Results 9,941-9,960 of 11,795 for speaker:Niall Collins

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: -----in respect of planning policy. If there is anything one can say about John Gormley and the Green Party, it is that they have high standards in respect of planning policy. This charge has been led by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, who has just happened to leave the Chamber.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: One should consider his track record and his credibility because he continually calls into question John Gormley's credibility. He campaigned against the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: He went around the country, spoke at public meetings and promised to reverse it. However, when he entered office, he commenced the legislation. Similarly, he opposed the Wildlife (Amendment) Act relating to the Ward Union stag hunt. He went around the country and told every group, including RISE!, that Fine Gael would reverse it.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: It relates to the credibility of the man who was sitting beside the Minister of State a few minutes ago. He will say one thing when in opposition but will say another and will act completely differently when he is in government. The point is that-----

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: While he could have remained here, he ran out the door.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: The point is a number of complaints were made to the Minister of State's Department by the Office of the Ombudsman and the local government auditor. These were not spurious complaints lodged by people from the sides of the streets or by a couple of cranks. They were made by reputable organisations and the Minister, who has left the Chamber, has conveniently sought to try to rubbish some of...

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: Members of the aforementioned two parties, along with all other local authority members nationwide, grossly over-zoned land. I do not make this point for the benefit of Members in the Chamber but for the benefit of those outside who may be listening. Fine Gael and the Labour Party were party to the building up of the property bubble. They were party to the building up of the complete...

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: Moreover, it is a fact that enough land was over-zoned in Ireland to build 1.5 million houses. When one is a member of a local authority, as were members of Fine Gael and the Labour Party and my own-----

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: -----one is involved in making development plans and local area plans in which one zones land. The Government parties display a complete absence of responsibility for the local authorities they control because they do not wish to recognise and accept they played a significant part in over-zoning the supply of land, which helped to build up the property bubble.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: That is a fact. Another point worth noting is the Minister of State did an interview on RTE radio with Mary Wilson yesterday, in which she referred to Fianna Fáil, the Mahon report and criminality in the same sentence. When she was challenged on it, she withdrew it.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: However, if the Minister of State wishes to talk about criminality, what has she to hide?

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: I will turn to the position in Waterford, which was not one of the seven local authorities named. There was a finding of corruption and criminality in the criminal courts in Waterford.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: I acknowledge that two members of my party were involved in voting for the rezoning in question. However, my party called for and continues to call for an independent inquiry into events in Waterford and on the day it did so, the now-departed Minister stated there was no prima facie evidence for an inquiry in Waterford. He stated this even though all the members of the local authority in...

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: A serious breakdown of the system took place in Waterford and speakers in this House earlier this evening referred to this matter. However, all the Government speakers this evening defaulted back to the Mahon report. The Mahon tribunal covered a period up to 1992. I refer to what has happened since then and Members opposite cannot keep defaulting away from it. Moreover, if they wish to...

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: There has been no acceptance from the Government of the day of responsibility in respect of the Moriarty tribunal. Deputy Enda Kenny has not stated, publically, privately or anywhere that he accepts the findings of the Moriarty tribunal.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: That is a terrible state of affairs.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: In conclusion-----

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: While Members opposite can give a history lesson-----

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: The point is they seem to find it difficult to accept that with a mandate comes responsibility. Responsibility has been exercised but there also has been dereliction of responsibility from the Minister of State's party-----

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jun 2012)

Niall Collins: -----from the party with which it is in coalition, from my party and from many other people with no parties throughout the country in respect of local authorities.