On this day in 2004, twenty years ago, as Health Minister I introduced a ban on smoking in indoor public places, including pubs, restaurants and other workplaces.

Ireland was the first country in the world to introduce such a ban, and some 74 countries have followed our example.

This week in the Seanad I completed 2nd stage of the Court Proceedings(Delays)Bill 2023. This important legislation will ensure everyone's right to a fair trial within a reasonable timeframe,a fundamental aspect of both our constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights

Minister Browne James Browne TD had a productive meeting on Friday with Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng 🇮🇪🇻🇳 This was followed by a technical meeting between SFSI and Vice Minister Do Thanh Trung, focusing on the development of cooperatives 🌾

☘️ A busy final day of Minister James Browne’s St Patrick’s Day visit to Vietnam 🇻🇳:
- Meeting players from Saigon Gaels GAA Club at their Saturday training 🏐
- Stopping in to see Irish products on sale at Royal Seafood 🐟
- Joining the St Patrick’s Day Fleadh 🎻🇮🇪

Minister Browne was delighted to attend a trade dinner hosted by the Embassy, the IDA Ireland , Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia - The Irish Food Board in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday evening. Great to see strong 🇮🇪☘️ business links in this thriving city 🇻🇳

In Hanoi, Minister James Browne TD was delighted to meet with 🇻🇳 Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long, for an interesting discussion on the 🇮🇪-🇻🇳relationship, legal reform, & cooperation on issues such as legal aid, adoption & the inclusion of women & the LGBTIQ+ community 🤝

Gaisce’s CEO @Avril_Ryan joined Minister of State James Browne TD recently at a ceremony held in the Department of Justice in Dublin to present Gaisce Awards to a group of young people from a range of YDPs. Well done to all Awardees! 👏😊

In Quang Tri, Minister James Browne TD met with Provincial Chairman Mr. Vo Van Hung & Vice Chairman Mr. Hoang Nam to discuss 🇮🇪’s long-standing support and funding for programmes for mine risk education, ethnic minority development, disaster risk reduction & nutrition 🇮🇪🤝🇻🇳

During his visit to 🇻🇳 for St Patrick’s Day☘️ Minister James Browne TD visited a humanitarian mine action project in Quang Tri, funded by the Embassy of Ireland 🇮🇪 The RENEW team shared about the impact of 🇮🇪’s programme, supporting UXO awareness & people with disabilities

This is extraordinary..members are essentially refusing to show up & do the job they are elected to do.

Govt have brought forward the much needed & largest overhaul to our planning system in more than two decades, & opposition response is to filibuster & block…

Bridget Wall represented our Traveller Community Health Team at the official opening of our new #Enniscorthy office this morning, on Irish Traveller Ethnicity Day

Since 2020, the year Fianna Fáil entered government, more than 100,000 new homes have now been delivered.

That’s more homes in four years than in the previous nine years combined.

32,695 new home completions in 2023

Real homes. Real progress. Real momentum.

#HousingForAll

📄 IPRT made a submission to the Prison Education Taskforce, which is jointly chaired by Ministers Simon Harris TD and James Browne TD.

The submission includes key points on prison education and makes broad policy and practice recommendations.

Read here👉 iprt.ie/iprt-submissio…

Budget 2024 tax changes to come into effect tomorrow rte.ie/news/2023/1231…

Great interview with Minister James Browne TD

'It has become a huge public health problem and we’ve seen that with the ESRI report.

It is shocking the damage that has been done to our society as a result of gambling.'
thesun.ie/sport/11876053…

‘Record number of homes being built in Wexford’

southeastradio.ie/record-number-…

Minister Stephen Donnelly and Minister Mary Butler TD Department of Health have invited me to chair the new Commission on Care for Older People. I very much appreciated their invitation and I was happy to accept. Looking forward to this important task.

gov.ie/en/press-relea…