Results 1,821-1,840 of 6,999 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (28 Feb 2023)

James Browne: 533. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the development of a building to serve as a permanent vaccination centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9471/23]

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (22 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." On behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, I am pleased to introduce the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 to the House. The Bill gives effect to a programme for Government commitment and forms part of the wider policing reform programme, A Policing Service for our Future, published by the Government in...

EU Regulations: Motion (21 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to accept the following measure: Regulation...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (21 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I thank Senators for their constructive contributions. Over the past two and a half years, we have had to clear off a large number of technical amendments that are nonetheless important and will affect people's real lives. We have a small number of provisions still to deal with but we will get there.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (21 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 553, 554 and 555 together. As the Deputy may be aware, the Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2022 completed its passage through the Dáil on 8 February 2023 and has, today, completed its passage through the Seanad. The purpose of the Act is to implement the provisions of EU Council Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legal Aid (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I again thank the Deputy. When the report of the very comprehensive review is published, I expect an implementation plan to be put in place. That is the record of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister, Deputy Harris, is following suit. When we have these reviews, an implementation policy and timelines are put in place so that it is not simply a report but that action is taken in a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legal Aid (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for raising this very important question on the review of income limits for those seeking legal aid. In its 40 years of operation, the civil legal aid scheme has been a significant and beneficial public service, providing legal aid and advice to people of limited means in civil disputes, including family law.  However, since the scheme was set up, Irish...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legal Aid (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: The financial eligibility threshold for income was last revised in 2006 while the threshold for capital assets was revised in 2013. Society has obviously changed significantly since 2006. The cost of living had changed significantly even before the recent period of increased inflation. The review is very timely. It will focus on the eligibility factors but also on what is covered by legal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of the number of gardaí assigned to Bandon, Bantry and Clonakilty districts. The Government is committed to building stronger and safer communities. Since 2015, the Government has increased the budget for An Garda Síochána by approximately €672 million or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I again thank the Deputy for his question. As I said, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the allocation of resources to a given division, district or station. He keeps the allocation of resources under continual review. There has been an increase in the number of gardaí in the area about which the Deputy asked since December 2015 but there may have been variations within those...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I assure the Deputy there was massive interest in joining the Garda during the last recruitment campaign. There were more than 11,000 initial responses and we have had no difficulty in finding people who want to become members of the Garda. There is no issue in respect of the attractiveness of the Garda or people seeking to become gardaí. That is reflective of the high esteem in which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: The main point the Deputy is making is that prisons are effectively an ecosystem and need to be treated as such. Prisons encompass staff, prisoners and management and we must ensure that both prisoners and staff have the services and the supports they need. On mental health, I absolutely agree with the Deputy. Indeed, I raised the same issue numerous times when I was in opposition. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I absolutely agree. There has not always been a recognition of that in the past but now there is an understanding that people need those kinds of supports. Often people end up in prison because of a lack of support services when they were younger. When I visited Cork Prison the high number of inmates with undiagnosed dyslexia was really notable. That led to people leaving school at an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Prison Service (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this important matter. The Irish Prison Service is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for both staff and people in prison. This includes ensuring sufficient staffing and managing attendance issues. The Prison Service has been recruiting prison officers in the past number of years and has also put in place a range of supports for staff....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: In terms of data, the reason we have commissioned the Central Statistics Office, CSO, to undertake a national survey is to establish the prevalence of sexual violence. The results are expected next month. The intention is to establish whether there is an increase in events of sexual violence or an increase in the number of people reporting what is happening. We must create a situation...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: The Government is very much aware of the serious situation regarding young people and what they can access online. There is a cross-government approach to addressing this very serious situation. Work is being led by the new domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency, which is also working with the Department of Education and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: That is how the Internet works. Deputy Tóibín is being a little bit naive to say that if we simply ban something that it will prevent it happening.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: That is not what we are saying. We are doing a significant amount of work in this area. We have put a lot of bodies in place and we are addressing this very serious situation. We must address all of the areas and not take a simplistic approach to it either.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Courts Service (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this important matter. An independent, impartial and efficient Judiciary and courts system is critical to our democracy. The Government will work with the Courts Service and the Judiciary to deliver a number of important commitments in the programme for Government, which will help ensure that we have a modern Courts Service. This includes enacting a Family...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Courts Service (16 Feb 2023)

James Browne: I concur with the Deputy on the importance of having appropriate facilities. I practised family law in the old courthouse in Wexford. It was conducted in a public sphere where people were also queuing to pay their motor tax. We now have a new court in Wexford town which has dramatically changed the situation for people in difficult circumstances. We must see that right across the entire...