Results 24,381-24,400 of 26,185 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The point is that this is about a partnership model. Ultimately, we have to have a system. We want councillors to move to a situation whereby they bring properties back into use as quickly as possible as they become vacant. We do not want to see void properties.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Under the climate action plan, the retrofit target for local authority owned homes is to retrofit 36,500 to BER B2 or cost optimal equivalent by 2030. As part of this new scheme over the period 2021 to 2023, 5,766 local authority homes have been retrofitted to B2 cost optimal equivalent. Furthermore, retrofit works were completed on over 74,000 local authority-owned dwelling since 2013 to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We note the last point the Deputy has made. If he looks at the funding for this particular programme, in 2023, €76.9 million was provided. There were 2,445, which was the target. Next year, the target is 3,500 social homes. We have an increased allocation in that area. We are looking at this as a programme we want to work. It is a programme we are committed to, and we are looking...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is something we are looking at. We have received correspondence from the Deputy and others, and it is something that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I are considering as we speak.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Antisocial Behaviour (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. I thank Deputy Gannon for raising it. In fairness to the Deputy, he has raised it on many occasions. As the Deputy may be aware, the Government's approach to the misuse of drugs is set out in Ireland's national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery. This is a health-led approach to drug and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Antisocial Behaviour (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I ask the Deputy to send me a structured email so that we can formally follow up with Dublin City Council on the issues he has raised on behalf of the people he represents. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue in the House. While the Minister for Health and his Department lead the Government response to drug use, tackling this issue will...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Overcrowding (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I thank Deputy Paul Donnelly for raising the question of overcrowding at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, is a major teaching academic hospital within the RCSI Hospitals Group. It has a catchment population of upwards of 331,000 people and serves a mixed urban and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Overcrowding (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I appreciate the Deputy’s contribution and his genuine sentiments on the surge in attendance at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. I also thank him for raising this important topic and acknowledge that he has raised other issues. The Government understands how important it is to make quality patient services available to people in Blanchardstown and everyone across the country....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Health. I thank Deputy Kerrane for the opportunity to update the House on delivery of ambulance services in Roscommon, including the important emergency response role carried out by the rapid resource vehicle, RRV. I am informed that in the context of the National Ambulance Service emergency response operations across the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Kerrane. I will take back the points she raised to the Minister. In my opening statement I concentrated for the most part on ambulance resourcing and some recent alternative care paths in County Roscommon. I will now focus on the service nationally and touch on the investment in our National Ambulance Service and its future plans. This Government has invested very...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We debated this at great length last week and it was a very informative debate.My position remains unchanged. I remind the House that the Schedule covers various Acts that have come in over many years. One does not expect a Minister to effectively implement all the provisions of a Bill; that is the work of the staff in the Department. It is the same position here. The mayor will drive...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendments Nos. 9 and 10 basically state that the councillors, by resolution, could remove items from Part 2 of Schedule 1. That is not what the people voted for. What is listed on Schedule 2 is probably large in number but it is only a reflection of legislation that has come in over various areas that remain with the DG and is what was put to the people. I accept the point but I must be...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I understand the broad thrust of these amendments to section 17 from the Civil Engagement Group is to ensure the mayor would not be a member of the council or have voting rights and also that the mayor is accountable to the council. I appreciate the Senator's rationale. However, it is at odds with the report of the independent advisory group chaired by Tim O'Connor, which the Government...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for deciding to leave aside amendments Nos. 14 and 15. On amendment No. 16, section 17(1) of the Bill states "The Mayor shall be, ex officio, a member of Limerick City and County Council". Section 17(4) states: A member of the elected council attending a meeting of Limerick City and County Council may ask questions of the Mayor in relation to the performance by him or...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is fine. I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendments No. 17 from the Civil Engagement Group and No. 18 from Sinn Féin and the Labour Party aim to change the manner in which the staff of the mayor are appointed. The appointment of staff to the office of the mayor was the subject of much debate in the Dáil, both on Committee Stage and Report Stage. The Bill, as published, provides that the director general would appoint the...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will speak to amendments No. 19, 20, 88 to 91, inclusive, 95, and 138 to 143, inclusive. These are minor technical and drafting amendments. Amendments No. 88 to 91, inclusive, and 95 to existing sections 65 and 66 are of a technical drafting nature and there is no change to the substantive provisions therein. The collective citation of the Affordable Housing Acts has been relocated to...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendments Nos. 21, 22 and 23 from the Civil Engagement Group relate to the appointment of the director general in Limerick City and County Council. They propose a process that is not in line with current legislation and also that the mayor would have a role in that appointment. The appointment of a chief executive, and by extension a director general, is a reserved function of the local...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Delegated.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senators Higgins and Cummins for their comments. I will speak to Amendments No. 24 to 27, inclusive, from the Civil Engagement Group because they all relate to delegation of functions by the mayor. Amendment No. 24 proposes that delegation of executive functions by the mayor to the director general should be subject to a resolution by the elected members. Any executive function...