we have amended our foundational document to reflect a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

James Browne: As regards scramblers, that change in the legislation was a recommendation of a sub-committee of my antisocial behaviour forum. I am glad the legislation was passed and is now operational. The distribution of gardaí is an operational matter and for the Commissioner. I have no doubt he keeps Limerick very much to the fore, however.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and all gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. Community policing is also fundamental to the new Garda operating model that is currently being rolled out in all divisions and has been fully commenced in ten. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (12 Dec 2023)

James Browne: As stated, the transfer and stationing of An Garda Síochána is an operational matter for the Commissioner, but I will bring the Deputy's concerns to him. On recruitment, An Garda Síochána has brought in important measures to comply with its language obligations. These include the introduction of an Irish language stream in the recruitment process, whereby 10% of all...