Results 4,841-4,860 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I will give an example of why it is a good idea. Recently I sat down with a group of residents and councillors, which was a cross-party group. We were trying to resolve the housing crisis in the immediate area and to identify land that could be used for housing that is not currently zoned for housing. We came up with a number of ideas and the local councillors from all parties wish to...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I am not questioning the length of or the efforts that went into the consultation process by Members of this House, the Dáil and the committee and by members of the public and the local authorities.Every effort was made. We have to learn lessons from the past and particularly from what the country has gone through over recent years. The proposed amendment No. 30 is a good suggestion...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I think this amendment has some merit because it will give Members of the Oireachtas an opportunity to debate the framework after it has been finished but before it takes its place as a statutory enactment. I ask the Minister of State to take the amendment on board. We need to learn from the past. If both Houses need to debate these matters as part of a belt-and-braces approach to making...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: It should have been held in Carlow.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: On a point of order, I want to give Senator Coffey an opportunity to correct his statement to the House where he accused a majority of Senators of being parish-pump politicians. In fairness, I do not think the Senator meant it in that manner but it came out that way. This is in the context of our new politics and respect for Cabinet confidentiality where we have the Minister for Transport,...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I support the amendment. These powers were introduced - Senator Coffey was a Minister of State in the Department - for good reasons. We were starring down what has become the housing crisis and it was to try to get the building of houses started within the country. At this stage, we are still struggling to get built the volume of new houses that is badly needed. However, there is a need...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: There is a sense of nervousness in respect of the amendments the Minister of State is proposing. I would have far preferred to have an opportunity to discuss and debate them in detail on Committee Stage. To be honest, it is not clear to me what the Minister of State trying to achieve. My fear is that a citizen who wishes to uphold his or her rights will be prevented from seeking justice...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: The Minister of State is asking about-----

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: In respect of the Poolbeg West STZ, the local planning authority increased the requirement for social and affordable housing above the regulated 10% figure. Will this be recognised under this amendment or is there a possibility of inserting in the planning guidelines the recognition of a local authority to increase the number of social and affordable houses above the 10% currently outlined...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: Could the Minister of State clarify what he is saying? Does this control reduce the power of the Minister to not sign off on the SDZ if the local authorities' condition is not included in An Bord Pleanála's decision on the SDZ? It is a reserve function of the Minister?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: In seconding the amendment, I recognise that local authorities do a public consultation process on Part 8 planning which is also important and informs the planning process. To be honest with the Minister of State, he needs to talk to a lot of the local authorities on Part 8 planning. Part 8 planning would be an excellent way to deal with the housing crisis rather than the rapid build...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I have no problem with the introduction of fees for pre-planning consultation meetings. This consultation mechanism assists the introduction of good and strong planning permissions. I would be anxious for the fees to be set at a manageable level, especially in the case of small developments. They should not act as a disincentive for small infill developments in the city. I ask the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I have a certain amount of concern. What happened in the case of the proposed Apple data centre in the west of Ireland was totally wrong. It probably robbed key infrastructure and jobs from that area. I am conscious that we could have a knee-jerk reaction to what happened in that case. These data centres are huge consumers of energy. We have problems regarding climate change. Most data...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: What proof does the Minister of State have that there is a demand for this type of shared accommodation, other than the case being made by developers? This type of shared accommodation is basically student accommodation for adults. A recent survey found that adults do not want to share accommodation when they reach the age of 25 years to 30 years. Professionals, building works, clerical...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I wholeheartedly support the vacant site levy and compliment the former Minister of State, Senator Paudie Coffey, and the former Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly for pressing the issue. Unfortunately, the Attorney General's opinion at the time was that we had to give people a window of opportunity. I certainly wanted the levy to start at a lot more than 3%, but we are beginning to move in the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: Just de-zone the land.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I hope the coalition partners are not falling out.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I echo the remarks of Senator Norris earlier about the chaos about to happen in Dublin regarding public transport. I am delighted that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, who has been missing in action for so long, was on "Today with Sean O'Rourke" and I look forward to listening to his great knowledge on transport and to hear what his solutions are. He has not been very much...