Results 6,341-6,360 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Jul 2016)

Damien English: The question of whether we will give them a vote is a project that will start in November. I am in favour of it. The convention discussed it and a recommendation was made. Some party leaders, including Fianna Fáil's leader, believe that the discussion was a waste of time. It was not, as I agree with Senator Ó Clochartaigh that it would encourage more people to vote. Some choose...

Topical Issue Debate: Waste Management (19 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I apologise that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, is not here himself to take the debate. He was hoping to be back in time to take it. It is true that earlier this month the Minister, Deputy Coveney, secured an agreement with all major waste collection companies to freeze charges in order that customers would pay no more than they currently pay for waste collection over the next 12 months...

Topical Issue Debate: Waste Management (19 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I again thank the Deputies for raising the matter. I know it is frustrating at this stage and I am quite conscious that the Deputies have said that August is close. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has been very clear about this and he expects the deal to be honoured. That is the bottom line and it has been made clear in all negotiations. Our officials have been out there and it has been...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Maintenance (19 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I refer to the reply to Question No. 335 on today’s Order Paper. As the Deputy is aware, issues in relation to social housing units, including fire safety deficiencies, are a matter for the relevant local authority.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Architectural Qualifications (19 Jul 2016)

Damien English: Directive 2005/36/EC on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications, as amended by Directive 2013/55/EU, sets out a number of routes under which professionals may have their qualifications recognised to practice in other Member States. The profession of architect is only one of seven professions within the Directive with a system of automatic recognition for qualifications....

Housing (Sale of Local Authority Housing) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: Is that the Deputy's only aim in life?

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: It is time well spent.

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: Go on.

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: So am I.

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: Perhaps I might let them in if they turn up. I thank everyone for his or her contribution today and yesterday and in the couple of months since the Government was formed. There is lot of good work going on in the housing sector and there had been a lot of discussion about homelessness, even before the general election. It became a major issue which focused people's minds. The quality...

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: 9 o’clock Most Members' contributions were to the effect that the plans are reasonable, they contain targets but can it happen. The difference between this plan and other plans is that it involves a whole-of-Government approach involving many Departments. It involves consultation with stakeholders, agencies and all the different players. That is the same process we followed in...

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: I am going through these figures. Does the Deputy not trust me? I spent a few hours on them to make sure I am right. The €5.35 billion investment proposed for the social housing area over the 2016-21 period comprises some €4.5 billion in capital funding and €844 million in support of programmes funded from current expenditure. In terms of capital funding, the...

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: -----I will say it three times if I have to - of the available €5 billion capital fiscal space over the 2017-21 period.

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: A total of €2 billion of this funding is being assigned to support the delivery of social housing. I am confident of those figures and have no doubt about them. I understand where there might be confusion, but the figure is right. It is new money. It is taxpayers' money. It is not my money or the Government's money but taxpayers' money being invested in a key way. The €200...

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: ----the Members will soon see action on the field next door. I believe this can work. I will not read the rest of the speech into the record but it is available if anyone wants to read it.

Housing Strategy: Statements (Resumed) (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: This plan will work and, with the support of this House, it can get even better. I thank the Members.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Construction Sector Strategy (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: In the context of social housing provision, my Department undertakes analysis in respect of the average costs associated with the delivery of a range of differently sized social housing units, both in terms of construction costs and ‘all-in’ costs. These costs are based on an analysis of returned data from local authorities on social housing schemes. Nevertheless, information...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: An extensive public consultation process was undertaken in 2012 to inform the development of the revised building control regulations which came into effect on 1 March 2014. A comprehensive consultation document was published entitled,which set out the context in which the reforms, as later signed into law in the form of thewould operate and the regulatory impact of these for building owners...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: A review of the (S.I. No. 9 of 2014), following its first 12 months in operation, was announced on 2 April 2015. While the review examined the impact of S.I. No. 9 of 2014 on single dwellings and domestic extensions, it was not restricted nor confined to those specific issues; it was a full review of the broader operation of the regulations which was open to all construction professionals,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Amendments (20 Jul 2016)

Damien English: In response to the many building failures that have emerged over the past decade, my Department introduced the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 9 of 2014), which require greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification of design and construction by registered construction professionals and builders,...