Results 1-20 of 25 for going forward speaker:Francis Noel Duffy

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...where there were six provisions. Five of those were progressive and expansive in the context of the economy and the urban construct. I agree with that and support that we expand and move forward. However, the environmental side in this legislation is again about preserving and protecting, which means to stand still. If everything else is moving forward, the environment is probably...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...of towns and a number of cities. In itself, building in compact urban sites is sustainable - brownfield sites - and it is about making that work. If the Minister of State could define some wording to go into the Bill in the context of embodied carbon then it is up to the local authority, the planning department, the director of the department and his or her staff to work out what is the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)

Francis Noel Duffy: .... The technology is there and it is being used. When that comes, will there be a case for the next Government or whichever Government to amend the current Act to bring it in to strategise going forward? Alternatively, is there a way of putting something into the Act that when these things are coming – because the Minister of State referenced them coming – going forward,...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...said in that there is reference within development plans to cover that. I agree that building control is a place where measurement should happen. However, in the context of the State strategising going forward, architects and engineers strategise for the site they have and comply with whatever is put in front of them, but they do not strategise for a county, town, village or urban...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...weight, if any, as those matters appear to the decision-maker, which is the Minister. Really, therefore, it is just adding in a piece to "support and enhance biodiversity". It is a simple line to go into the Bill so that there is something in there about biodiversity for the Minister at the time when he or she is putting forward a national planning statement, because there is not at the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...coming from outside. It is not a cheap industry. We will be prospecting. Perhaps that is more of a statement. Perhaps there is funding. Perhaps there is EU funding or world funding to assist us to push forward quicker, at least with regard to the infrastructure. It is good that Dr. Mellett is here. Are we going to need a serious naval force, going forward, to protect our asset?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed). (26 Oct 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: ..., a mayor could sit in with the Department or the NTA. I have found that the NTA is a closed shop. Stuff was passed by the regional assembly and there was pushback; I do not really want to go into that. They would have the power just to be sitting at the table and discussing that this is what the people want and pushing it forward with their team especially if there is funding, power or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Review of Part B (Fire Safety) of Building Regulations: Dublin Fire Brigade (23 May 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: I am grateful to the witnesses, as I think we all are, for giving of their time and knowledge. It always helps us move forward with whatever agenda we have. My question is partly timber-related and concerns the effective prohibition of mass timber over three storeys. Considering that most of the First World is constructing for mass timber buildings of up to eight storeys, why are we so far...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Modern Construction Methods: Discussion (2 May 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...what the regulation states, and I know from experience and working in the sector, you will not get a fire certificate because it will be said that it does not match, or at least that is my experience. You can go outside of it but in my experience, it is very difficult. Is a process under way so we can use our timber to make C16? I have had meetings with the Department, and Mr. Seán...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for All: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2023)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...years. Does the Minister have any insight from on the ground and within the Department on the numbers that are escalating? We spoke to the Department last week, when it said it sees the numbers going well beyond what we got this year or last year. Will we surpass the 2,000 units going forward?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Recent Trends in the Private Rental Sector: Residential Tenancies Board (29 Nov 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: Fair enough. Does the RTB have data on accidental landlords? I know some people who have sold their apartments because it is the right time for them at their age to move forward and there is fear of what might be coming. During the noughties people bought investment properties. It was the thing. It is where people got their pensions. Everybody was doing it. Is there any correlation...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Nov 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...was passed by the House. There are issues with long Covid. I know the Government supported that motion. Will it be in a position to provide funding for research and GP training in that area going forward?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Carbon and Energy within the Construction Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (3 May 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...and talked to people in sawmills as part of an academic project intended to upskill students and encourage them into this sector. We can continue to ship our timber to the UK. That is where it is going The British are building timber-frame houses with it. One of the companies told me that Brexit will not effect that. The British have a hunger for our timber and will continue to use...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Carbon and Energy within the Construction Industry: Discussion (5 Apr 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. I have read their statements. How will the State implement the embodied carbon targets going forward and is there a plan for doing so? I am glad to welcome all the witnesses here today. I am a little disappointed that the Department official could not make it. However as members know and it may have been discussed - I am sorry I missed the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...coming in. I will point to Moldova's role with the refugees. It is quite heartwarming to see what it is doing in that regard. I congratulate both countries on their bravery in their David versus Goliath scenarios. We all know the experience, having ourselves been in that situation as a country. My question comes back a little bit to Deputy Ó Murchú, who noted the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Post-Brexit Relations: Engagement with Scottish Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (9 Mar 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...Mr. Robertson for his insight and wisdom. I congratulate him on last year's elections, which I watched with interest night and day. I am happy to see the Green Party in a partnership in that government. It is great to see. My questions have been covered. I have much writing here and I know the issues have been covered the whole way through. I go back to what Senator Martin asked....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...of a sustainable urban area. We have Cloughjordan as an ecovillage, but it would be very good if the LDA could procure a sustainable urban site, develop that out and then use it as an example going forward. Are those LDA projects and ideas being moved forward?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...money in this country. It is only in the past 20 years that we went through a boom and we are back in that space now. We want to invest in these places. It is provided for in the programme for Government. I know from my experience as an architect and one working in the protected structures area that they are really expensive. It is not fair to say that they are cheaper than new...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: ..., because there is a process involved and we have to get lawyers in, who have to drink a lot of tea thinking about what they are doing or whatever it is they are at, how do our guests foresee that going forward? My understanding is the push the Government wants is to ensure we find these units and, if they are not being used after six months, CPO them. Do our guests see an issue with our...

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

Francis Noel Duffy: I thank the Minister of State for bringing forward this Bill. A crucial provision of the Bill is the introduction of indefinite tenures, which is a Green Party policy and a commitment we secured in the programme for Government. However, in a recent discussion with Father Peter McVerry, he had a very clear and frank message for us legislators, which is that we have to be far more radical...