Results 1-20 of 6,140 for speaker:James Browne

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (7 Nov 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 or criminal behaviour. YDPs are run by community-based organisations and are a vital support to the statutory Garda Youth Diversion Programme. YDPs are...

Carer's Allowance: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Nov 2024)

James Browne: I want to be associated with those remarks.

Carer's Allowance: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Nov 2024)

James Browne: The Government is very aware of the valuable work being carried out by family carers. This is evidenced by the extensive measures it has taken to support carers over recent years. The approach to date has been targeted and has involved increases to payment rates in conjunction with earnings disregard increases and targeted cost-of-living lump sum and double payments. This approach was...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla (Atógáil) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Public Transport (6 Nov 2024)

James Browne: The Minister for Transport thanks the Deputy for her comments and I will bring them to his attention. In terms of current developments, design work is ongoing on the DART+ coastal south project to plan for the enhanced DART service level to Greystones and a public consultation for this project is planned to take place shortly. The proposal to extend the DART to Wicklow town, which is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla (Atógáil) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputy. Since 2020, the Department has invested more than €5 billion in our schools throughout the country involving the completion of more than 950 school building projects and with construction currently under way at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently in construction involve a total State investment of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla (Atógáil) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Public Transport (6 Nov 2024)

James Browne: On behalf of the Minister for Transport, I thank Deputy Whitmore for raising the important issue of public transport for Wicklow. Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens’ quality of life and addressing our climate action challenge, and this Government is committed to a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (6 Nov 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue and giving me an opportunity to outline the position of the school. The Department of Education continues to provide very significant funding in support of the education of children with special educational needs, which is a priority for this Government, with over a quarter of the entire education budget dedicated to special education in recent...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla (Atógáil) - Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Schools Building Projects (6 Nov 2024)

James Browne: I thank Deputy Darren O'Rourke for raising the issue of plans and timeline for delivery of a new school building for Dunshaughlin Community National School, Dunshaughlin, County Meath. The school building project for Dunshaughlin Community National School is part of the Department’s construction programme and will be delivered as part of a campus project that will provide a new...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (6 Nov 2024)

James Browne: I thank the Deputies for raising the matter, as it provides me with an opportunity to clarify on behalf of the Minister the current position regarding Scoil Aonghusa in Cashel, County Tipperary. Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for the Department and the National Council for Special...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Control of Firearms (23 Oct 2024)

James Browne: It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (22 Oct 2024)

James Browne: As the Deputy may be aware, I have no regulatory or oversight role in relation to the activities of licensed bookmakers in Ireland. These licences are issued by the Revenue Commissioners. The Deputy will also appreciate that I cannot provide legal advice or comment on individual cases. The landmark Gambling Regulation Bill - having now passed all stages here in the houses - will...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: From the Seanad (16 Oct 2024)

James Browne: To state the obvious, we intend to enact it as quickly as possible. As the Deputy pointed out, we have a CEO designate for the gambling regularly authority of Ireland and significant money has been spent on setting it up. It would become quite embarrassing quite quickly, quite frankly, if the Bill was not commenced as quickly as possible. I cannot give specific deadlines or dates, but I...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: From the Seanad (16 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I can assure the Deputy that this regulatory authority will not be toothless or fruitless. It will be a very powerful regulatory authority. It will regulate an industry that we estimate is worth €6 billion. We are not sure of the figure, because, unfortunately, we do not have proper regulation in this area, and that is what we are addressing in the Bill. The regulatory authority...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: From the Seanad (16 Oct 2024)

James Browne: On the enforcement side, in the Bill we have tied almost everything to the licence. If someone is in breach of advertising regulations, they can lose their licence as well as face serious fines, etc. Even if we commenced the provisions relating to advertising next week, that will not be relevant until licences are issued. There is an element of all duck and no dinner, to a certain degree....

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: From the Seanad (16 Oct 2024)

James Browne: Amendment No. 270 amends Schedule 2 to the Bill to specify that a person may purchase a ticket or book of tickets to participate in bingo and sets the maximum price for these.

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: From the Seanad (16 Oct 2024)

James Browne: A significant amount of work has gone into this legislation. I want to thank my officials, including the team working on it at the moment and the previous members of the team. An extraordinary amount of work has gone into what is an extremely complex legislation which not only regulates a massive industry that has largely gone unregulated, but deals with the public health perspective and...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: From the Seanad (16 Oct 2024)

James Browne: As I said earlier, we are satisfied that they cannot advertise either the licensee or the activity, and that will cover most circumstances. In addition to that, the authority has the power to make regulations relating to advertising in addition to explicit dedicated sections in respect of gambling advertising. If people are in a situation where they have consented to something, they will...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: From the Seanad (16 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I hear the Deputy's concerns and I understand those concerns are very much genuine. Even if the Deputy is correct, which we do not necessarily accept, the authority does have significant regulatory powers to make regulations to control advertising. That amendment was one of the key amendments we brought in through this legislation. There is that fallback position where the authority,...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: From the Seanad (16 Oct 2024)

James Browne: I will discuss amendments Nos. 200 and 201 together. These clarify that it shall be an offence to offer a targeted inducement to a person or a specific group of people and that offers or promotions to the public must comply with any regulations made under this section. Such regulations may impose conditions, including restrictions on the manner in which an offer is conveyed to the public...

Gambling Regulation Bill 2022: From the Seanad (16 Oct 2024)

James Browne: Amendment No. 211 is a restatement and tweaking of the section dealing with privileged legal material. Amendment No. 212 inserted a new section into the Bill to provide that the authorised officer of the authority may request copies of records and information from certain officials under other Acts where the information or records are needed in the performance of their duties and a...