Results 6,821-6,840 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Yes, I know. The commission was constrained by the Electoral Reform Act 2022, which only allowed for constituencies with three, four or five seats. I drew up my own version of six-seater constituencies anyway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I know, yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: True. I refer as well to a constitutional change concerning the ratio of people to TDs. If this were to happen, then it might not be necessary to move to constituencies with six seats. It might be possible to go back to what we have previously.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Yes. I am conscious the research areas the Electoral Commission is going to work on may be important to a certain cohort of people but not to others. Some people may just not be concerned that they are now in a constituency with three, five or six seats. However, if you are a candidate in one of those areas, this is going to be of great interest. There is also the issue of posters. Some...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 73. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding Departmental policy or guidelines in relation to the retention, repurposing or sale of former State-owned buildings that are no longer in use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51946/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 279. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 21 November 2023, the steps she will take to ensure that all qualifying applicants to secondary schools in Greystones are accommodated for September 2024; if a copy of the most recent Departmental review on demand for secondary school places for Greystones can be provided; and if she will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 280. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the new school building for a school (details supplied); the timeline for its completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52311/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 303. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to delays in releasing sports capital grant funding for a club (details supplied); if this funding can be issued before the end of the year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52000/23]

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is what the Christmas break is for.

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: It has been a long process to get to this stage. I feel like I have been working on this for approximately two years, possibly longer. It is significant and major legislation, as people have noted. I suspect I am not the only person who will speak today who has not read the publication we received recently in its entirety. We all agree that while the 2000 Act served well in many areas,...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I got involved in politics because of my interest in planning and because I understand that if we do not have a proper planning system, everything else fails. When you get planning right, people generally do not notice, because things are good, but when you get it wrong an entire generation or generations can live with the legacy. We see some of that in the urban sprawl we have seen in the...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (30 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I look forward to tabling a number of amendments and discussing them with the Minister. I will not need any books over the Christmas period. I have my reading list sorted now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: It certainly does. Depending on what is done with constituencies, the result could alter the outcome of an election. Depending on the formation of the next Dáil, as well, if the commission were to come up with a report recommending six-seaters, it may not suit the Oireachtas at that time to move to them. Anyway, I suppose that is democracy for you.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Ó Broin. Senator Fitzpatrick will make a final point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Senator Fitzpatrick. I thank Mr. O'Leary and his team for their contributions and Mr. Ryan and his team for their assistance to us. The committee would be really interested in continued engagement with the Electoral Commission, especially after it has assessed the consultations to the draft strategy and produced the final strategy. The fact that we have created this independent...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. O'Leary. I will now adjourn the meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: This is Deputy Ó Broin’s time.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have just been nominated.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Apologies have been received from Deputy Cathal Crowe. The purpose our meeting is to consider the Supplementary Estimates for Public Services in respect of Vote 31 - Transport. I would like to remind members that the committee has no role in approving the Estimates. It is an ongoing opportunity for the committee to examine departmental expenditure to make the process more transparent, and...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy O'Connor. Deputy Kenny has a supplementary question on the Supplementary Estimate.