Results 1,101-1,120 of 7,178 for speaker:James Browne

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (8 Oct 2024)

James Browne: It was previously drafted in such a way that it was a positive affirmation that gambling companies could provide inducements. It was then a clarification that it could not be provided to individuals or groups. The positive affirmation was not actually needed and I agree that was redundant. I had concerns with it myself when I looked at it more carefully. That positive affirmation is...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (8 Oct 2024)

James Browne: Regrettably, I cannot accept amendments Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive. Speaking to amendment No. 3, as I previously outlined on Committee Stage, I am satisfied that section 14(1)(c), which provides that it shall be a function of the authority to establish, maintain and administer the social impact fund, already addresses the issue. As the Senators will be aware, a key purpose of the social impact...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (8 Oct 2024)

James Browne: As noted on Committee Stage, the policy underpinning the Bill is to regulate gambling in the State, with an emphasis on ensuring that there are public health protection measures to protect vulnerable gamblers. All gambling is to be regulated through the Bill, and that includes games run by charities and sporting organisations under the advertising piece. A number of other amendments have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (8 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to the principle that everyone should be safe, and feel safe, and my Department has taken a number of steps in this regard. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion to An Garda Síochána in Budget 2025, up 27% since 2020, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to ensuring An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (8 Oct 2024)

James Browne: As you may be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. I would like to reassure the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to...

Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Second Stage (3 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Lawless, for bringing forward this very important legislation, the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill, and compliment him on really hitting the ground running since his appointment as Minister of State at the Department of Transport and bringing forward some really important legislation and reform and doing Kildare North very...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (3 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I welcome the opportunity to present this Bill to the Seanad. It is short but important legislation that addresses constitutional infirmities in law recently identified by the High Court. I thank Senator Ward, who has done a large amount of extremely important work in respect of the legislation. Last month, the High Court ruled that a person who commits murder when under 18 but who turns...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (3 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Senators for their contributions. I will address a number of matters when dealing with amendments on Committee Stage. In particular, I would like to outline why treason is not included, particularly as that is an obvious issue. We are not including treason at this time. The purpose of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024 is to deal with infirmities identified by the High...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (3 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I certainly hear Senator Ward's frustration. He was very much to the forefront in seeking legislation to address what is an unconstitutional element in our legislation. Senator Ward deserves significant praise for this. He highlighted it to the Department a long time ago. Unfortunately, perhaps through not heeding the Senator's warnings, we have ended up in a situation where urgent...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (3 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I will frustrate Senator Ward again by saying he makes eminently sensible points on the sentencing options, the principles of which I agree with. The general scheme of the children (amendment) Bill was published in July by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and will go to pre-legislative scrutiny in the very near future. I agree with Senator Ward. I agree with the sentiment and the drafting of...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second and Subsequent Stages (3 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I recognise there is currently no power to suspend sentences for children and this is being addressed in the general scheme of the children (amendment) Bill 2024 that I previously discussed. As I mentioned, the general scheme was published in July. During the development of proposals in this general scheme, my Department consulted widely on this issue, including with the judiciary. The...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

James Browne: Regrettably, I cannot accept amendments Nos. 338 and 339. As I previously mentioned, the amounts set in Schedule 2 of the Bill are based on the limits introduced in 2019 to the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956. They are a direct continuation of the measures, albeit modernised, already in operation. Maintaining and complying with these limits as an initial baseline should cause no problem for...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

James Browne: Amendments Nos. 128 to 135, inclusive, restructure and clarify some of the language and terminology used in section 83. In particular, amendment No. 135 reframes and moves the provisions of section 131 into section 83 on betting licences and for clarity and for visibility to continue to allow the authority to prescribe what activities and events may not be the subject of betting. A...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I respectfully disagree. The thrust of the legislation is to regulate all gambling within the State with a particular emphasis on ensuring that there are public health protection measures to protect vulnerable gamblers. All gambling is to be regulated through the Bill and that includes games run by charities and sporting organisations, although the advertising piece and a number of other...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

James Browne: Amendment No. 148 is word for word, including grammar, identical to Senator Ward's amendment that we just discussed but I will respond to what Senator Dooley has said. The thrust of the Bill is not to regulate solely children or problem gamblers. It is to regulate the entire gambling industry in the country. This needs to be made very clear here today. This is why the Bill is very big....

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I will speak to amendments Nos. 150, 153 and 154 initially as they concern matters to do with applications for a licence. The Bill as published prohibits the presence of children on premises with facilities to withdraw cash on licensees' premises. While this is appropriate for the vast majority of premises where gambling is offered from, it is not practical to apply them to all premises. ...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I agree with the Senator that gambling addiction is not very different in some ways from other addictions. It is not about winning money; it is about people trying to self-medicate, get a sense of self-worth or whatever the case may be. If a gambling addict wins €10 million today, they will gamble every penny of it away again because it is nothing to do with actual money. It is an...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

James Browne: Amendments Nos. 170, 171 and 173 provide that when assessing whether a premises is suitable to provide gambling activities from, the authority shall consider any information provided under section 95(1)(a) as part of an application and must consult with the local authority where the premises are situated, must consult with the relevant fire safety authority, and must inspect the premises...

Seanad: Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I certainly understand the import of Senator Ruane's proposed amendment. It would make the situation totally impracticable if all of those separate, albeit important, areas were included in the legislation. A regulator has wider powers other than simply taking into account schools. In response to Senator McDowell, we have had this extensive discussion on the previous occasion. I...