Results 801-820 of 2,064 for speaker:Pat Casey

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: Mr. O'Neill is saying there is a viability issue outside Dublin. Is that because of demand?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: It is on the margins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Chairperson Designate (15 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: I wish Mr. Dunne the best of luck. I am not sure whether he was headhunted or expressed an interest in the job. If the latter, why? He must have a reason for going for the job. What does he see as his priorities in the job?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Chairperson Designate (15 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: I wish to follow up on a few points, but at this stage Deputy Ó Broin has raised most issues. Every member has had different views on the RTB be it from the point of view of a tenant or a landlord in terms of having had bad experiences and if they have not got the outcome they wished to achieve. It is the case that most landlords see the RTB as the enemy, as opposed to the board taking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Board: Chairperson Designate (15 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: We must equally admit that a significant portion of the rental sector is working properly. From today's debate, one would get the impression that it is completely imploding and not working. I return to the amateur landlords, as Deputy Ó Broin has described them. In fairness to Mr. Dunne's contribution, he made the point that the commercial landlord is more tuned in, more aware and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: I thank Deputy Ó Broin. I will start with the CEO of the Housing Agency, Mr. John O'Connor, as I think Deputy Ó Broin targeted a few questions at him. Will the other witnesses indicate if they wish to contribute? Witnesses are not obliged to come back in, should they not wish to do so. I am aware that we have five delegations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. The more we go through the Bill, the more holes we find in it and the more questions are raised about it. How we manage land now and into the future is how we will develop affordability, so we are considering critical legislation. Something is needed to try to control and manage land but I do not know if this legislation is the vehicle to do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: On the role of the LDA, I did not read into the legislation what our guests have read into it. Unless the LDA has a function in acquiring land for future use, it will not serve its purpose. One of its primary objectives is to stockpile land for future use. I have an issue with State land being sold to the LDA at market value. Whether it is HSE or CIÉ land, the State bought it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: I would not call it stockpiling but buying strategic land in advance. Otherwise, we are back into the market cycle again where the State comes in too late to purchase land that has already been zoned.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (10 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: 143. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Garda national protective service and its roll out and operations in Wicklow Garda Division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41472/19]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Land Development Agency Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: I thank representatives from both bodies for their presentations. We keep coming back to how we achieve affordability. Land cost has been identified as a critical part of that. While Project Ireland 2040 is concentrating on stronger urban growth with higher densities and brownfield sites, the LDA can form part of the solution. When we talk about land, even when talking about the agency,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Land Development Agency Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: I think we ended up roaming into the area of discussing affordability as opposed to the specifics of the LDA. I will return to the issue of affordability later on but with regard to the transparency of the Agency, as outlined in the general scheme of the Bill, I think criteria such as freedom of information are listed in the second part of head 9. In the context of our engagement last year...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Land Development Agency Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: We would not need the commercial strength and profitability in the LDA if this fiscal space was not hanging over us, with this on-off balance sheet matter. I would be much happier to support the LDA because then it could go for entirely social and affordable housing whereas this fiscal space and on-off balance sheet matter is bringing commercial viability and profitability back into the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Home Care Packages Data (9 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: 99. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons up to 30 September 2019 waiting for homecare support by county in tabular form; the number of applications for homecare support up to 30 September by CHO areas 6 and 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41295/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rate Reductions (8 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: 47. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the restoration of the VAT rate to 9% to improve competitiveness in view of the fact this is the highest rate of VAT on tourist accommodation in the EU; the Brexit effects on British visitors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40910/19]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Costs (8 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: 48. To ask the Minister for Finance the rank of Ireland in the EU in terms of the level of motor insurance and business insurance costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40914/19]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (8 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: 156. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to address the number of persons living in direct provision centres nationally; his further plans to cease using hotels as emergency centres; the procedures for residents of these centres to make complaints against operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40908/19]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Community Alert Programme (8 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: 160. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to improve and expand the existing community text alert scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40985/19]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (8 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: 180. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of businesses by county that have applied for working capital under the Brexit loan scheme; the number of such businesses that have been sanctioned financing to date; and the total value. [40986/19]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (8 Oct 2019)

Pat Casey: 181. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of food businesses by county that have applied for working capital under the Brexit loan scheme which opened in March 2018 up until the end of the third quarter of 2019; the number of such businesses that have been sanctioned financing to date; and the value of same. [41038/19]