Results 901-920 of 1,061 for speaker:Séamus McGrath

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank Mr. Montague. Did Deputy Cooney want to make any further comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Okay. We are okay with time for a little while. I am sorry I missed a good share of the debate earlier but I will go back to the defects, the main defect being fire safety, which is obviously very worrying and serious. In the majority of cases, no work has taken place yet. How bad is that situation, in the opinion of the witnesses? Are we at risk of a serious incident happening?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: If all the apartments were built perfectly well and fine during the Celtic tiger years and there were no defect issues, you would still have maintenance fund issues regarding ongoing and regular wear and tear. You have the sinking fund issue and there is the OMC issue. There are issues there separate to the defects, we will say. What is the witnesses' view on international best practice?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: That is absolutely correct. We need to get rid of the fear factor, when purchasing an apartment, of ending up in a quagmire of issues around management companies, fees and neighbours not paying. It was mentioned that when you meet people in the lift who have not paid, and you know they have not paid, it becomes a whole issue on a personal level and so on. Unless we address those issues...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: It has the potential to be a great community-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: -----but because of the issues it can be a very-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: There is great security and a whole range of issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Multiple Unit Developments: Discussion (14 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: It is about regulation and dispute resolution processes and so on, so that it is not a neighbour fighting it out with another neighbour. There should be a process for independent resolution. It is basic but it is missing, unfortunately.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Human Rights and International Standards for Traveller and Roma Communities: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I thank Mr. Herrick and Dr. Elliott for being with us today. I apologise for missing a good part of the committee but, unfortunately, it clashes with the Committee of Public Accounts. I want to pick up on a few points. Looking at the opening statement, and I appreciate the frankness and honesty of it, it refers to the tenth anniversary of the Carrickmines incident and states that issues...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Human Rights and International Standards for Traveller and Roma Communities: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Is it fair to say there is more discussion and more acceptance of issues? They are discussed more openly than they would have been in the past but, at the same time, this is not translating into measurable outcomes as Mr. Herrick says. This is where the breakdown occurs. Is it fair to say that funding of various programmes targeted towards these issues relating to the Traveller community...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Human Rights and International Standards for Traveller and Roma Communities: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Are the 31 local authorities drawing down the full amount or thereabouts at this point? Mr. Herrick is saying there is an improvement.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Human Rights and International Standards for Traveller and Roma Communities: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: I think that would be helpful.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Human Rights and International Standards for Traveller and Roma Communities: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: It would be good to get this information because they have a responsibility to draw down the funding, use it wisely and try to improve outcomes. With regard to the housing crisis the country faces, it is fair to say it probably affects the Traveller community more acutely, in the sense that prior to the housing crisis there were always issues with accommodation and standards of...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Human Rights and International Standards for Traveller and Roma Communities: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Mr. Herrick referred to the national strategy earlier. The Government as a whole is responsible for that, but what Department does it sit with specifically? Which one has ultimate responsibility?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Human Rights and International Standards for Traveller and Roma Communities: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: All of the key Departments. I am not putting words in Mr. Herrick mouth's, but is he somewhat critical of the implementation process in terms of the key recommendations and so on?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Human Rights and International Standards for Traveller and Roma Communities: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: There is commonality there.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Human Rights and International Standards for Traveller and Roma Communities: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: What is the timeline for the review mechanism?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Human Rights and International Standards for Traveller and Roma Communities: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: Some assessment done.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Human Rights and International Standards for Traveller and Roma Communities: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (16 Oct 2025)

Séamus McGrath: The committee has an important role in discussing those progress reports as well. It is something to consider in our work programme.