Results 4,481-4,500 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: These sessions are very helpful when we can get this expertise, where it is available, for the public to view and to know that we are trying to do our best here to reinstate that confidence and to put the best people in place. As an aside, I know a senior planner and when asked out in a social situation what they do, they say that they are an engineer; they do not want to get into that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: Yes, and seek free planning advice. I have one or two clarifications. Ms Uí Bhroin asked about the legal advice which we were presented with. I do not know if that is our legal advice to pass on but I can ask those who presented that legal advice if it is okay to pass it on. I do not want to pass on something that is not mine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: If Ms Uí Bhroin wishes to do that, that is fine, as that will take me out of the loop. That is a good suggestion from Deputy Ó Broin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I had one other question. On the discussion we had on infrastructure delivery, I am not overly concerned about that because it could refer to somebody who is an engineer. The more people one gets into the room, the more diversity of understanding one has of all of the different aspects of planning, development, project management, etc., ecology and environment, and one should not exclude...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: Ms Uí Bhroin asked about the appointment of a chair and deputy chair in that process. The Department stated that the Minister is initiating a process of appointing a new chairperson to the board to replace the retiring chairperson, and will also shortly appoint a deputy chairperson, at the level under that. I am not certain if Ms Uí Bhroin was present for that part of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: Does Ms Uí Bhroin wish to contribute or does Mr. Lawlor?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: The Office of the Planning Regulator, OPR, has done some very good work in explaining the planning system and those planning leaflets that used to be out there. People probably do not understand why the whole decision-making process takes 18 weeks or 14 weeks. It would be helpful for members of the public to know that this is what goes on in a planning decision application process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: The OPR report recommended something similar. Ms Uí Bhroin wished to speak on the last comment made.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: This meeting has been very helpful for the committee. I thank Ms Dubsky, Ms Uí Bhroin and Mr. Lawlor. They have appeared before us several times and I have no doubt we will see them again in the future. It is incumbent on us to explain the planning process to people and restore confidence in it. Planning is a good thing; it is not a bad thing.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: Are amendments Nos. 71 and 72 going to be moved, and then will we come to amendment No. 73?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I move amendment No. 73: In page 159, line 33, to delete “€3,000” and substitute “€10,000 plus the amount of tax due in respect of the vacant homes tax”. I have spoken once regarding this amendment but I wish to come back in on it as I do not think the Minister responded to my question on the amendment. We are introducing the principle of a tax on...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I am not trying to speak to an amendment that has been ruled out of order but I would ask that the Minister consider-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I am speaking to section 84, in general.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: I take the Minister’s point on amendment No. 73. We differ on the rate of the vacant homes tax because I believe it should be higher. I believe that failing to comply with the requirements of Revenue should incur a frightening charge. The sum of €10,000 is what I propose. The Minister says that somebody should think twice. I do not want them to think about it at all. I...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: Sorry, okay.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: We have partially discussed the exemptions. I ask the Minister to consider how we avoid an issue arising when somebody claims to be actively marketing a house. I have asked for a definition. If one puts up a “For sale” sign - not an estate agent’s sign but one’s own - one can sell one's house without having to go to an estate agent. If I were to put up a "For...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: It has to be advertised-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: Okay. There will be guidance on this.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: In the same way-----

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Business of Select Committee (16 Nov 2022)

Steven Matthews: If one is actively marketing the property, it might not be seen as that. One may just not be available to show the property. I agree with the vacant homes tax and am supportive of this measure, but I want to ensure we catch and activate as many vacant buildings as we possibly can. That is why I draw attention to this. I ask the Minister to consider if there is a way of addressing what I...