Results 4,041-4,060 of 28,162 for speaker:Catherine Murphy

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: That is why it makes eminent sense to have direct elections to regional authorities. When the blocks are formed and there are only two positions, the two large blocks will form. This situation is replicated throughout a region. There is no diversity.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: I oppose this section as I did the section on transferring moneys from motor taxation and vehicle duties to the Minister for Finance. When people pay motor tax, they expect it to be used for the LGF, for which it has been ring-fenced for a considerable period, or for the upgrading of roads. The money is clearly being transferred for the purpose of repaying the national debt. Why do we not...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: Will they be better off?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: They will pay for it also.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: There is a total lack of transparency in respect of Irish Water, as is clear when one asks parliamentary questions. It is almost like teflon, as we used to say where there was an organisation between the Minister and Parliament. The problem is that we do not know where the money is being spent. We have every reason to be concerned about the extra administrative burden, a burden which the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: This amendment was included after Second Stage and we did not have the opportunity to debate it. We will have an opportunity to do so on Report Stage because, clearly, amendments will be tabled. Given that it is a large financial issue and substantially changes matters, is there not a need to facilitate an additional debate prior to Report Stage? The process is defective when this...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: The debate about this amendment. It did not happen on Second Stage. There was no attention paid to it on Second Stage because it was not included in the Bill.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: Yes, but it concerns the relationship between the two.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: The amendment proposes to substitute the words "strategy or strategies" for "guidelines". What is the difference, and how will it play out?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: What difference would it make if we excluded the reference to the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960? Some of us do not think we should be fluoridating our water. If we excluded this, would it mean anything?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: Throughout the 1990s, before there was a salary or a salary-type payment, there is no doubt there was a reliance on this as almost an income stream. In some cases, it was abused and it became an embarrassment. This should have been addressed as soon as a salary was paid but it was not. Some of the local authorities took measures and limits were put in place, which was right. It is...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: I refer to amendment No. 193 and the continuation of housing allocation scheme. The Minister has anticipated Irish Water in regard to one particular change. I do not know if the pilots for the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme have started yet. I presume the changes will be included in the HAP scheme. In the administration of the housing list leasing has been the predominant...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: Future proofing is important.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (4 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: 10. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is considering enhancing the role of community owned wind farm projects in the State; the assistance the State can provide to try to encourage buy-in by local communities to help develop overall wind capacity in the State through a consent-based approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51627/13]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Guidelines (4 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: 19. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the present State aid assistance regime in place for the development and operation of onshore wind capacity; if he proposes a differing regime in respect of onshore wind developed solely for export; if his attention has been drawn to any difficulty arising from the designation by some EU countries as offshore wind farms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Forthcoming Environment Council: Discussion with Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (4 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: It is valuable that we have reduced the number of areas where we might be subject to fines from 19 to ten. Could the Minister outline what progress has been made in respect of the ten areas to which he referred, whether we will still be subject to fines and what these fines are? There is work to be done in respect of the use of forestry and bog land as carbon sinks. Will that be done in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Forthcoming Environment Council: Discussion with Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (4 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: Is it intended that the committee will be independent?

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: It is fair to say prior to the banking crash which damaged the economy a huge emphasis was placed on encouraging people to invest in their future through pension schemes, and we all remember the almost daily television and radio advertisements. The emphasis was all on workers investing and little emphasis was placed on the regulation or robustness of the actuarial assessments of the health...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme Administration (5 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: 14. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a new tenant purchase scheme is being considered for local authority housing other than apartments; if so, if he will provide information relating to his intentions regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51815/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Housing Sector (5 Dec 2013)

Catherine Murphy: 23. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the capacity of tier 3 housing associations has been enhanced under his tenure; his plans for the sector; the quantity of housing delivered by tier 3 housing associations in each year from 2008 to 2012 and to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51816/13]