Results 341-360 of 2,180 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Tailte Éireann Bill 2020: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (16 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: Logging off and logging back on did the trick. I thank the witnesses. This proposed Bill is a technical measure, as has been mentioned, but it will have the important role of facilitating the amalgamation of the three bodies. I will follow up on Deputy Ó Murchú's point on the Valuation Office because it pertains to the local authority sector in particular. Councillors around the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Tailte Éireann Bill 2020: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (16 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: I appreciate that. Of course valuations have to be done by valuers, but there is significant administration work involved, in addition to the valuations, in getting all the information uploaded to the system. In the run-up to budget time in a local authority, will it be possible to deploy additional resources to maximise the data that can be inputted and ensure local authorities are not at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Tailte Éireann Bill 2020: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (16 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: While I am conscious that I am straying into industrial relations issues, this has an impact on the ground. I am happy with the Bill, which is technical in nature. I believe having the three entities in one organisation will be a success. The ability to redeploy resources where they are needed at points in time throughout the year is an issue that should be raised with the new...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: I would like to join my colleagues in congratulating my colleague from the Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Senator Moynihan, on her marriage last week and I also congratulate my colleague, Senator Ward, on his engagement. I welcome the initial details of the Government's new redundancy initiative, which was announced at lunchtime today and is seeking to ensure workers do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure and Small Town and Villages Growth Programme: Discussion (23 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: I thank our witnesses. While people will focus, understandably, on the issues that arose in Wexford and Dublin, this meeting request was made before that. It is important that we focus as well on infrastructure and constraints, particularly with reference to the small towns and villages growth programme which is geared at delivering in areas of growth potential which otherwise would not be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure and Small Town and Villages Growth Programme: Discussion (23 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: We will share time. To take it up where we left off, the timeline of three to five years has been mentioned multiple times. I ask the CCMA how that compares to the timelines that it operated on when it had control of both water and wastewater. Obviously, it had the ability to use Part 8 to deliver infrastructure. What were the timelines on both water and wastewater? I know it differs...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure and Small Town and Villages Growth Programme: Discussion (23 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: Would Mr. Mulholland acknowledge that Part 8 was useful in that context?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure and Small Town and Villages Growth Programme: Discussion (23 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: In the context of the growth programmes for small towns and villages that we are speaking about in particular, does Mr. Mullholland agree that Part 8 would be useful in speeding up delivery in light of the constraints in our rural towns and villages?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Quality and Infrastructure and Small Town and Villages Growth Programme: Discussion (23 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: It would be good if all that information could be provided.

Seanad: Housing For All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland: Statements (29 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister to the House to discuss and listen to statements on what I believe will be one of the most important policy documents the Government will deliver in its term. Improving the number of housing options available to the people of this country and supporting them to set down roots and have a place to call their own have been among my main priorities since entering politics...

Seanad: National Lottery (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (29 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this Private Members' Bill. Like other Members, I wish to compliment my colleague, Senator Ward, on bringing forward the Bill for consideration. I should say at the outset that I have no vested interest in this discussion. I am not anti-gambling. I play the lotto. I also place the odd bet on football or...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: In recent weeks, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has had significant dialogue with Irish Water and officials from the Department on infrastructure deficits in water and wastewater, particularly in small towns and villages. A total of €97.5 million was approved by the Government and the regulator to allow Irish Water to set up a specific fund...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Services Separation Bill 2021: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (28 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: It might not have been raised because there are other priorities within a utility of that size and smaller water and wastewater infrastructure schemes are not the top priority. That is the reason we have established the small towns and villages growth programme. If Part 8 could specifically be used in that context, it would enable us to be able to get on site quicker with housing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Services Separation Bill 2021: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (28 Sep 2021)

John Cummins: As a Government party representative, I acknowledge that mistakes were made along the way in the establishment of Irish Water, but one of the mistakes was not the establishment of a single utility for water in the country. I come from an area, Waterford, that would have been to the fore in delivering a lot of excellent water and wastewater infrastructure, especially in Waterford city. We do...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Oct 2021)

John Cummins: Can we all get extra time?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Oct 2021)

John Cummins: Do we all get extra time?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Oct 2021)

John Cummins: Nobody will lecture me on what is important in this Chamber.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Oct 2021)

John Cummins: I welcome the publication of the revised national development plan yesterday, in particular the record State investment earmarked for the transport sector, both roads and public transportation.A sum of €5.8 billion has been set aside for the development of new roads, including the N24 route between Waterford and Limerick, and €11.6 billion for new public transport measures. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (6 Oct 2021)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to take this Commencement matter. The Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Peter Burke, was unable to attend due to prior commitments in his schedule but I appreciate the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, taking this Commencement matter. What I am proposing is a sensible, proactive and...