Results 8,141-8,160 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Confidence in the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government: Motion [Private Members] (25 Sep 2018)

Damien English: The Sinn Féin Deputies are looking for headlines.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seaweed Harvesting Licences (25 Sep 2018)

Damien English: I took the opportunity in June, at this year's "Our Ocean Wealth" summit, to clarify the position in relation to the legal interaction between applications to my Department for licences to harvest wild seaweed and existing seaweed harvesting rights. The position is that my Department cannot licence seaweed harvesting in an area where there is an existing right to harvest seaweed. I also...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (25 Sep 2018)

Damien English: The Fire Services Act 1981 provides for the establishment of fire authorities and the organisation of fire services and for life safety, fire fighting, the protection and rescue of persons and property and related matters. The Act was amended in 2003 by the Licensing of Indoor Events Act 2003, primarily to strengthen the powers of fire authorities to prosecute summary offences and to update...

Local Government (Restoration of Town Councils) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Sep 2018)

Damien English: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following:"Dáil Éireann declines to give the Local Government (Restoration of Town Councils) Bill 2018 a Second Reading in order that the issue of town councils can be considered in the context of the report ‘Municipal Governance – Districts, Towns and Local Electoral Areas’ on potential...

Local Government (Restoration of Town Councils) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Sep 2018)

Damien English: We have to engage with everybody, but I am conscious there was duplication there as well.

Local Government (Restoration of Town Councils) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Sep 2018)

Damien English: We went through a certain process in dealing with this matter. There are different views out there, and unlike Deputy Sherlock, I do not have people knocking on my door to ask where the town council has gone. That does not really happen. Perhaps it happens in some cases, but I am being genuine and telling the truth. I am not saying the Deputy is incorrect, but that there are different...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (26 Sep 2018)

Damien English: I thank Senator Michelle Mulherin for raising this matter, which she has raised many times in recent years with me, the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and the Department. She has constantly pushed to have money spent on water and sewerage schemes in County Mayo. This is very important work and I hope last week's announcements and further announcements in the weeks ahead will deliver the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Water and Sewerage Schemes Funding (26 Sep 2018)

Damien English: I will raise the Senator's point with the expert group and ask that it focus on the terrain issue. Mayo County Council, in its application under the next round of funding, should make set out in detail the reasons the scheme is so important. I am sure it did so in its previous application, but it may need to add to that and provide more evidence. The expert group will make recommendations...

Seanad: Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Law Provisions Bill 2018: Second Stage (26 Sep 2018)

Damien English: On behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy John Halligan, I am pleased to present the Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Law Provisions Bill 2018 to this House for consideration. The Bill completed its passage through the Lower House in July with broad support, following positive and constructive engagement with Deputies. Officials of the Department of Business, Enterprise and...

Seanad: Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Law Provisions Bill 2018: Second Stage (26 Sep 2018)

Damien English: I thank all of the Senators who contributed to the debate. I have listened intensely, as have the officials from the Department. The various issues that have been raised will be considered further by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation as the Bill makes its way through this House. It is intended to have Committee Stage on 3 October, which is next week, subject to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (27 Sep 2018)

Damien English: My answer might not be a surprise either because I have also answered the question on more than one occasion. I am happy to engage with the Deputy on this because it is an important topic.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (27 Sep 2018)

Damien English: The Deputy will find that I answered it the last time but he might not have liked the answer. I will always give the best answer and the most up to date position. I am happy to discuss this.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (27 Sep 2018)

Damien English: I was just setting the scene.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (27 Sep 2018)

Damien English: Following engagement with the credit union sector on proposals for credit unions to provide funding for the provision of social housing, the Central Bank undertook a review of the relevant investment framework in 2017 and our Department fully engaged in all parts of that. On foot of this review, revised regulations commenced on 1 March 2018. The revised regulations included the addition...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (27 Sep 2018)

Damien English: I have already been as clear as I possibly can on this. This is something into which we have put much work. We have worked with the Department of Finance and the Central Bank to make sure it could happen. The issuing and setting up of SPVs is not something the Department can do.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (27 Sep 2018)

Damien English: We are clear on that. The Department has assisted with the funding, through the ICSH, to help develop that. It is in three phases, the first two of which are complete. Phase 3, on which the Deputy is asking for an update, is due in October, in the next couple of weeks. That is to allow a special purpose vehicle to be set up. The Deputy is right to say the Irish League of Credit Unions is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (27 Sep 2018)

Damien English: That is my understanding.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (27 Sep 2018)

Damien English: I would be surprised if credit unions could not invest in an SPV that was set up to facilitate their investment.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (27 Sep 2018)

Damien English: That is what it is meant to do, so something will have gone seriously wrong if they cannot invest.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Funding (27 Sep 2018)

Damien English: Someone is feeding the Deputy information. That is grand, but whoever that is is obviously involved in the process, and that process is meant to find a mechanism for whoever that is to invest money. If that process does not succeed, then an SPV will not be announced in October, as allowing investment is what it is trying to do. There are two bodies involved - the ILCU and CUDA. We have...