Results 11,201-11,220 of 15,090 for speaker:Eoin Ó Broin

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: 660. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the Traveller accommodation allocations for each local authority for 2019; and the drawdown to date by each local authority in tabular form. [47471/19]

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: We had a good discussion about this section and the issue of applying fees for registration. A number of us who had supported the Minister on previous legislation that applied fees to AHBs for accessing services from the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, felt it was appropriate to apply fees when getting a service but that there should not be a registration fee. I understood from the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: I agree with Deputy O'Brien. If we can agree to that, we can proceed.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: I move amendment No. 8: In page 14, line 36, after "Minister" to insert "from a short list approved by the Public Appointments Service". It is straightforward. We raised the issue of various appointments, whether it is the chief executive officer, CEO, or board members, and the need to go through the Public Appointments Service, PAS. The officials indicated that is the intention anyway...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: My concern is that while it is intended to use PAS, if that is not a cast-iron provision in the legislation, it could be possible for a future CEO to be appointed by a Minister outside of that process. Is the Minister saying there is no set of circumstances within the Bill where a Minister could act outside of the PAS process in the appointment of a CEO? As he will be aware, the previous...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: Sure, but there have been occasions in a previous Administration where Ministers have acted outside of that process because the legislation they were operating under did not make it mandatory. That is all I am seeking to avoid.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: I am happy to withdraw the amendment on that basis.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: I move amendment No. 9: In page 15, lines 18 and 19, to delete "without the consent of the Regulator given with the prior approval of the Minister". This is a related issue about people having additional employment. I am trying to remove the possibility of secondary employment. Does the Minister want to make the case as to why secondary employment should be permissible, albeit with the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: If secondary employment was to become a consideration, what processes are in place to ensure that when the regulator and the Minister are making a decision, there are no conflicts of interest? Is there a formal mechanism for making that assessment?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: I am happy to withdraw the amendment on that basis.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: I move amendment No. 10: In page 16, to delete lines 31 to 34. I have a strong view on this amendment and I am going to press it. The lines in the section that I am seeking to remove prohibit the CEO from expressing an opinion on the merits of Government policy, Ministers and the objectives of such policy. They are too restrictive. If we appoint experts and knowledgeable and...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: Sure, but this is meant to be an independent regulator. While I accept what the Minister is saying about the separation of functions of the Accounting Officer and broader issues of policy and legislation, the two are inextricably linked. Therefore, as Accounting Officer, there may well be situations where issues will arise relevant to legislation or policy. I would not like to constrain an...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: I move amendment No. 11: In page 20, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: “(c) following consultation with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government.”. The amendments speak for themselves. I would like to give the committee a formal role at a consultative level in considering key issues such as the development of the strategy...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: It is precisely because I want it to be a statutory requirement that I have tabled it. It would only undermine the independence of the regulator if we were to be given a formal function in deciding on issues or had the ability to have a veto. This is simply about allowing the committee to be a formal structure or statutory part of the consultation process. The strategy statement referred...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: The Minister can correct me if I am wrong, but I assume the regulator will draft the strategy statement and submit it to the Minister for approval. Once approved, it will be published. That is the point at which we will get to discuss it. What I am saying is the regulator should discuss it with us prior to its submission to the Minister in order that our views could be taken on board.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: There will be nothing to stop us from inviting the regulator, but there will be no statutory obligation on it to take up the invitation, which is the issue. I will not labour the point.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: I move amendment No. 12: In page 21, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “(2) The Regulator shall present the annual report to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government within a month of submitting the report to the Minister.”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: I am happy to withdraw the amendment on that basis.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: I concur.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (19 Nov 2019)

Eoin Ó Broin: The door is locked.