Results 5,641-5,660 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I asked for time to be provided during Government business.

Motor Insurance: Motion [Private Members] (27 Feb 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1.

Motor Insurance: Motion [Private Members] (27 Feb 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am from Cork. We can do what we want. Is that not right?

Motor Insurance: Motion [Private Members] (27 Feb 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will move it anyway. We welcome the opportunity to debate this issue and we thank the Rural Independent Group for tabling the motion. However, we felt we had no choice but to table our own amendment to it because much of the motion's content fell into the insurance industry's spin. I will tell the House exactly what I mean by that. The motion states as fact that insurance premiums are...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Equality Budgeting Initiative: Discussion (27 Feb 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I would like to go back to apprenticeships. Ms Ní Chaithnía mentioned it was part of the Scottish model. She has seen the indicator the Department was looking at, which was bland. Just 300 females have been involved in apprenticeships but it does not dig into the data regarding how many of them completed apprenticeships, went on to full-time employment, and secured mortgages on...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Equality Budgeting Initiative: Discussion (27 Feb 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: What will be the composition of the advisory group?

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Lease Agreements (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: 154. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount his Department is paying the diocese of Cork and Ross for the leasing of the building for a Gaelscoil (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11338/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: 155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of construction on the grounds of a Gaelscoil (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11339/18]

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Yesterday, the Taoiseach said he would appear before the Oireachtas Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach and deal with this matter as part of the Estimates for his Department. That is a red herring. Perhaps the Taoiseach needs to learn exactly what the Committee of Public Accounts does, as opposed to sectoral committees. He will only discuss the...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 34: Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I welcome the officials. This is my first Committee of Public Accounts meeting and I wish it was my last.

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 34: Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: I do not think I will be that lucky so I might have to apply to be leader of the party next year so I can vacate it. Page 16 of the submission concerns the housing programme. I wish to discuss some of the housing supports that are provided such as HAP and RAS. I do not have the figure relating to HAP because it is all combined into local authority housing. I know there was an additional...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 34: Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Obviously with HAP, the inspection of a property must take place within nine months. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 34: Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is it fair to say we not have a figure for HAP properties that would comply with the legislation in terms of an inspection within the first nine months?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 34: Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Does anyone have that figure? Do the local authorities have those figures?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 34: Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: This is the problem I have with it. Based on my experience as a Deputy, the number of properties that are not inspected is significant. Last year, we paid €153 million to landlords, many of whom provide substandard accommodation. Examples include no heating, damp and windows that do not open in clear breach of safety regulations and legislation. Is the Department comfortable...

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 34: Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Should the Department not have done that before we decided to spend an extra €100 million on HAP this year?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 34: Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: What percentage?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 34: Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: So it is a small percentage.

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 34: Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: If a property is inspected and fails the inspection, what is the next step in the process?

Public Accounts Committee: Vote 34: Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (8 Mar 2018)

Jonathan O'Brien: Are there guidelines around the make-up of households for HAP? I can give an example of a single mother with three children living in a one-bedroom flat who is in receipt of HAP.