Results 61-80 of 3,850 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Mick Wallace

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Sites Levy (9 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: I thought I was supposed to have two minutes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Sites Levy (9 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: The vacant levy is doing nothing to tackle land banking.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Private Rented Accommodation (9 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: 101. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the increased number of bulk sales of apartments by developers to REITS or investment funds; his plans to counter this and the effect it has on the first-time buyer and rental markets; if he has had discussions with his colleague, the Minister for Finance, with regard to same; and if he will make a statement on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Private Rented Accommodation (9 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: A site adjacent to Central Bank Currency Centre in Sandyford, and owned by the Central Bank, was placed on the vacant site register by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in 2018. That site is bounded to the north by sports pitches and to the south by the M50 slip road. The Central Bank appealed its inclusion on the register and stated: "The site creates a security buffer enabling...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Private Rented Accommodation (9 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: The legislation is rubbish.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Sites Levy (9 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: 68. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to publish the 31 progress reports on the implementation of the vacant site levy he has received from local authorities; if he has considered changes or amendments to the vacant site levy further to the information contained in such reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16352/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Sites Levy (9 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: 117. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has considered examining reducing the 0.05 ha minimum site size threshold for the vacant site levy given that over 160 sites were identified by Dublin City Council as being vacant but were under 0.05 ha; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16350/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Sites Levy (9 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: The first question relates to the 31 progress reports on the implementation of the vacant site levy he has received from local authorities. I have received them via freedom of information request, but it might be helpful for him to publish them. They make for interesting reading and it is a pity it took so long to get these progress reports. Has the Department considered amendments to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Sites Levy (9 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: Do I have two minutes this time?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Sites Levy (9 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: The changes the Minister introduced to the vacant site levy are not adequate and have not tackled landbanking. I wonder if the Department has any interest in doing anything about it. The vacant site implementation report from Wicklow County Council shows that it looked at 158 sites. It highlighted a lack of clear understanding and interpretation of the legislation by internal staff in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Sites Levy (9 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: The levy will bring in approximately €10 million on the sites the Minister mentioned because it was 3% of approximately €300 million and it will be 7% in the following year. As he knows, my Bill proposes a levy of 25% which would really encourage them not to bank land. Mel Reynolds has pointed out that in Dublin alone it could bring in close to €300 million in one year...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (9 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: Thank you very much. I will spare the Tánaiste advice on Brexit, although I know the summit tomorrow will be dominated by it. I am sure he has enough wise fellows telling him what to do, but it is important that we put some other issues back on the table, as the two previous speakers have done. The corporate capture of the European Union and national governments has rarely been as...

Agrifood Market Priorities post Brexit: Statements (3 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: I agree with Deputy Penrose's final sentiment. If Brexit turns out to be much nicer than we think, I will not give the Government the credit for it but if it turns out to be a disaster, I will not blame it either because we are in the hands of the Brits and they do not even know what they want themselves. It will not be our fault or credit. The Minister said developing new markets and...

Agrifood Market Priorities post Brexit: Statements (3 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: The Italians would give the Minister a few lessons on handling the EU fellows. A sizeable sector of the farming community wants to do things differently.

Agrifood Market Priorities post Brexit: Statements (3 Apr 2019)

Mick Wallace: I am. I will let Deputy Pringle in shortly. This sector is being forced to do it without the Department and sometimes it involves conflict for them with the Government, the big farmers, the big processors and the retailers. The Talamh Beo group set up in Galway recently is a perfect example. It sees what is at stake and what needs to change. A member of the group, Fergal Anderson,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists (28 Mar 2019)

Mick Wallace: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting the issue. The number of children and adolescents awaiting first-time assessment for occupational therapy nationally as of January 2019 was 16,868, a fairly depressing figure. However, the response to a parliamentary question I tabled last week reveals serious inconsistencies in the number of children and adolescents on waiting lists in different...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Occupational Therapy Waiting Lists (28 Mar 2019)

Mick Wallace: I know it is not the fault of the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, but this is crazy. She is telling me that the HSE intends to recruit 40 occupational therapists nationally when 35 occupational therapist posts are needed to meet the demand in Wexford according to the occupational therapy manager in the county. This is off the Richter scale. What kind of impact will 40 make on...

Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (28 Mar 2019)

Mick Wallace: Whether or not we allow access for fishermen on both sides of the Border for up to six nautical miles off the coast of each other's jurisdictions is hardly the biggest problem. What is more important is what type of fishermen we allow. Are we allowing small self-employed business people or all fishing operations, including large corporate fleets? I know plenty of small fishermen who are...

Beef Sector: Motion (27 Mar 2019)

Mick Wallace: I also welcome the motion and the debate is needed. As the Minister and many people in the Gallery will know, I have been perceived to be anti-farmer at times, which I vehemently deny. I have been very critical of Government policy, which has led to many problems for farmers. I believe we are overproducing. I believe the emissions from the dairy and beef herd are an issue. Increasing the...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (27 Mar 2019)

Mick Wallace: It is an economic crisis, not a humanitarian crisis. There is a humanitarian crisis in Yemen.