Results 181-200 of 5,774 for speaker:James Browne

Second Anniversary of War in Ukraine: Statements (20 Feb 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Ceann Comhairle and I, too, welcome Her Excellency, Ambassador Gerasko, who has done fantastic work over the last couple of years in highlighting the atrocities that have been happening in Ukraine. It is important we do not forget that when people say we should do more for peace in Ukraine, peace could happen in the next five minutes in Ukraine if Putin just withdrew. He is the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (20 Feb 2024)

James Browne: At present, the regulation of gambling and similar activities in the State is split between a number of Departments, agencies and Local Government. As Minister of State with responsibility for Law Reform, I currently have no regulatory or oversight role in relation to the activities of licensed bookmakers in Ireland. Licences are issued to bookmakers by the Revenue Commissioners in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (20 Feb 2024)

James Browne: While all legislation is kept under review, there are no specific plans to amend the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 at this time.

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (8 Feb 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputies who contributed to the debate. I welcome the general agreement on the importance of the Bill and getting it passed in a timely manner. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, certainly will bear in mind the various issues raised by the Deputies in preparation for Committee Stage examination of the Bill. The changes made by this urgent Bill are important to ensure there is a...

Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024: Second Stage (8 Feb 2024)

James Browne: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the opportunity to introduce the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2024. The Bill is a necessary interim legislative amendment pending a broader review of the Coroners Act 1962. It should be considered against the backdrop of a public consultation process which concluded on 19 January. The Coroner Service provides an important...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2024)

James Browne: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, I thank the Senator for raising the Garda vetting process and improving the system. The primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. I am sure we can all agree on the vital support for this task and the need for it to be carried out thoroughly...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: An Garda Síochána (8 Feb 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. It can cause a lot of frustration for people throughout the country. Every TD and Senator is very much aware of the frustration that can arise as a result of multiple vetting applications. I assure the House that the Minister understands and appreciates the current system of vetting, as laid out in the National Vetting Bureau Acts may...

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

James Browne: As the Senator will know, Ireland has been a long-standing supporter of UNRWA, which provides essential services to the Palestinian refugee populations in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon and Jordan, which is some 5.9 million people. I visited UNRWA in Jordan only last year. We fully support the decision of UNRWA Commissioner-General, Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, to immediately terminate the...

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...