Results 2,341-2,360 of 7,176 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rental Sector (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister for the update on the work that is taking place. The stories are completely heart-breaking. I would not be able to read them to the House and I do not think that I need to, as everyone understands the seriousness of the issue. I am glad that it is being worked on and there is no question but that there needs to be changes in the legislation in the residential tenancies...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rental Sector (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister for that answer. I ask that the Minister confirm as soon as possible that he will bring in legislation by way of criminal charges and that landlords would be struck off. Both measures are needed. I do not think that there will be any discussion or debate around that. The quicker the Minister does that the better. We do not know the scale of this. One of the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: On Monday, Fine Gael councillors on South Dublin County Council voted to dezone land owned by the council earmarked for social housing. The decision to dezone these lands went against the professional advice of the planners. Every Fine Gael councillor voted for this dezoning and they were supported by a number of Fianna Fáil councillors. This will prevent 100 badly needed social homes...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: We have never voted against houses.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Persons Supports (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: 151. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if responsibility for inspections of homeless services will be transferred to the Health Information and Quality Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11860/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: 197. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the justification for the continuation of virtual rental inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11859/22]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: 295. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12195/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I would like to thank Mr. McCormack and Ms Foreman for coming in and their contributions on this. In my local area, there are two very successful community gardens, in Baldoyle and Bayside. Both of them have transformed the local communities way beyond the people who are involved. It has actually had a transformative effect in terms of people feeling safer in the area, feeling happier,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: That absolutely makes sense. From what I have seen as well, people can often get involved because they want a bit of a plot themselves and from that community builds over time. It might be something that should be part of policy or something and should be encouraged or fostered. I absolutely take Ms Foreman's point that that is not necessarily where things start. Mucky Lane, which is in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes, exactly. That has totally transformed that area. The knock-on effects of people feeling safe or having ownership over their area, and not feeling demoralised by litter or whatever but having the opposite reaction are huge. There are massive benefits. On the legislative side, is there anything else the witnesses want to say in terms of legislative reform? What needs to be done...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Provision of Community Growing Spaces in Ireland: Community Gardens Ireland (1 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: It should not rely on individuals on councils being receptive to this and encouraging it. In my area, Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council have been very good on this but it is individuals who are opposed to it necessarily happening. There is something to be said as well, though, when there is a limited supply of land for the smaller plots or community gardens. If there is more...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 2: In page 8, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: "(5) Within 12 months of the passing of this Act, the Minister shall lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas that examines the establishment of a statutory skills register for the construction sector and sets out recommendations for reform in this area.". I welcome this Bill. The amendments...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Is it the intention that over time, in order for someone to be included on this builders' register, skills and qualifications in the respective areas will be required?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Insofar as the Minister can say, what is the thinking regarding timelines for that and how it will be progressed?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: At present, the number of people undertaking apprenticeships in plastering, for example, is much lower than it was in 2004. We are only at about 15% of the 2004 levels, or perhaps a little higher because the number has increased in the past year. Even so, we are far off the apprenticeship levels there used to be in areas such as bricklaying, stonecutting, tiling and plastering, that is, the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Just to clarify, the Minister of State said this is "on competence". One can be competent from one's experience and not have qualifications or certified skills. The Minister of State is talking about addressing that in future years and that one will have to have the certified skills.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: It will not just be competence based on experience. I wanted to be clear on that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I want to make similar points. Of the whole Bill, this is the area that I have the biggest issues with. My amendment is slightly different in that it looks to remove a number of the potential non-State bodies that this could be applied to. It as not as specific as Deputy Ó Broin's amendment is, although his suggestion that this would be a function for the NBCO is a very good one. The...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: It would be helpful to hear the Minister of State's rationale. Deputy Ó Broin's amendment is very good but my amendment comes at this from a different point of view. It does not name the public agency that would be involved but it would confine it to a public agency, which I think makes sense. We have not heard the rationale from the Minister of State as to why he thinks it is...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022: Committee Stage (3 Mar 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I wish to make just a quick comment. There is a bit of a contradiction here. We are being told that the Construction Industry Federation is the appropriate body to run the statutory register because of its experience of running the voluntary register. That is valid. At the same time, we are being told that we cannot read anything into the fact that nobody has been struck off, because it...