Results 5,881-5,900 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (15 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1122 and 1123 together. The Local Government Bill 2018 provides inter alia for the holding of plebiscites on directly elected mayors with executive functions for Cork City Council, Limerick City and County Council and Waterford City and County Council. These plebiscites are expected to be held at the same time as the local government elections in May...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (15 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The processes and procedures underpinning the valuation of property for rating purposes are set out in detail in the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. Such valuations are a matter for the Commissioner of Valuation, who is the head of the Valuation Office, in the first instance. The Commissioner is independent in the exercise of his functions. I have no role in such matters. The Valuation Acts...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Constitutional Amendments (15 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: At its meeting on 4 December 2018, the Government reviewed the progress on Bills to amend the Constitution. The Government noted that further consideration will be given to the timing of a referendum on reducing the voting age to 16 although it is not proposed that this referendum be held in 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates Valuation Process (15 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 provide for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property for rating purposes. The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Acts and the making of valuations for rating is his sole responsibility and neither the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government nor I have any function in decisions in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Elected Office Requirements (15 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Electoral law provides that 'a person of unsound mind' is disqualified from seeking election to the Dáil or European Parliament and, from membership of the Seanad. However this provision is to be repealed by the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016, which is currently at Committee Stage in Dáil Éireann. There are no other barriers in electoral law to persons...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report (17 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Following the completion of reports by the two Local Area Boundary Committees established to review and make recommendations on local electoral areas, maps of local electoral areas and of municipal districts are currently being prepared on behalf of my Department by Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI). It is expected these will be completed and made available in the near future.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Brexit Issues (22 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: It is intended to bring legislative proposals to Government shortly to amend the European Parliament Elections Act 1997 (as amended) in order to give effect to the recommendations in the Report on European Parliament Constituencies 2018 in connection with the configuration of our European Parliament constituencies and the number of members to be elected from each such constituency. This...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (22 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The funding system that applies to local authorities is a complex one, as authorities derive their income from a variety of local sources including commercial rates, charges for goods and services and funding from Central Government. Central Government funding of local authorities similarly presents a complex picture, with transfers, both current and capital, coming from a wide range of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Elected Office Requirements (22 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I have no current plans to introduce a pilot scheme to specifically financially assist candidates with disabilities who wish to stand for election. The focus of my Department's work in this area relates to progressing the accessibility of voting and voter information, which is set down in the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017 -2021 as an action point for my Department in order to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Planning Framework (22 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: It is the first time in his life that the Senator has been brief.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Planning Framework (22 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I thank him for his congratulations as well. The Senator is correct that this is a major issue in rural areas. It is fair to state, however, that rural housing has been a major issue for 20 years, not least in the Senator's area of north Kildare. I will outline the position from the perspective of the recently announced national planning framework, NPF. The latter was published in 2018...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Planning Framework (22 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The councillors' role is to devise the development plan for their area. If there is an issue with the development plan in County Kildare, it is open to the councillors in the county to amend it. I understand what the Senator is saying about objective 19. By the way, I do not see how the use of the word "occupational" complicates things. It is quite clear that in the case of someone like a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Planning Framework (22 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: It is open to the councillors in Kildare to have their planning meeting in the morning. In the meantime, the Minister will issue the planning guidelines when he has finalised them.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Constitutional Convention Recommendations (22 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Senator. This is at least the second time that we have had this discussion on Commencement Matters. I acknowledge that the Senator and other Members are strong advocates for a reduction in the voting age to 16, which was recommended by the report of the Constitutional Convention in 2013, as the Senator pointed out. The convention examined this issue extensively and during its...

Local Government Bill 2018: From the Seanad (23 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: With regard to amendment No. 5, we accepted the purpose behind the Fianna Fáil amendment, which was to ensure that there would be a report published within two years which would reflect the outcome of the plebiscites that are to be held on the issue of directly elected mayors. Parliamentary draftsmen felt that the wording of the Fianna Fáil amendment was such that, if it were to be...

Local Government Bill 2018: From the Seanad (23 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I will refer to Cork briefly to begin. An amendment was agreed to, which I tabled, to ensure that the financial review period is extended to ten years, specifically with a view to ensuring the situation with Cork County Council. I have no role in boundaries, through fields or otherwise, but I agree with the Deputy. I have always supported geographic boundaries being boundaries, whether it...

Local Government Bill 2018: From the Seanad (23 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Maybe Roscommon as well. A directly elected mayor is what is envisaged in the plebiscite legislation. Cork city is a separate local authority. It is the directly elected mayors of the single authorities in question that people will be asked about in May. That question has been removed in the Galway context, but that is the legitimate decision of the Seanad, which I am sure will be agreed...

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his endeavours yesterday evening regarding the commitment I made.

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I thank Deputies and members of the Business Committee for allowing time for statements on the issue of directly elected mayors, which was raised in our discussion on the Local Government Bill 2018 before Christmas. Deputies expressed the view that there should be an input from this and the Upper House prior to the Government making a decision on the exact role and functions of directly...

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I agree fully.