Results 5,021-5,040 of 7,200 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: There are two things this amendment is trying to achieve. First, it is to be more specific in the language. It asks not just to refer to landscape, but landscape features, including hedgerows. The word “landscape” alone will not necessarily cover that in the same detail. It also proposes to add “water resources”, which are a key part of the environment and its...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: The Minister read out the wording of our amendment, which was “archaeological, historic, architectural natural heritage”. He stated that it covers it very well, and I agree. That is our amendment and our wording that the Minister read out and said it covers it very well.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I was welcoming that the Minister was agreeing that our wording was very good.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: They have huge significance for wildlife and habitats. We see the devastation caused in other countries when they removed some of their landscape features, including hedgerows. That has had hugely devastating environmental consequences, as well as economic consequences for people working on the land. The significance of hedgerows in our landscape cannot be overstated. It is highly...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I would like to comment briefly on amendments Nos. 150 and 154.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Deputy Duffy's amendment No. 149 certainly is a good amendment as well. The addition of the two words "and restoration" in our amendment No. 150 is highly significant. Yes, conservation is important but it is of critical importance as well that we restore what we have lost. Including those two words would significantly strengthen the section. In general and not just in this Bill, our...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I welcome that the Minister will look at water resources and potentially list that on Report Stage. That would be useful. On amendment No. 154, again, the Minister has indicated that he is going to be looking at this. He said these issues can be achieved through guidance and made reference to the guidance that has been issued. To complement the guidance that has been issued, however, it...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I am sorry; the Minister of State was a bit too fast. He is withdrawing No. 123 and which other amendments?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: In planning terms, that could mean that a settlement with 60 dwellings where only 49 are occupied would have a different status from a settlement with-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: One of the reasons hedgerows are specifically named is that they have huge significance in terms of biodiversity and protecting land and agriculture.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: The Minister has spoken in support of nature restoration.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Absolutely, so it logically follows that the Bill should reflect that and state "conservation and restoration of the environment and its amenities".

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: This is on prescribed bodies. In the 2000 Act, the matter is not left to the discretion of the Minister. The Act clearly specifies prescribed bodies as part of the procedure for reviewing the NPF. With regard to consultation, the Bill, in section 21, specifies Members of the Oireachtas, regional assemblies, local authorities, the commission, the Office of the Planning Regulator, the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: The Minister answered my point about compliance with the strategic environmental assessment, SEA, directive by saying that section 21(3) states that the national planning framework shall be subject to the directive and the regulations but Article 6 (3) of the SEA directive which deals with consultation specifically says that "Member States shall designate the authorities to be consulted...

Housing Targets and Regulations: Motion [Private Members] (6 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Labour Party for tabling this motion. There are a number of elements to it and I will discuss some of them. We all know the housing targets are insufficient. The Government has asked the ESRI to do a piece of work on projecting housing need. The Government is going to base its targets on that. I have just come from a meeting of the housing committee on the planning Bill. We...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (5 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: 94. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of a person (details supplied) who is being detained without legal explanation; if the Department is working to return this person to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10520/24]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (5 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: 154. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update for residents in areas in north Dublin (details supplied) who are experiencing ongoing issues with continuous and night-time aircraft noise; what the impact this noise is having on residents in these areas; what will be done to mitigate these problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10057/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Planning Issues (5 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: 310. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10519/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (5 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: 406. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government whether he has had any engagement with, or received any reports or briefings from Uisce Éireann, regarding the inclusion of projects (details supplied) in County Dublin in the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10242/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Quality (5 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: 407. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware of the recent report commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency in which evidence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms was found in Irish swimming waters; how his Department plans to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10303/24]