Results 12,001-12,020 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022 : Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: These amendments relate to the treatment of rental income under the fair deal nursing homes scheme, which is something that all colleagues have worked on to ensure that we can assist with properties that remain empty due to citizens being in the fair deal scheme, so that there is no disincentive or to reduce the disincentive that is there to actually rent out the properties should the...

Seanad: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022 : Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: This grouping comprises a set of technical amendments to the Affordable Housing Act 2021. Amendment No. 55 creates a new Part 10 in the Bill and defines the Affordable Housing Act as "the Act of 2021" for the sake of brevity, while amendment No. 62 changes the Title of this Bill, so it is amendment Nos. 56 to 60, inclusive, which are the substantive ones. The amendments proposed to be made...

Seanad: Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Building Control (Amendment) Bill 2022 : Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senators for their support. Provision of affordable homes is crucially important. There are boots on the ground on nine schemes at the moment. We will deliver homes this year. These amendments are of a technical nature. To answer the Senator's question, the shared equity scheme will open on 1 July and we are still on track to do that.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: It is not my amendment.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The amendment seeks to amend the Bill by deleting section 3(b), which I cannot accept. It would effectively allow a drafting inconsistency in subsection 12A of section 34 of the principal Act, which would not reflect the amendment to section 37(12) of the principal Act. Section 3(b) is actually a technical drafting amendment to amend section 34(12A) of the principal Act. The amendments in...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I have given my response. I am happy to deal with any other queries on Report Stage if the Senator wishes to come back in then.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senator for tabling the amendment. It seeks to amend section 5 of the Bill by inserting a new paragraph to the effect that "the Board shall indicate to the applicant what further actions may be required in light of such a refusal". I must oppose the amendment, which appears to have been misplaced in terms of its proposed insertion into the Bill as neither section 5 of the Bill...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: We are happy to consider any further amendments on Report Stage. I do not think I should be expected to comment on an amendment that has not been tabled. I will wait and see what comes forward on Report Stage. At official level, we are happy, as we have been throughout this process, to provide technical briefings should they be required.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I will try to deal with a number of questions and comments that have been asked and made, recognising the fact we are dealing with section 5.We could have a very detailed debate on planning and the changes that the Government has made to make sure we have an efficient and effective planning system in our country. I will address some of the points that have been made, particularly to section...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I attempted to address as best I can in the clearest possible way the reality of the situation. There is no incentive. How could there be an incentive to look for a parallel application when one is tying a future proposal to what could be a potentially toxic unauthorised development that somebody happens upon? I have addressed the matter -----

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I have listened intently to what the Senator has to say and I appreciate her input, I genuinely do, but section 5 is fundamental to the operation of this piece of legislation. I have addressed the points in detail and Senator McDowell has also made his contribution which I agree with. I note the Senator's amendments on this were ruled out of order because they were seen to be in direct...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I think I have addressed in detail the Government's position on section 5 and how it will operate.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I will respond to both amendments. We had a long discussion around section 5 and I reject any notion that there is an incentivisation within this. What we are doing is bringing forward a process for either regularisation through a proper transparent process or if that fails, enforcement. That is what it would lead to. Amendment No. 7 seeks to amend section 12 of the Bill by inserting a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hare Coursing (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: A licence under Section 32 of the Wildlife Acts is issued to the Irish Coursing Club which allows for a tag or other marking device to be used. A link to the licence is below:   www.npws.ie/licencesandconsents/hare-coursing  Details of hare capture locations are provided to my Department in advance of meetings.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Hare Coursing (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department can confirm that there has been no use of our properties by any Coursing club to hold Hare coursing events and my Department has not received any reports of illegal hunting of hares within the boundaries. The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: Requests for housing transfers are considered solely by the relevant local authority concerned in accordance with that authority’s allocation scheme, which is made by the elected members under section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and in compliance with Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011. Local authorities are responsible for assessing housing...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 220 together. Addressing the current housing shortage requires short, medium and long-term action to stimulate housing supply. The Croí Cónaithe (Cities) Scheme is one measure within Housing for All that will help to kick-start apartment developments that might not otherwise be developed. In developing the Croí Cónaithe...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I am considering the report, entitled 'A Review Into Certain Planning Matters in Respect of Donegal County Council', by Mr. Rory Mulcahy S.C., and will bring this matter to Government for consideration in due course. With regard to the publication of the Mulcahy Report, the decisions of the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI/18/0019) of 13 February 2019 and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Emergency Accommodation (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 225 together. My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on numbers using emergency accommodation, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. These reports serve as important management...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Protection (31 May 2022)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226, 227 and 228 together. Work on the upcoming Wild Bird Declarations is ongoing. Minister O'Brien extended the existing Wild Bird Declarations by a period of three months up to the end of July 2022. This will allow for the completion of the review of submissions received as part of the public consultation process, the receipt of legal advice and other...