Results 61-80 of 91 for going forward speaker:Peter Burke

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rental Sector (26 May 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising this matter. I appreciate the genuine way in which he put his concerns forward. I accept that those concerns are valid. The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements on a range of matters such as structural repair, sanitary facilities, heating, ventilation, natural light and the safety of gas, oil and electrical...

Seanad: Appointment of Ordinary Members of An Coimisiún Toghcháin: Motion (14 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: ...commission sets about doing its work. It will be open to conduct a public consultation at that juncture. In the Act, three months after the final census figures, the report must be completed. Going on that trajectory we hope to have the new boundaries legislated for before summer. That is important as the Senators pointed out both for the electorate and people practising politics....

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Jan 2024)

Peter Burke: ...March, which it is hoped will facilitate additional steps. Ireland has long supported a merit-based enlargement process and the Commission's 2023 enlargement package highlighted the work that is going on across candidate countries to ready themselves for EU membership. Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia continue to be the countries most prepared for EU membership, although the rate...

Seanad: Maternity-Paternity Leave for County and City Councillors: Motion (7 Dec 2021)

Peter Burke: ...the debate, which is very important in terms of where we are in the process. I want to reflect on where we were on July 2020 when I took office as Minister of State with responsibility for local government and planning. We had the local elections in 2014 where around 21% of candidates elected were women. In 2019 that increased marginally to 24%, which was still significantly out of...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Tithíochta) 2020: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank all of the speakers who contributed to this debate. In my opening remarks I set out clearly the direction of travel for the Government and outlined how seriously we are taking this. An interim chairperson has been appointed. I have made it clear what we are doing in that regard. The Constitution affects us all and we must balance any proposal with other rights in our Constitution...

Short-term Lettings Enforcement Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 May 2022)

Peter Burke: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this Private Members' Bill on behalf of the Government. As the House is aware, new arrangements to regulate the short-term letting sector under the planning code were introduced in July 2019. The principal aim of the legislation was to return much-needed accommodation being used for short-term letting purposes in the designated rent pressure...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (28 Sep 2022)

Peter Burke: ...seven months. That is a huge achievement for him in terms of getting through his illness. He is a credit to the local authority in Longford. I am sure he will be back at work shortly. I look forward to engaging with him again. As I said, I thank Senator Carrigy for constantly bringing this issue up with my office. I acknowledge the funding pressures on local authorities generally,...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) (Certificate of Life) Bill 2022: Second Stage (20 Oct 2022)

Peter Burke: ...Senator Doherty and in particular Senator Seery Kearney for that very moving and emotive contribution in which the Senator outlined a life-changing experience that so many in our society go through in their daily lives. It is poignant to note that October is the month set aside to mark pregnancy and infant loss and it is good that this House is contributing to recognising the unbearable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU General Affairs Council Meeting: Discussion (7 Feb 2024)

Peter Burke: ...to expand the coalition calling for a ceasefire. The Deputy is correct to point out that we came together with four countries to try to shift the dial at the European Council level by putting forward a submission together. We are currently trying to increase the number of co-authors that can put a submission to the European Council that would bring significant pressure to bear to bring...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2020)

Peter Burke: ...the Covid-19 period, my officials have been engaging directly with senior planning staff of the planning authorities on keeping the planning system open and operational, in particular through an ongoing dialogue with the sub-committee of the County and City Managers Association. Through this forum, local authorities highlighted the difficulties in conducting a public meeting as required...

Rent Reduction Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Jul 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputies for bringing forward this Bill. However, the Government will be opposing it. Aside from its technical and practical operational shortcomings, it would in all likelihood quickly face significant risk of legal challenge and is likely to have a severely detrimental effect on the supply of much-needed rental property. The Government is acutely aware that rents are very...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Peter Burke: ...wits' end and concerned about rental increases, the availability of rental properties and, critically, their future access to sustainable housing. It is something that weighs heavily on me and the Government. People come to this House to read emails and give details of very vulnerable constituents, and we all meet such people. Deputy Ó Murchú referenced the "single...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Business Supports (23 May 2024)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputy Smith for his kind wishes. I propose to take questions Nos 54, 58 and 63 together. The Government is very aware that SMEs have faced a number of economic shocks in recent years which have resulted in cost increases. On 15 May, I, along with my Government colleagues, announced a substantial range of measures to reduce costs for small and medium sized businesses. Included in...

Affordable Homes in the Poolbeg Strategic Development Zone: Motion (29 Jun 2021)

Peter Burke: I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. The Government firmly believes that home ownership and more affordable rental is essential for our society. We have put delivery, affordability and the chance to own your own home at the heart of our housing policy. In not opposing this motion, the Government points towards our shared goal to deliver affordable housing and makes clear, as...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (19 Oct 2021)

Peter Burke: ...social and economic benefit; and set out high-level priorities for the enhancement of the marine planning system in Ireland. This grouping of amendments proposes instead to establish a mechanism going far beyond oversight and democratic approval, effectively resulting in an Oireachtas marine planning policy statement, MPPS. The Oireachtas would be acting, in part, as a quasi-marine...

Seanad: Councillors' Pay: Motion (22 Feb 2021)

Peter Burke: ...that has been articulated by all Members of this House and by members of all 31 local authorities throughout the country. I fully empathise with them and understand that because this issue is going on far too long. I fully accept that. We need to find a way forward very quickly. In terms of the Moorhead report, I wish to outline what happens with local authorities, where we are in...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Jul 2022)

Peter Burke: ...2021 and 2022 and they shall be construed together as one. (4) This Act, other than sections 3to 7of Part 2, and Part 4, shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage may by order or orders appoint, either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision, and different days may be so appointed for different...

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy Report: Statements (22 Nov 2023)

Peter Burke: ...conclude today's session with a few words on the consultative forum and the related next steps. Allow me to thank Deputies for their valuable contributions in the House today. One of the main goals of the forum was to generate discussions on our foreign, security and defence policies. Anyone who has listened to the last two hours of lively, open debate will surely conclude that we have...

Retained Firefighters: Motion [Private Members] (15 Nov 2022)

Peter Burke: ...and be clear that this is a genuine case that has been put before this House this evening, as indeed is what has been articulated over the past a number of years. I appreciate the work that is going into it. I would also like to sympathise with and give my condolences to the families in, and to the community of, Creeslough, which has experienced so much loss. I want to put on the record...

Rising Rental Costs: Motion [Private Members] (4 May 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank Deputies for contributing to this debate and the discussion of the rental sector. I look forward to the real changes that Housing for All will make for landlords and tenants alike. However, the motion generally addresses the RTB-ESRI rent index as published last week and calls for a number of actions from Government which have been debated numerous times in both Houses. The...