Results 3,461-3,480 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Vacant Properties (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 19. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the effectiveness on implementing a vacant homes tax, collectable by the Revenue Commissioners with the purpose of bringing additional properties into the housing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21260/22]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 139. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps the OPW is taking in collaboration with the EPA to identify nature-based solutions to develop catchment management measures to provide benefits to various sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21097/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (26 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: 1339. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a Ukrainian refugee (details supplied); if they are able to travel to Ireland; if they will be able to access the necessary lifesaving treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19286/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss COM (2021) 802, a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the energy performance of buildings, which is obviously a significant challenge for this country in terms of how we build and heat our buildings and how we retrofit the housing stock we have to bring it up to a high energy efficiency standard and make the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Can the committee get a copy of that circular?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: There are just 28 seconds left in the slot, which is not sufficient time to answer those questions. The Deputy raises some very pertinent observations about the costs of one-off housing and the impact this can have on infrastructure, transport and so on. We might get to answer those questions if anybody wishes to comment briefly. In fact, I do not think we are going to have time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I point out to members that if they speak for six and a half minutes, they are only going to leave 30 seconds for the answers. We need to be fair on the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: It is the Independents' second slot, not the Deputy’s second slot.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Deegan. I will have to interrupt him there. I call Senator Fitzpatrick.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Is that question to the SEAI?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I will revert to the committee rota, which is Sinn Féin, the Green Party and then the Social Democrats. I invite Deputy Ó Broin from the Sinn Féin Party to commence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: We have spent nearly ten minutes on this. We can come back to answer the question on the PRS section as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I thank Dr. Byrne. The next speaker is Deputy Cian O'Callaghan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: The next speaker is Deputy Higgins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Next is Deputy Gould, followed by me, after which we will move on to the third round. If anyone wishes to contribute again on the third round, he or she might indicate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: The Deputy is over his time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Deputy Gould has made a very important point about time and funding. The climate action ambition we have now should have started more earnestly ten or 20 years ago. We have a plan in place now with a commitment and funding. It is important not to lose sight of that. I am sure future Governments will commit to the aim as well and everybody will work together to ensure we achieve the target...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: The Deputy got up to approximately 11 minutes and managed to name every street in north Cork, which is quite impressive. I want to bring this back to why we are doing this. When we speak about energy efficiency in buildings, we concentrate on emissions and energy usage. We quantify the energy and its cost. Much of the time we do not focus the discussion on the benefits that accrue to...