Results 3,701-3,720 of 5,046 for speaker:Paschal Mooney

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: That is not a fact at all.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: That is a fact without context. It is only propaganda.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I want to ask the Minister of State a question on this amendment and on the section. Does she have any statistics that would back up the suggestion that houses in local authority areas are lying idle and have not been refurbished? Any houses that become available in my part of the country are immediately refurbished and allocated simply because there is pressure on the local authority to...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I thank the Minister of State. I wish to tease out the matter briefly.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I wish to comment further on the point the Minister of State responded to. Why is there a discrepancy and variation between local authorities? I assumed it was due to resources. Clearly that is not the case and instead it is due to competence and administration. Why is there a wide variation in the way local authorities treat such housing? Is the Minister of State, in her capacity as...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: Before Senator Reilly responds to the Minister of State, and in light of the discussion we have had on this matter and the fact that some local authorities do not discharge their responsibilities along the lines desired by the Department, I wish to comment further. I have been informed that Cork County Council has left some houses vacant for between two and three years, which is totally...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I am assured by the Minister of State's comments. I had no wish, as I mentioned, to cast any reflections whatsoever on the excellent work the Minister of State is doing in the housing section. I applaud, as Senator Marie Moloney has done, the Minister of State for the financial incentives has offered to local authorities considering the restraints on her budget. I am sure she would love to...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I move amendment No. 13: In page 48, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following:"Amendment of section 44 of the Act of 2009 35.Section 44 of the Act of 2009 is amended by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (1):"(1A) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply in circumstances where a local authority and an approved body agrees that to dispose of a dwelling to a tenant that...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: Only one half of amendment No. 13 relates to amendment No. 11.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: There is an overlap. The Minister of State would have only addressed the issue of the ring-fencing of the money from the sale of local authority houses.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: Amendment No. 13.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: The first half of the amendment does not relate to ring-fencing investment. It is about agreeing to dispose of a dwelling to a tenant.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: Yes. The amendment states: "(1A) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply in circumstances where a local authority and an approved body agrees that to dispose of a dwelling to a tenant that was constructed prior to the enactment of this Act would be in the best interests of— (a) the tenant, and/or (b) the local community in which the particular dwelling is situated.It is somewhat confusing in...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: Is the Minister of State saying that the other element of the amendment, the ring-fencing of investments, is already covered by the 2009 Act?

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: As Senator Reilly said, this is a controversial measure. The Minister of State may sympathise with an aspect of these amendments, namely, the Minister for Social Protection should, as far as practicable, notify the tenant of the authority's requests ten working days before the commencement of a deduction. Can the Minister of State clarify the process relating to the deduction between the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: In the context of the Minister of State's response and the amendments, how does she think this matter will pan out? Which Department will be involved? Will the Department of Justice and Equality frame legislation to address the issue? Will it be framed within her own mandate? She said that the matter is cross-departmental which complicates it somewhat. Clearly it requires legislation....

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I thank the Minister of State. The fact that a victim of domestic violence must leave their home raises the need to have a sanction. Let us assume that the victim of the violence in the home takes the case to court and the perpetrator is prosecuted successfully. What is the victim's status in terms of agreement with the local authority? The balance should move in favour of the victim. I...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: I move amendment No. 43: In page 72, after line 31, to insert the following:“Provision of housing units 59. In the provision of housing units, a local authority shall give priority to persons that have been responsible tenants in leased accommodation under the Rental Accommodation Scheme.”.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jul 2014)

Paschal Mooney: His salary is paid for by the ratepayers.