Results 361-380 of 3,550 for speaker:Dominic Hannigan

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I move amendment No. 10: In page 14, line 18, after "shelter" to insert "or the provision of housing or homeless services". I was hoping to speak on the issue, and I shall be brief because we covered this in some detail last week on Committee Stage. These amendments seek to improve the consultation aspect of the Bill, especially in relation to local organisations, whether they are community...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: Specifically in relation to community groups and residents' associations, many of us will have dealings with the latter on a daily basis and know that when matters such as housing plans arise, they often have very good reasons for contributing to the proposals. I believe this will enhance the role they play already and put it on a statutory footing. I ask the Minister of State to consider...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I am disappointed with the Minister's response. At a time when we are trying to encourage involvement in local communities, including groups like residents' associations, it would not have taken much effort nor would it have done any harm to include them specifically. However, I will not push the issue.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I welcome the Minister of State's comments with regard to both amendments. These changes will strengthen the Bill and make the process easier. We are pleased the Minister has taken our amendment on board.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I move amendment No. 17: In page 16, line 44, after "social" to insert "(including economic, cultural, ethnic or other)".

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: This amendment arises from the debate on Committee Stage when the Labour Party sought to include the words, "economic, cultural, ethnic or other". At the time, the Minister of State stated that in his view, the word "social" includes "economic". While I do not dispute this, I merely seek to set down in writing that the word "social" includes "economic, cultural, ethnic or other". It is...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: In that case, one should tell the publishers of Webster's and the other dictionaries to remove the term, "socio-economic", because it is covered by the word "social". I do not accept this for a moment.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I fail to see how our suggested explanation could not be included. I am a little disappointed that the Minister of State has not seen fit to include it but I will not press it.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I move amendment No. 20: In page 18, line 8, to delete "A" and substitute the following: "Save in exceptional circumstances relating to inability to pay rent a". This amendment, which we also tabled at Committee Stage, seeks to allow those who have been in arrears with their rent to be reconsidered for housing in exceptional circumstances.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: It means it has been accepted.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I am not pressing my amendment.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I move amendment No. 31: In page 25, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: "(i) procedures for supporting tenants who fall into rent arrears designed to assist them in sustaining their tenancy.". The purpose of this amendment is to put in place measures to support tenants who have fallen into arrears in respect of rent, to assist them in getting out of those arrears and as such to...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: On a point of clarification, as Senator McCarthy is jointly proposing this amendment, is he not entitled to speak again?

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I fail to see how the amendment could be considered in any way vague. I am glad to hear the Minister of State intends to re-examine the issue. Some time has passed since it was first raised and this is the first time the proposal has been described as vague. I am unhappy with the Minister of State's response and I believe the matter could have been dealt with in this House.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I move amendment No. 33: In page 34, after line 49, to insert the following: "(5) Where exceptional circumstances arise such that arrangements under section 34(2) cannot be put in place without causing undue hardship, a housing authority may cancel the obligation of a household to pay part or all of the moneys referred to in that section.". This amendment relates to the amount of money owed...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: From recollection, the measure to which the Minister of State referred in section 31 operates on a temporary basis. I accept what he said in regard to section 34(2), that a local authority can enter into an agreement to receive payment by instalments. I accept Senator Callely's implication that the instalments could be set at a low level. I would prefer if the amendment was accepted in its...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I move amendment No. 39: In page 37, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: "(2) This Part also applies with necessary modifications to a dwelling provided by an approved body and constructed prior to the commencement of this Part.". When we debated this on Committee Stage, I had the impression that the Bill took account of what I was trying to achieve. With regard to the...

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: We can set down in law the procedure by which one could purchase the house in which one resides. I do not understand why my provision must be excluded but I will not press it.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I accept we cannot force the owners to sell them but we could make allowances in the legislation.

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (10 Dec 2008)

Dominic Hannigan: I move amendment No. 40: In page 38, to delete lines 3 to 7. We debated this issue on Committee Stage. While we accept issues arise in respect of management fees for apartments and that the inclusion of apartments in the incremental purchase scheme would give rise to difficulties, we do not accept those difficulties cannot be overcome. We received promises from various Ministers in recent...