Results 4,281-4,300 of 5,132 for speaker:Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Carlow.

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: We will go easy on the Minister of State.

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire. Táim an-bhuíoch de as an am a thógáil. I reiterate that we have issues in principle with this section which we outlined to the Minister previously. It is essential to have an independent review of the new mechanism. An issue arises with the amendments to the extent that one proposes an independent review, while the other...

Seanad: Micro-plastic and Micro-bead Pollution Prevention Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. Ba mhaith liom fáilte mhór a chur roimh an mBille seo agus go háirid roimh an deis labhairt air sa Teach seo. Bhí sé náireach go ndearnadh iarracht srian a chur ar an mBille trí leasú ó chairde an Aire Stáit i bhFianna Fáil. Tá ceist truailliú na...

Seanad: Micro-plastic and Micro-bead Pollution Prevention Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I was coming to that. Bertie Ahern had a particular interest in-----

Seanad: Micro-plastic and Micro-bead Pollution Prevention Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: -----make-up when he was spending €60,000 a year on cosmetics. It is quite clear that the Government motion is purely cosmetic as well. We all know that what has happened is that Deputy Dooley threw the rattle out of the pram because he wanted to get the kudos in the Dáil for introducing similar Bill. He went to his colleagues in Fine Gael and they had to bend over.

Seanad: Micro-plastic and Micro-bead Pollution Prevention Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: So Fine Gael had to roll over and accept the Bill. It is like an episode of "Callan's Kicks"; it is unbelievable. This is the welcome to the new politics of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael coalition that the Independent Senators are being given. This is a very serious issue. We have seen recently across Europe and North America a growing awareness of the dangers that micro-beads pose to our...

Seanad: Micro-plastic and Micro-bead Pollution Prevention Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: If there is concern about the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland, an amendment could be tabled to exclude certain medicinal products from the Bill and just have a blanket ban on cosmetic products. The amendment being putting forward states that the Bill could breach EU law but the Government is fine with flouting EU law when it comes to tax evasion on VRT. Nach aisteach an scéal é...

Seanad: Micro-plastic and Micro-bead Pollution Prevention Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: -----agus gur thug siad leithscéalta faoi bhfáth nach bhféadfaidís tacú leis an mBille seo. Beag nó mór, tá na leithscéalta céanna i gcorp leasú an Rialtais anocht. Tá go leor cainte déanta sa Teach seo ar uisce.

Seanad: Micro-plastic and Micro-bead Pollution Prevention Bill 2016: Second Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Tá go leor uisce ann faoi thalamh freisin. Ba mhaith liom tacú leis an mBille seo, faoi mar atá mo chomhghleacaithe ón Eoraip agus ó Thuaisceart Éireann ag tacú chomh maith.I really do think that the way that this is being covered up, between the Government partners, the de facto coalition in the new politics is disgraceful. I note that the former pin-up...

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Let me add my support on behalf of Sinn Féin to the amendment. It is positive that the Minister is taking it on board. I hope that will continue with a number of the other amendments in that vein.

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I outlined our concerns about the democratic deficit in respect of sections 3 to 19, inclusive, and on that basis we will oppose these sections, section by section.

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: This part of the Bill refers to the strategic housing developments-----

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I express my support and that of Sinn Féin for the amendments. At a time of such great dependence on the private rented sector for housing, many people with physical disabilities or who are aged or have mobility issues are finding it increasingly difficult to find suitable housing. I have come across a number of such cases in the Galway area, particularly within the private rented...

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: My understanding of the Minister's response is that current building regulations ensure all builds are universally accessible. Is that aspirational or is there a certain percentage involved? The developments with more than 100 units are going to An Bord Pleanála. Does that mean each of those would be subject to universal accessibility?

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: We oppose the section on the same basis that we opposed sections 3 to 5, inclusive, which is that we have issues around the failure to take the democratic role of local authorities into consideration. It should have been taken into consideration.

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I note our opposition to the section for the reasons mentioned in relation to sections 3 to 6, inclusive.

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: The Acting Chairman might indulge me in that I had meant earlier to convey our condolences in respect of Liam Gavin, who was director of roads in Galway County Council. We got the news earlier today that he passed away. Many Members may actually know him. He was a great man and a really good guy and it was a big shock for everyone. I convey our condolences to his family, colleagues and...

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I know the Minister is saying that the main aim of this section is to fast track the process but there are 26,000 or 28,000 applications in the greater Dublin area, depending whose figures one takes. I am not sure how many are for developments of over 100 units. The Minister might not have those figures to hand but I am sure several of them are. The argument that the local authorities have...

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

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: No. A number of points were made.