Results 23,641-23,660 of 26,181 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is something on which we link up with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The Chair will appreciate that it has issued the guidelines to the local authorities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Chair will appreciate, in terms of planning, that it crosses Departments. In our case, we are before the committee this morning to look at how we are dealing with our targets within housing. There is a range of Departments here. We have a direct remit under building controls, retrofit, the social housing programme and so on. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I take the Cathaoirleach's point. On a general note, as he will be well aware, any planning authority, where it believes it necessary, can attach conditions regarding demolition and construction waste. There is a wider issue in that people may apply for applications for physical destruction before going to the EPA. There is a question as to whether that should change, requiring them to go...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I take the Cathaoirleach's point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The climate targets have been set down per individual Department. Each Department has a responsibility in this. We cannot take on the world.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Cathaoirleach's point is well made.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We have already stated that as part of the review of the national planning framework, the whole area of climate change and action will be front and centre.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Inspections (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am on duty for all of the Topical Issue debates and it is nothing in particular.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Inspections (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I appreciate that.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Inspections (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a significant issue for the people of Limerick and the mid-west and for all of us who represent them in the Oireachtas. I welcome the opportunity to address the issues in the HIQA report. As the Deputy is aware, in February, HIQA inspected University Hospital Limerick against the national standards for safer and better healthcare. The inspection...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Inspections (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy can be in no doubt the Government considers dealing with the issues at UHL a top priority. The Minister will go to Limerick on Friday and visit Croom hospital and UHL, specifically because the priority is being directed very much towards the latter. Improvements have taken place. The medical assessment units are now open seven days a week and an additional six beds will go in....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Crime Prevention (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Gannon for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, today. I join Deputy Gannon in condemning the despicable attack on Oleksandr Hrekov. The group was on a tour from Kyiv and had come over to do ten nights of Brian Friel's Translations. It was a very positive endeavour. Oleksandr has returned to Ukraine. I send our best wishes to him....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Crime Prevention (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Gannon can read the rest of the reply. The points he makes are very consistent. I await further comments from him. I will respond to the points relating to local government in my next contribution.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Crime Prevention (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will feed back the points Deputy Gannon raises on policing to the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. I will make a couple of points on local government. All local authorities are responsible for the management of their areas. They are independent in terms of the area they look after. The reserved powers of councillors are hugely important as well. On the issue of dereliction,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I want to thank both Deputies Sherlock and Duncan Smith for raising this matter, which I will take on behalf of the Minister for Climate, Environment and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I want to outline the position on this matter, which deals with the current increases that are formally due. Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, the Minister for...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputies Sherlock and Duncan Smith for raising these matters on behalf of the An Post pensioners. They will appreciate that there is a process. New Era is part of that process, and the issue is currently with New Era. However, I do take their point that this process should be concluded as quickly as possible. I undertake to go back to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to make that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I was trying to be helpful to colleagues. I appreciate there is frustration on the part of the pensioners. However, there is a process there. The point that Deputy Duncan Smith raises about section 46 is a matter that I am not hugely familiar with. However, it is a matter I will take back to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, as well.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are instructing all the local authorities to carry out vacancy surveys. We have put dedicated teams into each local authority around vacancy. Those teams are conducting surveys street by street of all vacancies in core areas so we will come up with a detailed register for each local authority to complement the work of the CSO in that area. This body of work is underway. We hope to have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. It is clear from recent EPA reports that water quality trends need to change, particularly, but not solely, in respect of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, being lost from farmlands into our rivers, lakes and coastal areas. I concur with the Senator's view in respect of the farming community, the members of which are doing...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Water Quality (28 Jun 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator. We will continue to engage with the CCMA. I undertake to work with my officials to engage with the CCMA. The CCMA review identified a requirement for 57 additional posts. Funding has been provided for 21 of those. As part of the Estimates process, I will be looking to increase that. I take the Senator's point that there are 31 local authorities in total. We will...