Results 21-40 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: Those are the words of the social housing groups, not mine.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: I thank Senators for their contributions to the debate. I considered every argument made, as I am sure did the local authorities, those involved in the building industry and the representative organisations. However, life is driven by choices which I will make. I do not have the luxury to eulogise and philosophise and think about the ideals of the world while practical implications are ignored.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: The Senator has that luxury, I do not. When considering these issues, I will not be in a position to cut off my noise to spite my face. My failure to do nothing on the withering of planning permissions under the two year rule would not punish developers but house purchasers, who all in the House seek to champion. I am pleased Senators also recognise that housing supply is the key to the issue...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: I took a practical view because most Members in this and the other House who know me also know that I would be driven by pragmatism. My aim was to maintain these sites on the market by delivering housing supply.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: If the Senator listens, he might learn something.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: In doing that I also sought a means of extracting something from developers. Whether we like it, the planning permissions due to wither had no impact on developers in terms of their obligations under the Part V provisions because they did not come under them. There was no obligation on them in terms of the provision of social or affordable housing, community gain or contribution to local...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: I do not believe anybody has disputed the fact that those planning permissions will deliver at least €70 million, and probably up to €130 million or €140 million, in the two year period. That money will go directly into the housing funds of local authorities, the central Exchequer will not get its hands on it. I could have made the choice to do nothing, to allow all the sites to wither...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: Senators or Deputies who are members of county councils or corporations should not come to the Houses and inform me that they are failing in their duty and then blame me and the Government for that. In my view, that is a bit rich—

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: —and it is precisely what some Members have done in this debate. On one hand, local authority members are seeking further responsibility while, on the other, they deny that they have a responsibility by using the facilities and the laws available to them when they sit on local authorities. When they do not exercise their full mandate under the law, they come to Seanad Éireann or Dáil...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: I made the choice. I have no difficulty with anyone wishing to argue the point with me. However, I will not accept Members of this House or the Lower House philosophising about the greater good and not being interested in delivering. That is not what politics is about, it is about the real people. Members contributions concentrated on developers and ignored the fact that the real consequences...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: I served on local authorities, I served in this House and I serve in the Lower House.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: We will proceed with that one, too, without fear or favour.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: I have listened carefully to what has been said from both sides of the House and the one conclusion I have come to is that there is absolute consensus on wanting to deliver social and affordable housing. There is no question about this.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: Let me put it this way – there is 50% more money in next year's Estimates than in 2000. I will maintain that level of funding. We are building over 12,000 units per annum, which figure does not include what this measure can deliver on top. I will maintain this figure also next year. The third point I wish to make to Senators who spoke about housing lists is that they should remember that...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: I will not be unfair to the Senator because there is no point in engaging in that argument.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: I will not take any medicine. If the Senator thinks he will faze me, he is mistaken. The reason I am trying to build on what the previous Minister did is the rigidity built in is simply not delivering sufficient volumes. Whether one likes it, that is the reality. No one in this Chamber is suggesting that it is delivering. I have a choice – to do nothing or something about it.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: The reason the Bill has been brought forward at short notice is, as everybody will be aware, that 40,000 planning permissions will wither at the end of this month. I am prepared to do something about this. That is the reason the Government has looked fairly at the issue and supported these proposals which have been put together by all those involved. There are four key points. We will ensure...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: The commencement date will be the date of signing of the Bill by the President, which I hope will take place before Christmas. These amendments would delete the options of providing land, houses or sites at another location or providing a payment instead. This would effectively remove the flexibility at the heart of the Bill. I, therefore, cannot accept them. The purpose of changing this...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: But on the basis of what I am doing. That is the interesting part.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Martin Cullen: This is an important point. I stated yesterday that I will be giving a specific direction that, in terms of payment, it is the absolute final option. I will be monitoring this from my Department and it will also be the responsibility of managers to ensure that this is the case. I reiterate that local authority members will also be monitoring this and it will be unacceptable if this is just...