Results 801-820 of 2,180 for speaker:John Cummins

Seanad: Impact of Cost of Living Issues on Young People in Ireland: Motion (28 Sep 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thank the Senators for bringing forward this Private Members' motion. I will focus on the housing elements. The motion calls for a plan to be devised and implemented to address issues related to accommodation for young people and their families, making use of vacant properties and providing social housing to those in need. As someone who...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome the item on the Order Paper regarding the solar regulations. This was discussed at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage last Thursday and I pay tribute to everyone who has had any part in bringing this forward. I thank in particular my Fine Gael colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, for all his work and determination in seeing...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Last week we had one of the most expansionary budgets in recent times, an €11 million cost-of-living budget with a combination of universal and targeted measures to help all citizens. I would like in the weeks ahead if we could have statements on social protection and have the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, before the House. We are all aware of the high-level,...

Seanad: Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Order for Second Stage (5 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, to the House and thank him for bringing the Bill to the Seanad. It is always welcome to have Bills initiated in the Seanad as opposed to by our colleagues in the Lower House. I thank the Minister of State for this. The Bill seeks to provide modernisation of the registering, licensing and control regime for water abstractions. The...

Seanad: Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vacant Properties (6 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, for coming to the House this morning to take this Commencement matter. I am sure he will agree with me that tackling vacancy and dereliction across our cities, towns, villages and rural countryside is something of great importance. It is a passion of mine. I have worked constructively since my election to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vacant Properties (6 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the Minister of State for his very positive response to this Commencement matter. I stand corrected but my understanding from what the Minister previously said in relation to this was that it would be expanded to cities. However, it was not actually stated that it would be expanded to rural one-off houses. The fact the Minister of State is confirming that this morning is hugely...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: In terms of inspection, from the EPA's perspective, is pressure or something else used to try to get a resolution in this area?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Perhaps there is a little bit of a mix-up there between the two because Fán Glas is in Kilmeaden; it would not be connected to Cappoquin. Ms Levin probably meant Touraneena when she spoke about the two supplies. I understand that Irish Water have a plan to resolve the Fán Glas issue. Is it a recommendation from the HSE in general that tankers should be provided? Is that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I might tease that out a little bit more. I return to the EPA on enforcement. Another issue has arisen in Bonmahon, County Waterford. I have a report open in front of me from one of the EPA inspectors from April of this year. It was prepared by Dr. John Feehan, on the agglomeration in Bonmahon, of which there are three elements. From the recommendations made in this report, clearly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: What if that does not happen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: In general, I am not specifically talking about a case. In general, where action is not followed as recommended in a report, what happens?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: On forestry, in general, we are aware of the impacts across the board. The EPA referred to agriculture. I too believe significant work is being done by the agriculture sector to try to minimise the problems, but I am not so certain about the impact of forestry. Maybe that is an omission by me in not knowing the issue in as much detail as I perhaps should. Will the witnesses briefly outline...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the Chair and the witnesses. I am not being parochial even though I could probably be accused of being so in referencing some areas in my constituency in County Waterford but what I am trying to do is tease out the process that occurs when an issue is identified and what stages are followed to remediate the issue. It was stated to the HSE that 30 days was a significant time. An...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: The next slot is the Fine Gael slot. I will take that. Senator Boyhan referred to Irish Water's engagement with us as Oireachtas Members. It is important to put on the record the positive and proactive engagement we have with Irish Water staff. I can speak from my experience of trying to resolve several issues in Waterford. I thank the representatives for that. There are particular...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: It would not be brown.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Perhaps we can take that up offline. Another case in point is Bunmahon, which I also referred to. An EPA report shows significant deficiencies. I have been engaging with Irish Water on putting a scheme together through the small towns and villages growth programme. The difficulty obviously is the timelines. Mr. Gleeson referred to this in his initial remarks. If we are starting a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Irish Water can never eliminate a possible objection, but in the case of Bunmahon, there has been very proactive engagement from the community and there is a very good group in place that is working to try to ensure the proper facilities are put in place to service the community. The hope would be that that engagement piece would reduce the issue. Could other measures, such as those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I am sure the EPA would have had an opinion and we will write to it in that respect.