Results 2,421-2,440 of 4,706 for speaker:Dessie Ellis

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I move amendment No. 8:In page 16, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: “(12) Where the grounds for a possession application are anti-social behaviour, and in the opinion of the local authority a successful application may increase the chances of a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality of the dwelling to which the tenancy agreement relates in...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (11 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I support Deputy Thomas P. Broughan in this instance, although even a 21 day period would be a little short. A period of one month would be fairer. Ten working days to react is very short.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I agree with some of the previous speakers. The ability to write off debt varies in local authorities. That is an important area because some people simply cannot afford to pay. Local authorities have added to the problem by allowing arrears to build up. If an authority has allowed arrears to build up, should it not be punished in some way or does the tenant have to pick up on the fact...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I support Deputy Thomas P. Broughan's amendment. We all know that different local authorities have different codes on rent arrears. In many cases, the codes depend on the individuals working in their rent sections. Often, people who are added to the list suddenly find themselves facing significant arrears because it is discovered they should have been paying more. We need to address these...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I move amendment No. 2:In page 7, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: "Tenants right to advocacy 7. A tenant in all dealings with a local authority can request the presence of an authorised advocate. This request cannot be refused by the local authority and local authorities should as far as practicable engage constructively with the authorised advocate if requested by the...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I wish to press my amendment because I do not accept what the Minister of State has said. As has been outlined by Members here, there are serious issues involved. Deputy Coppinger made reference to non-Irish nationals but the issues are not confined to that cohort of the population. Issues such as eviction and anti-social behaviour are very serious. In many cases, people could be facing...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 11 o’clock My amendment suggests this should be at the tenant's request. Some tenants understand what they are being told, but I have come across people who cannot even read or write. They go in to their local authorities and just sit and listen, but do not know what is going on. Practice is different across the local authorities and that is my concern. Nothing is defined. A...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (11 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I move amendment No. 1:In page 6, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following:“ “authorised advocate” means an elected public representative, social worker, medical or legal professional or a representative of a tenants or housing rights body recognised by the local authority;”.I have tabled these amendments on the basis that many tenants who go to local...

Death and Burial of Children in Mother and Baby Homes: Motion [Private Members] (10 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I welcome the news today that a commission of investigation is to be established into the monstrous discovery in Tuam. I welcome that this has been done with a pace not seen in previous cases where the State might have felt the need to close ranks and protect itself. Many lessons have been learned over recent years, especially during this Government's term, that action has to be taken and...

Order of Business (5 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: There are serious concerns in regard to Moore Street and its environs. The protection and preservation of the entire historic area is of national importance. As we approach the 2016 celebrations, hanging over us are plans to bulldoze this area. The monuments Bill needs to be brought forward and we need a debate and action to stop our heritage being vandalised. When will this happen? We...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: The amendments must be tabled for Report Stage before Friday. That is a tight schedule for many members.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: At the time the RAS was introduced, a commitment was given that people would be housed and the lease would roll over, or they would get a local authority house. It seems that commitment was never lived up to. What has happened is that many who availed of accommodation under RAS have ended up homeless, which is absolutely scandalous. They are left sitting in no-man's-land. I understand...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: At the time the RAS was introduced, a commitment was given to people on the housing list that were they to accept accommodation under the scheme they would be taken off the housing list, but on the basis that they would have a place and would either get another RAS if the RAS disappeared or get local authority housing. Now these people are faced with a terrible situation if, for example,...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Could it be worded in terms of putting them back on the housing list and dating it back to the time when they first went on the housing list? People who availed of housing under RAS had to have been on the housing list for at least three years to be eligible for RAS in the first place. They would have been a long time on the housing list. There may be a way of giving them a position on the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Amendment No. 52 is included in this group. Deputy Cowen has tabled an amendment regarding people on RAS.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I will discuss it then.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I have always been opposed to the idea of a mandatory deduction of rent at source to deal with arrears. However, if it was a very serious case where an eviction was taking place and appropriate warnings and arbitration had been provided for and exhausted, taking a percentage from a social welfare payment would be an option. It should be a last resort given that people are struggling and...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I wish to clarify one point. I assume that people in receipt of the HAP are on the housing list. We have encountered problems where people lost their homes and ended up in receipt of rent supplement but were not included in the housing list. Is it intended to rectify this? There is a similar problem where people have become homeless and ended up sleeping rough. However, they have not...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I sought clarity on persons who were homeless but not on a homeless priority list. This has been a huge problem. The people concerned move from place to place but are not considered for inclusion in the homeless priority list. Perhaps the Minister of State has not encountered this issue, but it is happening in Dublin.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: It does not. They are in no man's land. The issue must be addressed.