Results 4,261-4,280 of 5,132 for speaker:Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: We are just wondering how many are on zero-hour contracts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (Resumed). (22 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I apologise for not being here for the whole presentation. It is an area in which I have a particular interest having worked in media for a number of years myself. Do the witnesses have any thoughts around regional film funds and their scope to create employment in the regions rather than to have everything so Dublincentric? Obviously, we have a burgeoning film industry in the west which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (Resumed). (22 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe ar fad agus gabhaim comhghairdeachas le Ms Forbes agus an tUasal Esslemont as ucht a gceapacháin. Tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go han-mhaith leo. I place huge importance on the public service broadcast remit. I should say I had an interest previously, as in a previous existence I was employed indirectly by TG4 and RTE as a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Broadcasting: Discussion (Resumed). (22 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: They did actually, but then TG4 poached me back. It is an issue, and people ask why we spend millions on presenters when we have people of wonderful calibre who can do the job for much less money to a very high standard, sometimes bilingually. People want to see the money spent well and they question these expenses. I asked previously about a regional film fund. Do the witness see...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I dtosach, ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a chur in iúl do mhuintir agus do chlann Phádraig Ó Méalóid, a bhásaigh roinnt laethanta ó shin. Bheadh aithne mhaith ag daoine ar Phádraig mar chraoltóir agus iriseoir. Fear álainn den scoth a bhí ann. Suaimhneas síoraí dó siúd. I am concerned about the time available...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the Leader for clarifying the matter. I have called for a debate on rural issues on numerous occasions. We have had some interesting discussions at the Joint Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs about the depopulation of rural areas, particularly peripheral areas. We have called for the debate in the South on numerous occasions. The Leader has said...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: We are very comfortable with uncomfortable conversations.

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: All sides, not just both.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: On a point of order, I wish to note that we have only just now received the groupings of amendments. I have been checking my e-mail all morning and they only just arrived now in our e-mail accounts. It is really unsatisfactory, to say the least, that we have only received the groupings at this time when we have been doing a great deal of work on the Bill. I want that to be noted. I...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Is maith an rud é go bhfuilimid ag brú ar aghaidh leis an reachtaíocht seo mar tá géarchéim tithíochta sa tír, ach tá cuideanna áirid den Bhille seo ag cur imní orainn. We are happy that a Bill is coming forward and that some of the issues in the housing sector are being addressed. However, we have...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I thank the Minister for his contribution and the discussion on a number of the different areas. Some important points are being raised. I note the Minister stated he had a discussion with the AILG, even though it was a ball-hopping scenario. I wonder did it change its position during that conversation on what it has said previously. For example, on...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I was going to follow up on it. The Minister was drawn down a different alley. I wondered about the AILG's reaction to the conversation this morning and the extra staff sanctioned. Apart from the 26,000 outstanding planning permissions, is the blockage not at the other end with the developers who are not moving? How big a development is envisaged? What is the biggest development that...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Can I get an answer to the question I asked?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: They left a very big hole after them in Oranhill.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I do not think anybody is trying to drag the debate out. It is important that we get time to tease out some of these genuine issues. The Minister chose an unfortunate example when he mentioned Oranmore because there are still issues around the development in question and a development adjacent to it. This example points to the reason we need the input of local authorities and councillors...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I think that is the crux of what we are trying to decide. I am not convinced that we will speed things up very much. I also raised with the Minister the issue of how big a development could be. A number of years ago, we might not have envisaged that a large international corporation that builds student accommodation would come into Ireland wanting to build thousands of units. I do not...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Yes. There would be significant concerns about the impact a large development of this type would have on the broader fabric of Galway city, for example, especially in light of the existing infrastructural pressures in the city.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I welcome what the Minister said about the rough sleepers because it was raised yesterday on the Order of Business and has been raised by others, so that flexibility is very important. The Minister mentioned the strategic developments. I know other elected representatives would be dealing with communities which have had major issues with the consultation process and I appreciate the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: That is the point I was going to make. There have been a number of infrastructural developments in our area, some relating to decisions about wind farms. Local communities are up in arms because they felt that the consultation process was not adequate. Another issue arose in our area about a greenway on which there was a consultation process but people felt it was not adequate and not...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: My reading of the amendment is that it would prevent an applicant who already has permission for the development of more than 100 units from applying to the new fast-track process without first commencing work on the existing planning permission. I think the thrust of the amendment and what it seeks to achieve is laudable, and we will probably support it. Senator O'Donnell made a very good...