Results 481-500 of 7,163 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: We could cover a few of those things, and try to do it relatively soon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: I would be very happy if that was included as a category along with the other measures we will look at in terms of an analysis of State funded schemes. I ask that it is named as one, along with-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes, that works.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: Deputy Ó Broin covered a lot of it. There has been a huge amount of work done internationally on land by, for example, the Scottish Land Commission. Countries like Germany do a lot more around land. It does bring down the cost of land and it does much more master planning. It is an entire category we could do in Ireland that is not covered under existing schemes. We can explore that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: I agree with the Senator, those are two separate things. The extended approval process definitely needs to be looked at and sorting it out is one of the keys to sorting out the issues around social housing. The funding of maintenance and management of social housing stock must also be addressed. There are some proposals for doing that in the programme for Government. We are heading into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: It ties into the payment approvals process because part of the way the Department justifies it is by stating that it is an accountability measure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: It is important to invite in the outside bodies first. It would not be much use to have the Department witnesses in first and then to have all the questions we want to ask them subsequent to that. It is often the case that when the Department responds we might decide it is a fair enough response or that it is not and we should try to amend that aspect or whatever. I believe that order is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: I agree with that. Lessons from Covid should be near the top of the agenda. If we are talking about the first four or five meetings we should include that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: We were asked as a committee to do that.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (14 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: 177. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the construction of a new school building (details supplied) in Dublin 13 will commence; the projected timeline for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30498/20]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language (15 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: 145. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if additional supports and resources will be provided for Foras na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta, TG4 and Raidió Rí-Rá in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30870/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Broadband Programme (15 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: 189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the increased broadband needs at schools arising from Covid-19; if she will put forward plans for upgrading the broadband and HEAnet capacity at (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30743/20]

Post-European Council Meeting on 15 and 16 October: Statements (20 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: I agree with the comment of a number of other Deputies that if a deal is not concluded now, from January there will be a need for one to be concluded. That aspect of this will not go away. There is no question that in the long run we will fail to have a trade agreement in place, with the economic damage that this would cause to the UK, EU and Ireland. There is no question but that it would...

Ministerial Power (Repeal) (Ban Co-Living and Build to Rent) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: It is regrettable that the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, made his contribution and then left straight away. We now have a situation that neither Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael are present in the Chamber but it is Fine Gael that is the architect of co-living and Fianna Fáil that holds the senior Ministry. It is a pity they have left the Green Party here to defend a policy of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (20 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: 176. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to address the long wait times for driver tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31504/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: 358. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will extend teacher illness of a family member leave during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31505/20]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: Regarding the issue of thresholds and the approach taken in this legislation, we have heard that we are looking at a higher threshold than there is in Northern Ireland and Scotland. In respect of standards in other European Union countries, how do the points for registration and licensing compare in respect of thresholds? I would also like the witnesses to comment on the lack of mechanisms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: To clarify, Mr. Ó Coigligh is not aware of any other country which is proposing the threshold level that we are proposing. Are there no examples to base that on? Is it the case that we are only aware of other countries with lower thresholds?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: Based on our knowledge at the moment, it seems there is no one else looking at similar levels.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Water Environment (Abstractions) Bill 2020: Discussion (20 Oct 2020)

Cian O'Callaghan: My point is that the only comparable systems of which we are aware have lower thresholds. That is the current situation.