Results 6,621-6,640 of 27,073 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I wish to ask a question on the section.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: This is Committee Stage.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I wish to get clarification. We are allowed to ask questions on the section.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: There is no issue about being rushed through sections. I wish to hear a little bit more about the plans for the staffing of the new marine area regulatory authority, MARA, and what the Minister envisages for the staffing of it. How big of an entity will it be? There is reference to consultants and approval for them. I would like to know what is envisaged, as to the type of body it is....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Does the Minister of State have any conception of how many people might be located in the office?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Will there be further discussion on that? Will we get down to the granular detail of what type of operation this is going to be?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I take it the Minister of State has no idea what sort of staff numbers we are talking-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: -----or how it would be structured.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Or what departments or sections.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To clarify, that is a fairly important development. It is one that we welcome because it would be concerning for us if there was the potential for disposal of any part of the maritime area to private interests.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: My recollection of it was that it specifically said - we quoted the section on the previous occasion - that it referred to the sale or disposal.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Selling or disposing of is not an administrative function, in my opinion. I do not know what the Minister of State means by "administrative function" but I welcome what he said.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: A positive victory for Oireachtas oversight.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Agreed.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: My question is more on the section. Will I raise it?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: This is a sensible provision to try and ensure co-operation between, if I understand it correctly, different State agencies, Departments and public bodies that may have an interest in the maritime area, have responsibilities in the maritime area or be involved in activities in the maritime area. That seems sensible given that there are many competing imperatives in the maritime area, whether...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (9 Nov 2021)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the Minister of State for that information. It may be something to consider.