Results 13,641-13,660 of 25,999 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together. My Department has informed Clare County Council that before any extension of the scheme can be considered, the same rigorous analysis as that put in place prior to the rollout of the scheme to the counties of Donegal and Mayo would have to be undertaken. Following further discussions between my Department and Clare County Council it...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Increasing the supply of public, social and affordable homes is priority of this Government. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver 50,000 new social homes with a focus on new build homes. This commitment was underpinned by investment of €3.3bn towards housing programmes in Budget 2021. Subject to the impact of COVID-19, this investment will fund the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Semi-State Bodies (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The engagement of a contractor is an operational matter for which Gas Networks Ireland as contracting authority is wholly responsible. I can confirm that I have not engaged with any member of the Board of Ervia or GNI on the matter. However, it should be noted that as part of the governance arrangements between my Department and Ervia/GNI the company does update my Department on a regular...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wastewater Treatment (6 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware of the submission to which the Deputy is referring to. My Department builds its strategic water policy and infrastructure delivery programmes around the National Planning Framework 2018-2040 and the National Development Plan 2018-2027. Investment is primarily delivered through Irish Water while my Department operates the Rural Water Programme directly. The Programme for...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Amendment No. 1 technically amends section 1 on the definitions of the Bill, to remove the definition of: "Minister". My full title, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is now used in section 5 of the Bill, which is the only provision in the Bill that refers to me as Minister. It is just a technical change. The next Government amendment is No. 6. This amendment...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: No. Amendments Nos. 8 to 10, inclusive, are not in my name. I have addressed all the others. Amendments Nos. 1 and 6-----

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes, I will happily do that.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Not at all.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: We certainly do not want that.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senators may wish to move their amendments. It is up the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Okay.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will respond to all Senators, including Senators Moynihan and Warfield. I thank Members for the constructive approach they have taken towards this Bill. It is good to see there is broad agreement. I appreciate it. As I said, there are other elements, which I will speak about towards the end of the debate. We will also be bringing forward a further tenancy reform Bill later in the...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will be brief but I thank Senator Moynihan and her colleagues for tabling this amendment. In this Bill we are restricting the value of deposits to a maximum of two months' rent. This relates to a deposit equal to a month's rent and then a month of advance rent. Effectively, it has been capped absolutely at two months' rent. The deposit should be returnable and it remains the property of...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will comment on the four Government amendments. Amendment No. 13 inserts a new section 6 into the Bill to amend section 20 of the 2004 Act which provides for frequency of rent reviews. Currently, section 20 of the 2004 Act provides that, generally, rent reviews are allowed to occur no more frequently than annually in an RPZ or biannually outside an RPZ. However, a rent review is allowed...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Senator Warfield and his colleagues for tabling this amendment. We discussed this issue at some length on Second Stage, when I outlined the position in this regard. Included in this important legislation is, as the Senator rightly said, the extension of protections for those worst affected by the impact of Covid-19. Those protections include a ban on evictions and a ban on rent...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: It is magnificent to be in the House on a day when unanimity has broken out across the board. This is great. Gabhaim fíor-bhuíochas le gach Seanadóir a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht thábhachtach úsáideach agus phráinneach seo. Táim fíor-bhuíoch as a gcabhair agus an obair atá déanta acu an tseachtain agus an mhí...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rights of Way (1 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: There appears to be a misapprehension regarding the dates for registering rights of ways acquired by prescription on foot of amendments made by Parts 12 and 13 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 to the provisions relating to acquisition of easements and profits by prescription contained in Part 8 of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009. I understand from the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (1 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Nitrates Usage (1 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together. A review of Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme is currently under way. A first round of public consultation was held last year and I anticipate that the second public consultation will commence in the coming weeks. My Department, working with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, are currently finalising...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Safety (1 Jul 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together. The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 specify requirements in relation to a range of matters, such as structural condition, sanitary facilities, food preparation, storage and laundry, the availability of adequate heating, lighting and ventilation, the safety of oil, electricity and gas installations, fire safety...