Results 361-380 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: I was thinking on the basis that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: The next two meetings are accounted for. There are another four, or possibly five, meetings. If we can get a second session per week, it will mean that we will only need half that number. Otherwise-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: We will make inquiries on that and revert to members. If a time is offered, we will have to take it and whoever can attend will do so. I thank members for their time and co-operation. The committee is adjourned until Tuesday, 20 October 2020 at 10.20 a.m., when we will meet in private session using Microsoft Teams. The next public session will be held on that date at 11 a.m.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (14 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: 108. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will recommend an extension of the timeframe allowable for medical reports in respect of driver licence renewals (details supplied). [30385/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (14 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: 164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new building for a school (details supplied). [30423/20]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Sector: Discussion (14 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Dawson and Mr. Hackett for their attendance and submissions. I will speak first to the travel agents. Like other Deputies, I have met many travel agents from across Wicklow and south County Dublin throughout the pandemic. It was an insight into a business that I knew very little about before this. It became apparent to me that it is very regulated, there is great safety for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Sector: Discussion (14 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: So am I.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: 368. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will carry out a review of ongoing issues related to Covid-19 in a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [31626/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: 426. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if clarity will be provided regarding the parental leave extension announced in budget 2021; if there are provisions that would allow parents to take the extra leave in advance of the proposed timeframe of April 2021; and if the rationale for the timeline can be outlined. [31623/20]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: We will now deal with item No. 6 on our agenda, that is the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020. We are joined by Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh, assistant secretary, and by Ms Emer Connolly, principal officer, at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Members have received a copy of the opening statement, the general scheme of the Bill...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: I thank Ms Connolly. We have agreed an order for questions and Fianna Fáil is first. Do Senator Fitzpatrick and Deputy McAuliffe wish to share time?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: Members have five minutes to ask questions and hear answers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: We are just out of time, Mr. Ó Coigligh, and I am pretty sure that other Deputies and Senators will raise the Dublin supply.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: Sinn Féin is next and I call Deputy Ó Broin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: The Deputy can get more answers in the second round.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: We are out of time on this question. We may come back to it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: The water framework directive requires us to have a licensing and regulation system in place. That is a good thing because we can see from the documentation there is a lack of accuracy and knowledge in terms of how much water is currently being extracted. We have data from some local authorities but much of it is out of date and has not been followed up on. It surprises me to hear that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: It is possible to have a series of 24 cu. m abstractions that do not need to be notified. The cumulative effect of that could be quite significant. Regarding being onerous in recording the use or abstraction of water, we have been careless with our water resources for far too long and that is why we find ourselves in a situation where there is extreme pressure on our water sources and our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for keeping well within his time. We will now proceed to the second round of questions and answers, returning first to Senator Fitzpatrick.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Steven Matthews: We know leakage is part and parcel of every water system throughout the world, with significant losses occurring through it. I do not know if 25% or 30% is best practice on leakage. Is there a requirement in this Bill for licensed, notified or temporary extractors to manage leakage to a certain level? Many have raised the issue of it being a finite resource and that overabstraction can...