Results 3,201-3,220 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: Amendment No. 10 refers to the need to "address the necessity of adaptation to climate change". During a flooding incident a couple of year ago, the Minister made a big announcement that was publicised by a newspaper. He said he intended to introduce the national adaptation strategy earlier than intended, but it is late at this stage, in fact. When will we see the strategy? If the...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: Subparagraph 7(b)(ii)(o) deals with public rights of way. I understand the Minister of State has had conversations with Roger Garland about this provision. He raised concerns on behalf of the hill walking group with which he is associated. In Dún Laoghaire public rights of way were removed from a list but no procedure existed for extinguishing them. Does the amendment address the...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 12: In page 15, to delete lines 19 to 47 and in page 16, to delete lines 1 to 29. Question, "That the words proposed to be deleted stand", put and declared carried.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: I have more or less covered what is proposed in it.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: I do not have anything further to add because we have covered the points already in the previous amendments. I reiterate that a problem with the legislation is the inconsistency in phrasing throughout it. There needs to be a determination as to what is the right phase and to stick with it.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: I support Deputy Bannon on this point. I raised this issue on Committee Stage. I refer to the idea that councils must have regard to regional planning guidelines, the new provisions in this Bill in that regard and the drawing up of regional planning guidelines and the national spatial strategy. I am referring to the essential point made by Deputy Bannon. Regional authorities are not...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: The Deputy's party does not trust democracy.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 27: In page 36, to delete lines 35 to 38. This amendment proposes the deletion of subsection (17) of the new section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as inserted by section 21 of the Bill. The original section 31 allowed the Minister to intervene where he or she has concerns about a particular development plan, allowing him or her to direct the planning...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: The Green Party no longer has any interest in democracy. That is the bottom line; the Green Party does not care about local democracy. I do not know why the Minister is bothering to introduce a White Paper when, if this is a sign of what is to come, it looks like he plans to erode local democracy gradually. It is essentially a matter of centralising power in the hands of the Minister for...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: There is a need for balance in this debate. We want proper planning, but not at the expense of democracy which is a fundamental thing. It is what we fought for in 1916 and 1922. One does not erode democracy. We, as politicians, should not be taking away local democracy and the mandate that councillor have. Reforms have been made over the years to try to address the issue to which Deputy...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: No, we wanted the Eircom stadium which the Football Association of Ireland wanted. Everything was done at Government level to try to stop us making a democratic decision about the stadium because it wanted to promote Deputy Ahern's great big project, a huge potential white elephant. The Government had the wrong point of view and the local councillors had the right idea and wanted to do...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: Councillors should be held accountable for their bad decisions but this should not be at the expense of local democracy. The people who elect councillors have a fundamental say in local democracy and it would be a terrible irony if the outcome of the economic downturn and the collapse of Anglo Irish Bank is the loss of the people's right to give a mandate to their local representatives. I...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: I move amendment No. 29: In page 40, to delete lines 41 to 44.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: This debate will soon conclude. We are now on amendment No. 32 out of 127 amendments, which means that we will not get to reach more than 90 amendments. New amendments were made on Committee Stage of which we got very short notice and there are 127 amendments on Report Stage today. At 5 o'clock the Minister's amendments will all become part of the Bill. We will have no say on them and...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill [Seanad] 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: While were discussing the last amendment, I received another new amendment. It just arrived in front of me. It was the first time I saw it. It was not even pointed out to me. It was on my desk. The manner in which this legislation is being dealt with is inappropriate. Planning is a fundamental issue that relates to the issue of local democracy. I have a fundamental problem with the...

National Drugs Strategy (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: Question 46: To ask the Minister for Community; Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the banning of headshops here [28764/10]

National Drugs Strategy (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: Question 49: To ask the Minister for Community; Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of meetings that he has had with the gardaí in relation to headshops; and if he will advise the gardaí in relation to same [28765/10]

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (1 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: Question 307: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school students in County Meath by school for each of the academic years since 2005; the number of secondary school students in County Meath by school for each of the academic years since 2005; the number of teachers employed full time in County Meath by school since 2005; the number of teachers...

Written Answers — Extractive Industries: Extractive Industries (6 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: Question 57: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent Concord proposals regarding European Union policy on extractive industries in view of the fact that such considered proposals represent a wide consensus among European non governmental organisations. [29640/10]

Written Answers — International Relations: International Relations (6 Jul 2010)

Joanna Tuffy: Question 91: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the role of China in the future development of Africa; his further views on the long-term implications of Chinese involvement on the continent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29639/10]