Results 841-860 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan: Discussion (2 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: With the size of the population and proximity to Waterford city, it should probably be considered as part of the metropolitan area for the transport strategy. I will get parochial for a moment and talk about the N11 in Wicklow. I know that there is a proposal for express buses on that road. I suggest that the express bus can work well if it operates from departure point to destination...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan: Discussion (2 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: The safety improvements proposed along the N11 in regard to the exit and entry ramps, drainage and upgrade of the road in certain places are to be welcomed, as is the express bus service. This needs to be done in tandem with development of a really good service along the eastern spine in Wicklow, serving all of those population centres. I thank the witnesses for their time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan: Discussion (2 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: I have a question for the NTA representatives. Irish Rail has an order of intercity railcar units ready for delivery some time next year. If the company were to increase this order, would that allow it to roll out increased capacity on, for example, the Cork, Galway and Wicklow services or to operate them at greater frequency?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan: Discussion (2 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Development Plan: Discussion (2 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Creegan.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: 234. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to business owners in the tourist sector who do not own rateable premises that are facing into a second peak season under Covid-19 restrictions; and if further financial supports are being considered. [5386/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: 483. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if having an elderly and high-risk person in the household is considered for force majeure permission with regard to the non-reopening of a childcare centre that is also a primary residence given the ongoing pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5385/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (3 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: 939. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding that is to be made available for animal welfare organisations in 2021; and if this reflects the agreed doubling of funding for such organisations in the programme for Government. [5395/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (3 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: 940. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the tonnage of sprat landed per port in Ireland from October to December 2020; and the amount of sprat exported to other jurisdictions including Northern Ireland in the same time period in tabular form. [5396/21]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fur Farming (3 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: 941. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to introduce a draft Bill to outlaw fur farming given it is specified as a priority in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5399/21]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dog Breeding Industry (3 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: 983. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she will take to ensure the robust and consistent enforcement of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 to reduce the prevalence of puppy farms. [5394/21]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Value Added Tax (10 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: 210. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the classification of fruit juices produced in Ireland for VAT purposes, which entails the standard 21% VAT rate being applied; if the position can be reviewed in view of the programme for Government commitment to encourage greater expansion and growth in the Irish horticulture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6766/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (10 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: 318. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will report on the level of funding remaining to bring further social housing voids back into the housing stock following the announcement at the end of January 2021 on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6765/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (10 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: 320. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the number of remaining voids reported by Wicklow County Council that have not been returned to the public housing stock to date; and if the local authority has estimated the approximate cost for returning these remaining units. [6781/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (10 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: 346. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the roll-out of a nationwide e-planning system. [7347/21]

Dumping at Sea Act 1996 (Section 5(12)) (Commencement) Order 2021: Motion (11 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: We are discussing the decommissioning and removal of the Kinsale alpha platform. It is a relic of a time when we drilled holes in the ground to suck out gas and oil to burn. We took so much of these fossil fuels from the ground and burned them over so many decades that we have destroyed our environment and destabilised our climate. In the 1970s, when we sought our oil and gas fields, we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) Regulations 2021 and Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2021: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (16 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: The committee is meeting to consider the Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) Regulations 2021 relating to school buildings and electric vehicle, EV, charging points. We will then resume pre-legislative scrutiny of the affordable housing Bill after which we will suspend to reconvene in private session. We are joined remotely by the Minister of State with responsibility...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) Regulations 2021 and Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2021: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (16 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State. We have had an opportunity to consider the draft regulations and the explanatory memorandum which were circulated last week. Two members are indicating. I would appreciate it if they could be brief because of the nature of the meeting. I will call Senator Boyhan first and then Deputy Ó'Broin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) Regulations 2021 and Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2021: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (16 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: Deputy Ó'Broin might ask his question and then the Minister of State can address both questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) Regulations 2021 and Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) (No. 2) Regulations 2021: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (16 Feb 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Sheridan and the two members for raising those important points. Deputy Higgins is indicating.