Results 7,161-7,180 of 25,844 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is crucially important that we get to the truth of this matter, that lessons are learned and that all the facts get out there. That is why the importance of the review is paramount. It is important to say that we do not have all of the facts at this point in time. That is why, in fairness, the Minister and the HSE have decided to get an external view. I cannot answer the specific...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Deputy Healy-Rae made some quite serious charges against the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that would be-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: That is okay if he feels justified in doing so. In particular, his comment about the Minister interfering in the planning process regarding the LNG project is simply not true and is a very dangerous charge to make.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Anyone is entitled to make a submission to a planning application. An Bord Pleanála is an independent planning authority. It made a decision on the appeal independently and has published the reasons for it. As Minister with responsibility for planning, I cannot say any more on that. Options are open to all parties, should they wish to pursue it further. However, stating that a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister and anyone in this House is entitled to make a submission to a planning application.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I am not trying to be argumentative but to defend the Minister, Deputy Ryan, in that regard, he is entitled to do so. Investment in roads, including regional roads is crucial. The facts bear this out. At the start of this year, for regional and local roads, the allocation was €626 million. That compares to €597 million in 2022. We need to make sure that road...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I cannot.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I was going to say that for clarity's sake. Any Deputy in this House, except me, can do so. There is no compulsion either - the Deputy referred to others-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In any case the decision has been made and if the Deputy feels things have not been done correctly, there are other avenues he can go down. I have stated the facts about rural investment and investment in the regions. There has never been greater investment than since this Government came into office. If you look at local property tax, we have allocated an additional €75 million...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We will double-check that. Let me address the cheap remark about the three leaders being away. In fairness, it is a UN General Assembly. There is a WHO summit on pandemic preparation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Anyone in government who travels and is away is working, and the Deputy knows that. Hers was a pretty cheap shot and one she should not repeat. I do take responsibility for the work this Government does. I agree with the Deputy on that. We have many more challenges. What I am saying to the Deputy concerns housing delivery across all forms of tenure. Even if she looks at what will...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We will do everything we can to continue with the progress we are making.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Shanahan for his contribution. Of course these is a role for one-off rural housing. I am not opposed to it and never have been. Last year, 2022, over 5,500 one-off rural homes were built, 16% up on the year before. While building these, we need to make sure we are revitalising our towns and villages. That is why I have been very strong, particularly with the Croí...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand what the Deputy is saying in that, in many instances, families or individuals talk to their Deputies or other public representatives about planning when there have been issues and when they have not been able to get planning permission. They seek advice from Deputies, and indeed councillors. I am just stating the fact that over 5,500 individual rural homes were delivered in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I note in Deputy Doherty's response that he did not answer any questions or put forward any alternatives.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no Sinn Féin housing policy. It does not exist. There is no question that there remain very significant challenges. We have an overall target this year to deliver 29,000 new homes and we intend to do that. We delivered affordable homes in the first year of Housing for All for the first time in a generation. Speaking of photo opportunities, very recently in Deputy Louise...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The delivery figures show that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Not everybody is feeling it. People watching will see that-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: In fairness, people watching will see that all that Sinn Féin has called for, particularly for first-time buyers, is the removal of all the supports available, including the help to buy scheme, the first home scheme and the vacancy grant. Sinn Féin would get rid of them all.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Sep 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for her questions and the points she has made. I reject outright that Housing for All is failing. It is not. I have responded to some of the charges from the Deputy opposite, which, to be fair, were put in a less constructive way than those Deputy Bacik put. It is all I would expect from Deputy Doherty on most Thursdays in the House.