Results 4,321-4,340 of 7,187 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Does Threshold have a view on that? Before there was rent regulation in Ireland, was it normal for renters to stay in place when the properties were being sold?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: We just heard from IPAV that it was.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: From my experience as a public representative and my personal life, I can only think of one situation where the renter remained in place out of-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: It is the norm in most European countries, which do not actually have the same regulation systems. The UK would have better rights for renters and so on. I am asking this because vacant possession is disruptive. We have been told here it is inefficient. It would be a much better rental sector if more renters were able to stay in the property. It would ultimately save hassle for renters...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I might conclude on a comment. In my experience, many of the landlords in the constituency would absolutely prefer to sell to their existing tenant. Sometimes they feel they cannot because they feel they may not be able to get the best price. They might be advised they need to get vacant possession to get the best possible price, which might end the relationship with the tenant. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (6 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 207. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprenticeship applications that are outstanding; the number of apprenticeship applications in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54208/23]

Tenancy Protection Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move: "That the Bill be read a Second Time." I thank the Minister of State for attending. Unlike the Topical Issue debate, we have the right Minister, as such, for this Bill. There is no better Minister for it from the Department. I know he shares a lot of the same concerns as I have on this. I wish to state at the outset my firm view, and that of the Social Democrats, which I have...

Tenancy Protection Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister of State for his response, which was interesting. If I listened to just what he said at the beginning and the end, I would be delighted. It is everything in between that causes me concern. Effectively, my understanding of what the Minister of State said is that it is his view, as well as that of the Government, that while they are allowing this Bill proceed to...

Tenancy Protection Bill 2023: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Based on a sample from what he knows. He has seen a sample where there were four attempts to use it, and from that four rulings were made by the RTB in favour of the renters. That would concur with the point I was making, which is that this clause is not being used by landlords and that they are not having findings on their side but that it is allowing for a tactical use of serving eviction...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 80. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government what immediate and urgent actions will be taken to reverse the month on month increases in homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53987/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: 54. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the action he will take to ensure local authorities increase the number of Traveller accommodation units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53988/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I just want to ask about a couple of the other heads, heads 16 and 20 around Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, hearings and tribunals and whether they take place in public. Will the witnesses talk us through what these changes are and also around the special circumstances that are mentioned in these heads? What special circumstances would apply for something not to be in public? Reference...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: With regard to sensitive information, is the intention that an entire hearing would not be in public or that certain sensitive information from the hearing or adjudication could be redacted? Are both an option?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Head 22 is the extension of the slip rule with regard to slips and omissions. Threshold is very concerned about this. It is strongly of the view that strict compliance with the formalities of ending a tenancy is the least a tenant can expect when being evicted from their home. There are issues with this. Where did this proposal come from? What are its origins? What is the rationale or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Do we have statistics on how very rarely used it is? Will the Department share these with the committee?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank Ms Comer. This would help to give us context to what we are speaking about. The RTB has made proposals in recent years on enforcement powers and legislative changes required so it can be more proactive in terms of enforcing regulations. Are these in the Bill?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I am trying to get a sense of it. Many proposals have been made by the RTB in recent years on legislative changes that are potentially needed. I am trying to get a sense of which ones made it into the Bill and which did not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I want to follow Senator Moynihan's questions on several apartments or homes being sold and the exemption in the Bill. In such a case a renter does not get the first right to make a bid, or however we want to put it, that is available in the Bill. Is there a concern about the Bill being discriminatory or arbitrary in giving different rights to different people? This is with regard to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: This very same argument was put to us a couple of days ago about individual properties. Is this not potentially the legislation being discriminatory with regard to a set of rights and obligations? Somehow, because someone owns nine properties, they will be in a better position in society because they have larger ownership. They will be conferred with a better position just by virtue of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes, but you could still sell eight and then sell that other one to the individual. Even before this issue arose and before the eviction ban and all of the discussion after it, I was quite aware of this exact situation. The apartments of long-term tenants, perhaps in apartment blocks, who had been renting for years, could be sold and they were never given the opportunity or chance to buy....