Results 6,001-6,020 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (6 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I regret it as well.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I regret to say I will not be able to support the amendment. The amendment is superfluous in its wording, providing for "such other persons in the State as may be determined by law". Perhaps the Senator wishes to specifically identify British citizens. In regard to voting rights, the Houses are not restricted in prescribing categories of people by law and neither is the Minister. In that...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I am not in a position to accept this amendment but I accept the point made by the Senator. We are carrying out an extensive exercise on reform of the register in general. Later this year, we will have a referendum on the issue of presidential election voting rights for citizens overseas. The report of the Seanad reform group recommends the possibility of extending the franchise to people...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (12 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Following enactment of the Local Government Act 2019, in January 2019, the Regulations to prescribe how ballots to change a place-name are to be conducted by a local authority or municipal district are at an advanced stage of preparation and should be complete shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (12 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Plebiscites for directly elected mayors, with executive functions, will be held at the same time as the local elections, in respect of Cork City Council, Limerick City and County Council and Waterford City and County Council. Detailed proposals regarding the plebiscites, including the proposed functions of the mayor, will be submitted to Government for approval shortly and a public...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I will.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. Changes to local electoral areas may only be carried out following the completion of a review, by an independent boundary committee, established under section 28 of the Local Government Act 1991. The Act states that the Minister must have regard to the report of a boundary committee before deciding on whether to make an order amending local...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Boundaries for electoral purposes were accepted in full in Tipperary and everywhere else. The issue of municipal district boundaries was not one that committees were asked to adjudicate upon but one of the committees chose to do so, in spite of the fact that one of the distinct terms of reference was that each of the five former boroughs would have its own separate municipal district. I...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: More generally, the case for the replacement of the out-of-date town authority regime with a new model of municipal governance under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 was and remains very strong. Local government has been strengthened within counties and inefficient administration and duplication between town and county authorities, regarding matters such as budgeting, planning, rating...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: On the issue of Clonmel being attached to Cahir, in my time in local government, Clonmel and Cahir were always two separate districts. I understand and I fully accept the geographical issue that there are difficulties in getting from Cahir to Cashel because of natural boundaries that exist in that part of the world.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: However, with regard to the understanding from Deputy Healy that there has always been a connection, there has not been. The connection was established in the last review, which put Cahir and Clonmel into the same district.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: It was up to Tipperary County Council to read the terms of reference and make a submission accordingly. I completely refute the accusation made. In fact, it was at the behest of local authority members, as well as some Members of this House, that the former borough towns would have a separate municipal district with a view to giving them extra status. The idea that this reduces the status...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I am only answering the question. The idea that this reduces the status of Clonmel-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: -----bears no resemblance to the truth. Deputy McGrath asked who or what gives me the right. The designation of municipal districts is a ministerial function, not a function of any electoral boundary review because municipal districts are not electoral boundaries of themselves but are administrative boundaries. I want to state to the people of Clonmel there will be no loss of funding to the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: There is not. It is a dishonest argument of the two Deputies. It is completely dishonest to suggest that the money that is allocated for Cahir is somehow money for Clonmel when it is not. The central funding will not be adversely affected for Clonmel. It will receive the same, if not increased, funding into the future as under the Local Government Fund.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: That is the truth.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Both Deputies are making some valid points but there is a central dishonesty if they believe this is going to reduce because it is not going to reduce.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Local Authority Boundaries (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: It is going to place extra emphasis on having a separate and distinct municipal district for Clonmel.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates Calculations (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Local authorities are required by legislation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The annual rate on valuation (ARV), to be applied to the valuation of each property, is decided by the elected members of each local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Rates (26 Mar 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Local Government (Rates) Bill 2018 is currently before the Oireachtas and has completed Second Stage in the Dáil. The Bill contains important proposals for the modernisation of the legislation and regime governing commercial rates. The Bill is a key priority of my Department and when enacted, will facilitate more effective and streamlined rates collection procedures. Separately...