Results 2,361-2,380 of 4,676 for speaker:Dessie Ellis

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (24 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: That is not what the Minister of State's officials are saying.

State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (25 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: The Bill has a misleading Title. It should be about the merger of a number of bodies related to Shannon Airport to streamline its development. This is what the Title would lead one to believe, but instead, the Bill is largely an attack on workers and their pension status. While it deals with the merger of these bodies to become the Shannon Group, this is not what has been a matter of grave...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Luas Cross City Line and Future of Public Transport in Dublin: National Transport Authority (25 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I thank Mr. Murphy and Mr. Creegan for the presentation. I welcome the progress that is being made. The link up between Cabra and St. Stephen's Green is important. I am glad to see that Dawson Street is being included because that would be handy for the likes of myself, from Broombridge, parking in Cabra and making my way here. That is a good development. Mr. Murphy mentioned business...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Luas Cross City Line and Future of Public Transport in Dublin: National Transport Authority (25 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Is the tunnel in good shape? During previous presentations, some said it was and others said it was not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Luas Cross City Line and Future of Public Transport in Dublin: National Transport Authority (25 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Is it an option when the rank is closed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Luas Cross City Line and Future of Public Transport in Dublin: National Transport Authority (25 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Mr. Creegan confused me. He referred to when the works will be completed. The issue concerns what is identified for O'Connell Street during the works. There needs to be a space for taxi drivers on O'Connell Street. Will we be without a taxi presence on the street?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Luas Cross City Line and Future of Public Transport in Dublin: National Transport Authority (25 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: On O'Connell Street?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Luas Cross City Line and Future of Public Transport in Dublin: National Transport Authority (25 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Due to the fact that the NTA is Dublin-based, it tends to see all that is going on there. It does seem disproportionate to me that every time we come here, we are talking about Dublin. Do we have plans for each of the main cities like Cork, Waterford or Limerick that need to be brought forward? I am not saying the funding is there but have we looked at each of these cities? Have we any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Luas Cross City Line and Future of Public Transport in Dublin: National Transport Authority (25 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I was asking for my own benefit. I have not seen the plans for Cork city or Limerick, for example. That is all I am saying. I do not dispute work is being done.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (26 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 5. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the privatisation of bus routes currently serviced by Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann; the rationale for this move; if an impact assessment was sought in relation to effects on current jobs and future pay and conditions for workers in public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27415/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (26 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Will the Minister of State give an update on plans to put 10% of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann routes out to tender and the rationale for this move? Has the impact on current jobs and future pay and conditions for workers in public transport been assessed? Will the Minister of State, please, make a statement on that matter?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (26 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I am surprised that the Minister of State, coming from the Labour Party, would go along with this. I would expect Fine Gael to do this because it has been pushing a privatisation agenda for many years. In November 2013 the NTA, in spite of negative experiences of privatisation of bus services, went along with the idea of putting out to tender 10% of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann routes...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (26 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: The fact that Dublin Bus is hiring workers is a very good reason not to go down this route. Blaming the European Commission and saying its rules have been put in place-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (26 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Has the Department produced a proper impact statement on the effects of this process on workers and their conditions? The Minister of State knows as well as I do that the private sector will undercut. Will the Government give it public service obligation, PSO, services? I am sure that in recent years the PSO subvention has been reduced dramatically. It is one of the lowest in Europe and...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I tabled an amendment stating tenants in the RAS should receive priority in the allocation of social housing by the relevant authority should they be evicted owing to unaffordable rent. It was said when the RAS was introduced that participants would get another property that would be deemed appropriate to the RAS, be on a contract or get local authority housing. This is the commitment to...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I also have an amendment.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I move amendment No. 45:In page 72, after line 31, to insert the following:"Protection for RAS tenants 59. Tenants under RAS shall receive a priority with regard to allocation of social housing by the relevant authority should they be evicted due to unaffordable rent levels.".

Order of Business (26 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: The Minister's colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, has indicated on several occasions that he plans to bring in legislation to deal with mandatory testing of drivers for drug use. This is a major problem which needs to be dealt with on a scale similar to the way alcohol was dealt with - we know of the problems in that area. I believe the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Housing Sector (26 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 139. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has received a copy of the reports carried out on the defects in the Gallery Quay building managed by Túath Housing. [27658/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Housing Sector (26 Jun 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 140. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the ongoing legal action being taken against insurers of the Gallery Quay development, if he will commit to underwriting the repair work as a matter of urgency. [27659/14]