Results 1-20 of 5,347 for and speaker:James Browne

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

James Browne: ...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 private academy located in Melfield House, a 200-year-old building on the...

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...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Education Policy (30 May 2024)

James Browne: ...school programme digital libraries to those schools that joined DEIS after 2022. The junior certificate school programme is a national programme sponsored by the Department of Education and National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA. Introduced in 1996, it is a social inclusion programme that is aimed at students who are identified as being at risk of being socially or...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Education Policy (30 May 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy again for raising this important matter. The junior certificate school programme aims to provide a curriculum framework that assists schools and teachers in making the junior cycle more accessible to those young people who may leave school without formal qualifications. It attempts to help young people experience success and develop a positive self-image by providing a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Protection (30 May 2024)

James Browne: ...important issue of Hearns Hotel in Clonmel being used as a facility for international protection applicants. I am responding on behalf of Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, who sends his apologies for not being here this morning. Ireland and many other European countries are experiencing a significant increase in people seeking...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Protection (30 May 2024)

James Browne: ...provided to me by the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is that the international protection procurement service is responding to an offer made to it of accommodation in respect of the property and the Department is assessing the property as to whether the accommodation is suitable and whether a contract should be agreed. However, I do not have any more specifics than that. I will ask the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fishing Industry (30 May 2024)

James Browne: I thank Senator Kyne for raising this important issue as to whether Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority could agree a single point of inspection for oyster fishermen rather than duplication of inspections. I am responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, who sends his apologies. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fishing Industry (30 May 2024)

James Browne: I again thank the Senator for raising this important issue. Referring it to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for consideration by his officials and Inland Fisheries Ireland, as the competent authority, is an important step taken by the Minister. While the inspections conducted by these statutory agencies are operational matters, there may nonetheless be an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mayoral Election (30 May 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Senator for raising this issue relating to the process of introducing a directly elected mayor for Cork city and county. The forthcoming direct election of a mayor of Limerick on 7 June is one of the biggest reforms of local government since the foundation of the State. The Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 was signed into law on 6 March...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mayoral Election (30 May 2024)

James Browne: I again thank Senator Lombard for his insightful and important question on directly elected mayors, in particular for Cork city and county. An information leaflet on the election of the mayor was recently delivered to every home in Limerick and explains the many benefits for Limerick which may apply in regard to the directly elected mayor. I understand the Senator's point, which is beyond...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Human Rights (30 May 2024)

James Browne: I thank Senator Byrne for raising this very important issue of the need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the ongoing protests in Georgia and to reiterate Ireland's support for Georgia's path to accession to EU membership. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I welcome the discussion of this matter and thank the Senator for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Human Rights (30 May 2024)

James Browne: Ireland stands with the Georgian people in their pursuit of democracy and membership of the European Union. We will continue to urge the Georgian Government to withdraw the law and implement the necessary reforms to ensure Georgia's place in the EU. The EU has made it abundantly clear to Georgia that it is willing to work with the country to advance its European perspective but the Georgian...

Seanad: Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (Extension of Periods of Leave) Order 2024: Motion (30 May 2024)

James Browne: ...Members for having me to provide a statement on this motion on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman. The Government continually has a strong commitment to achieving gender equality in Ireland through a variety of actions, which is a key tenet of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’s mission towards a fair and inclusive society where...

Seanad: Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (Extension of Periods of Leave) Order 2024: Motion (30 May 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Senators for the debate on the expansion of the parent's leave and benefit entitlement from seven to nine weeks. Regarding the uptake, from January to end of April 2024, there were 25,578 applications for the benefit, comprising 10,285 men and 15,293 women. Perhaps the gap is not as big, therefore, as we might have expected. As for surrogacy leave,...

Extension of Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion (29 May 2024)

James Browne: I thank Deputies Howlin, Murphy and Canney for their contributions. A number of similar themes were raised. Reference was made to obstructions faced by people with disabilities or visual impairments and the elderly. My own sister is in a wheelchair and I fully agree with everything that Deputies have said. As it is necessary to get a street furniture licence, I would say to the local...

EU Directive: Motion (29 May 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputies for their contribution and support for our participation in this new instrument. To respond to Deputy Tully, it is the case, as she said, that new technologies are vital to the detection and investigation of child sexual abuse. An Garda Síochána favours employing specialist software, including software that enables victims to be identified through facial...

Extension of Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021: Motion (29 May 2024)

James Browne: I move: That Dáil Éireann resolves that the period of operation of sections 1 to 7 and 9 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 (No. 14 of 2021) be extended for a further period of 6 months, beginning on the 1st day of June, 2024 and ending on the 30th day of November, 2024. I am here to introduce a resolution on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee,...

EU Directive: Motion (29 May 2024)

James Browne: I move: 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 take part in the adoption and application of the following...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Theft of Animals (29 May 2024)

James Browne: I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will contact her again when this is to hand.