Results 1,641-1,660 of 26,228 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to speak to amendments Nos. 33 and 34. Government amendment No. 33 adds sections 117 and 118(4) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 to the Schedule 1, Part 2 functions of the director general. This Act has just recently come into being so the amendment was not possible at an earlier Stage. The functions under section 117 relate to appointing staff and the...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Report and Final Stages (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to acknowledge the phenomenal work of the officials. There are two present but there is a larger team. They have done extraordinary work on this Bill. It is ground-breaking, historic and a new dawn for Limerick in terms of local politics. I acknowledge the major positive contribution from the elected members and the executive of Limerick City and County Council. Change is never...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The OPR was established by Government, which operates independently and sets up checks and balances. It is a proactive measure. The NPF is on a statutory footing, but it remains the view of Government that policy is set down by Government. Under the NPF, the review involves extensive public consultation, including with the Oireachtas. I know it has been debated at length as I kept an eye...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Government takes a different view, as is its prerogative. The 2000 Act predates the establishment of the OPR. The development plans must align with the national planning framework. We all know that the OPR looks in depth at all the development plans. They come to me as Minister of State with responsibility for planning, so I have seen the significant work they do. The Government...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I have answered the question. I said that the Government's view is that the Government sets policy.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Government believes that the process that has been put forward in section 21 is more streamlined as to how we can work with the national planning framework. The Oireachtas comes in much earlier. Section 21(4) of the Bill before the committee states: In carrying out a review under section 20, the Government shall have regard to any observations made on foot of the consultations under...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Which section?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The rationale-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Chair could not have said it better. It is quite straightforward. Under the current legislation, a full draft is presented to the Oireachtas. Here, there is a process whereby we believe the Oireachtas will come in earlier. We all want a national planning framework that is robust and everything. To ensure there is no ambiguity as to the competent authority on the environmental side,...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I believe I have.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: To which amendments is the Deputy speaking?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Returning to Deputy Ó Broin and amendments Nos. 176 and 180, it is not law; it is policy. The legislation puts the principles for setting national policy statements. We disagree. We believe the national policy statements would bring consistency. The one thing we are getting on the ground, and Deputy Ó Broin is getting it as well, no doubt, is inconsistency in decisions...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The legislation is the planning Bill. It sets down what is to be. There are two aspects under section 23(1). We must always go back to the core legislation. Section 23(1) states: (1) The Minister may, at any time, with the approval of the Government, issue a statement ... which shall comprise two parts as follows: (a) national policies and measures on planning matters to support...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The answer to the Chairman's question is "Yes". On Deputy O'Callaghan's question, the provision for national planning statements under section 23 was subject to extensive legal advice, including from the Attorney General's office. We are happy and satisfied that it is legally correct. Any local area plans or development plans done by local authorities will have to state that they are...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes. We put a lot of-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Absolutely, yes.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Ó Broin, come on.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is collective. The Deputy knows that. They might not agree with him.