Results 1,261-1,280 of 1,338 for speaker:Kathleen O'Meara

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: I take it that local authorities will collect the levy.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: Is the levy payable on commencement of the building or on the point of sale? A community gain levy of €1,000 applies to each planning permission for housing given after 20001 in the North Tipperary County Council area. This is a social, cultural and community fund, which is a good, but the collection of the money is not as simple as it might appear. Unless a person is employed to travel...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: This is a very useful amendment in the light of our earlier discussion. It is necessary to ensure the levy is not passed on to the purchaser. Amendment agreed to. Government amendment No. 6: In page 14, line 6, to delete "subsection (7)(b)" and substitute "subsection (8)(b)".

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: I am aware that this matter was raised by Deputy Gilmore. As the change will probably only affect urban areas and in-fill sites, I support the amendment. Amendment agreed to. Question proposed: "That section 4, as amended, stand part of the Bill."

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: I oppose the section. Question put and declared carried. NEW SECTION. Government amendment No. 9: In page 14, before section 5, but in PART 2 of the Bill, to insert the following new section: 5.–Section 97(3)(b) of the Principal Act is amended by substituting '0.1 hectares' for '0.2 hectares'.". Amendment agreed to. Section 5 agreed to. Sections 6 to 13, inclusive, agreed to. SECTION 14....

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: While section 14 appears innocuous at first glance – it is certainly incomprehensible – the explanatory memorandum is more revealing. It states the section "amends section 262(4) which provides that certain regulations made under the Act are subject to a requirement to get positive approval." I have no reason to disagree with this. However, the memorandum continues: "This amendment would...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister for his complex reply.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: I accept that and while I agree with the Minister up to a point, it strikes me that introducing what appears to be a technical, minor amendment, could have major implications. As I am not sure I fully understand the complex reply given by the Minister, I wish to tease out the amendment and get a second opinion before agreeing to it. This case provides a good illustration of the need for a gap...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: This section contains very welcome provisions which give more flexibility to voluntary housing bodies. I commend the Minister for introducing them.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: I agree with Senator Kitt regarding the excellent work being done by the voluntary housing sector. It has introduced a broader range of availability and has ensured that sectors which may not be taken care of by local authorities because of their own demands may be taken care of by the voluntary groups. There is no doubt that the fact such housing schemes are all purely rental has been a...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: It is my understanding that the Dáil is to take Second Stage of the Bill on Friday. That means Report Stage could be accommodated tomorrow. I know we discussed this earlier but I raised a serious issue under section 14 and I sought time for its consideration.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: I thank the Minister for his approach to Committee Stage. We have had a good discussion on the amendments, although more time should have been made available. I look forward to future encounters with the Minister on legislation.

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: I ask for a debate as early as possible on the future direction of health spending and the Government's health strategy – if there is one – in the light of the very public row between the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Health and Children. Where is the health strategy now? What is the direction of health policy, particularly in the light of the cuts in the number of jobs in the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: While I welcome the Minister and thank him for his contribution, I do not welcome the legislation and I will not support it. Like Senator Quinn, I believe the legislation is being rushed through the House unnecessarily. It is being rushed for a reason, namely, to fundamentally undermine Part V of the original Act. In doing so, it will dilute and fundamentally alter the thrust of the original...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: This capitulation is well represented in the amendment in the Bill known as the amendment to the withering will. Let us consider the reason the two year withering rule was included in the original legislation. This was due to the well known fact that planning applications were rushed to local authorities before the Act came into operation in order to avoid the 20% social and affordable...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: What will first-time buyers pay as a result of the increase of 1% in VAT in last week's budget? Let us have a comparison on that front. A paltry levy will be paid as result. The developers and landowners, who will benefit from this, must be cheering because they have got off lightly. The Minister said he did not have a choice. He has a simple choice. All he has to do, in extending the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: I heard the Minister say that on national radio last week. Our party has legal advisers who spent a few days looking at this as well.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: The Attorney General is a lawyer like other people. There are lots of lawyers around. It is an easy way out to say that is the legal advice. I do not accept that and we will table amendments on this issue.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: It is not a red herring. By the end of this year, 44,000 planning applications and 36,000 next year will not be the subject of the 20% social housing provision. All the possibilities of social and affordable housing will now be lost to the local authorities to which they apply.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Kathleen O'Meara: The framework for the existing agreements was laboriously hammered out in this and the other House and at the select committee. That framework, while cumbersome and new, would have worked in time.