Results 1,781-1,800 of 7,789 for speaker:James Browne

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...

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

James Browne: I will be brief as I have made many of my arguments. We just spent almost an hour and half talking about physical premises and what are one-armed bandits in physical premises. The casinos are in every bedroom in the country. Every ten- or 12-year old who has a phone has a casino in his or her house. That is what we are trying to address here. There is this idea that there are all these...

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

James Browne: I have made all my arguments.

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

James Browne: Amendments Nos. 3 to 7, inclusive, are technical amendments to include references to various other Acts in the Bill. These are necessary for the transitional measures and consequential amendments to other legislation later in the Bill. Amendment No. 41 again is a minor technical amendment to accurately reflect how modern bookmakers operate and to ensure consistency in language throughout...

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

James Browne: Regarding amendment No. 31 in the name of Senators Ruane and Higgins, I certainly cannot disagree with almost all of the Senator's concerns. However, we are satisfied that the reference to "the internet" in paragraph (a) of the definition of "remote means" covers gaming devices and consoles as they inherently need access to the Internet to access online services such as apps and in-game...

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

James Browne: I hear Senator Ruane's concerns where someone may download something, operate offline and then re-upload. My view is that this legislation will still cover those types of situations but I undertake to give it further consideration.