Results 7,621-7,640 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: She should make sure she mentions Carlow.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: I am scratching my head thinking where do I start with this. There are two different debates - there are probably ten different ones - going on here and I will try to deal with both of them separately. I will try to separate legislation from this week's debate.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: I will do that. I do not propose to accept amendments Nos. 34 and 35 relating to the adoption of the national planning framework, as tabled by Sinn Fein Senators and Senator Murnane O’Connor, respectively. As background to my opposing them, I remind the House that the objectives of the national planning framework are fundamental to the achievement of long-term economic, social and...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: Somebody has to make that decision at the end of the day and that is what governments are elected to do. They have to make a final decision. The legislation we are discussing in the context of these amendments refers to the draft legislation. I point that out in case people have not had a chance to read what is in the legislation, this relates to what is expected of future national...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: We also had this discussion on Committee Stage. There has been a great deal of consultation on this plan.The legislation we are debating will ensure that the same consultation will take place under future Governments, regardless of who is in them. This Government has made sure we have honoured the spirit of it on this occasion by having that consultation. If the Acting Chairman will allow...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: As a final point, I note this House and the Dáil made a decision. The Houses asked a committee on Members' behalf to undertake a report and feed into it. That is what the House decided to do. Members voted on that and agreed to do it. I was at that committee, as was the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, along with many Members present. The committee did a lot of good work and...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Feb 2018)

Damien English: We are not debating it today.

Project Ireland 2040: Statements (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: We will debate it here, too.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Data (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: My Department does not maintain the information sought.  While planning statistics are compiled by each planning authority on an annual basis for collation and publication on my Department’s website at the following link , these statistics do not include planning enforcement-related information, such as attendance at court for cases relating to unauthorised development.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board and for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme to be implemented by the Board with support from the Housing Agency. The provisions of the Act apply only to dwellings affected by significant damage attributable to pyritic heave consequent on the presence of reactive pyrite...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: There are some 17 applications to harvest seaweed on hands in my Department that have yet to be determined.  During the course of assessing the applications it became clear that certain rights to harvest seaweed exist.  My Department is in the process of ascertaining, with the assistance of the Attorney General, the legal interface and relationship between...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: As I outlined in the reply to Question No. 660 of 13 February 2018, the role of my Department in relation to seaweed harvesting is to regulate the activity in accordance with the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended. The Act provides that a licence may be granted to remove beach material, including seaweed. Any licence granted would be temporary in nature.  The Foreshore...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: That has all changed now.

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: Does Senator Dolan wish to speak?

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: If I have a minimum of six minutes, does that mean I have a maximum of 13 minutes?

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: I had thought you were giving me endless time.

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: I know but they were being complimentary so I had no problem with that. I thank you for the chance to answer some of the questions, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. Some of the issues were raised by speakers on a previous day in January while others were covered today. I do not have all the answers, but if there are any questions I do not answer I will forward any details to individual Members. I...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: I am very conscious of that. We are really trying to focus on vacant properties and I would point out to Senators McFadden, Byrne and others that there is a range of schemes in place in that regard. The repair and lease back scheme had a very poor uptake, which was very disappointing. I thought that scheme was well designed and that it could have been a great success. We have made changes...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (Resumed) (20 Feb 2018)

Damien English: There are other questions which require specific answers.

Project Ireland 2040: Statements (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Damien English: I will get a copy for the Deputy.