Results 1,841-1,860 of 7,789 for speaker:James Browne

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traffic Fines (20 Jun 2024)

James Browne: Dealing with fines is always a matter for the courts.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traffic Fines (20 Jun 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue around the amount of unpaid court-imposed fines in 2023. It is important to note that the principal penalty applied under the Road Traffic Act is a Garda fixed charge notice, FCN, combined with the imposition of penalty points. These measures provide an effective and appropriate enforcement response aimed at encouraging responsible driver behaviour...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Traffic Fines (20 Jun 2024)

James Browne: The outstanding amount was the amount at the time the figure was obtained. In that, there are people who were fined recently, with an expectation that they will pay. Fines are generally imposed in the District Court for minor offences. However, a small number of fines are also imposed in the higher courts. Once imposed, the Courts Service starts a process of communicating with the person...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Restorative Justice (20 Jun 2024)

James Browne: The Probation Service will soon publish a three-year restorative justice action plan aimed at promoting greater awareness and supporting increased use right across the system. This plan will detail how the Probation Service will further drive the integration of restorative justice into all its services. Restorative justice is really important. We did some very good work back in the 1990s...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Restorative Justice (20 Jun 2024)

James Browne: I agree with the Deputy that restorative justice has huge potential. There are three elements needed, namely, the community, the victim and the offender. For the victim it can have quite a cathartic effect when it is handled right. The Deputy understands restorative justice needs to be handled very carefully. The offender has to be willing and understand and face up to their offence. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Restorative Justice (20 Jun 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of restorative justice initiatives. As he will be aware, restorative justice is a process that evidence shows can support victims to recover from the impact of crime as well as serving to reduce reoffending. It is an integral part of the work of the Probation Service, which established a restorative justice and victim services unit in 2018....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Jun 2024)

James Browne: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. I was pleased to secure unprecedented funding of over €2.35 billion for this year, a 25% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. While...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Restorative Justice (20 Jun 2024)

James Browne: Restorative justice is a process that evidence shows can support victims to recover from the impact of crime as well as serving to reduce reoffending. It is an integral part of the work of the Probation Service which established a Restorative Justice and Victim Services Unit in 2018. The process helps to identify and repair some of the harm caused by offending. Its value was recognised in the...

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

James Browne: I will begin by stressing the benefits of migration to Ireland. At present, just under 500,000 people in our labour force were born outside of Ireland. We would face significant challenges in many areas of our economy without migration. I also highlight that Ireland benefits immensely from membership of the European Union. A combination of factors, such as our highly educated workforce...

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

James Browne: There are copies available.

Seanad: International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (19 Jun 2024)

James Browne: This is a Schengen measure, but Ireland will align with these provisions in national law insofar as is possible. We will also have access to this important security information. The Eurodac regulation improves the current IT system that allows us to check whether someone has claimed international protection in another member state, thereby enhancing data collected on irregular migration....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (19 Jun 2024)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 87 together. Every young person deserves the opportunity to improve their quality of life and our commitment to expanding youth justice services and increasing funding reflects our commitment to young people. This commitment is a central point of our Youth Justice Strategy, launched in 2021, which provides a developmental framework to address key...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (19 Jun 2024)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. I am advised by An Garda Síochána that the CSO publish statistics on the offence of ‘discharging a firearm’. This information can be found at the link below: Quarterly at Regional level at...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

James Browne: Opting into the pact is Ireland's opportunity to undertake co-ordinated wide-reaching reforms in an area that has seen mounting public interest in recent times. It will provide better co-ordination between member states, the faster processing of applications and return of inadmissible and failed asylum applicants, reduced secondary movement and enhanced data sharing and screening through an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (18 Jun 2024)

James Browne: The expansion and deepening of the services offered to young people by the Youth Diversion Projects, which are fully funded by my Department, is a significant priority both for myself and Minister McEntee. These projects provide an invaluable support to complement the work of An Garda Síochána in addressing youth crime and protecting local communities. In Budget 2024, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Animal Welfare (11 Jun 2024)

James Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 519 and 542 together. Dog theft is a serious crime and that can come with prison sentences of up to ten years for theft and for handling of stolen property and up to five years for possession of stolen property. If a burglary is involved, the sentence may be up to 14 years imprisonment. When imposing sentences, judges are not limited to considering the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (11 Jun 2024)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, the Gambling Regulation Bill is a public health measure aimed at protecting our citizens from gambling harm, including younger people and those more vulnerable in our communities. The legislation shall prohibit the participation of persons aged younger than 18 in gambling activities. Section 172 of the Bill as approved by the Dáil provides that it shall be an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Services (11 Jun 2024)

James Browne: As the Deputy will be aware, a top priority of the Youth Diversion Strategy is the expansion and deepening of the services offered to young people by the Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs), which are fully funded by my Department. These projects provide an invaluable support to complement the work of An Garda Síochána in addressing youth crime and protecting local communities. YDPs are...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools of Music (30 May 2024)

James Browne: The Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, sends her apologies as she cannot be here. I will give the response on the Minister's behalf. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to provide an update to the House on the current position and understanding regarding the recently announced closure of Newpark Academy of Music. Newpark Academy of Music is a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Schools of Music (30 May 2024)

James Browne: I fully understand and appreciate the concern raised in relation to the decision to close Newpark Academy of Music. No disrespect was shown. I was simply setting out the factual position that the academy does not come under the Department of Education's remit. I have no doubt the decision has been devastating for all of those involved. That said, the role of the Department of Education is...