Results 941-960 of 1,094 for speaker:Camillus Glynn

Seanad: Hospital Services (19 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: I fully support this Adjournment matter. I have spent more than 30 years in public life. During all that time I have been active in defending the hospital and urging the powers that be such as the health board, of which I was a member for 23 years and chairman for two years, and the Minister for Health and Children, to ensure Mullingar Regional Hospital received due recognition for the...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: It all happened in Mullingar.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: I thank the Minister of State for acknowledging that Members have a difficulty with this section on which clarification is needed. His comments have been helpful. I will wait to see what emanates from the entity into whose hands he has placed this matter. It is important for locally elected members to retain their powers. They are afraid of losing those powers, as we are also on their behalf.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: I am something of a believer in the old adage, "If it is not broken, don't fix it." While we are talking primarily about county councils and county borough councils, I have concerns about any dilution of the powers of county councils, borough councils and town councils. They have worked well and we should be augmenting them in such a way that they will have additional powers that would...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: I agree with Senator Butler. We have the county development plan, the integrated area plans, IAPs, and the town plans and there must be co-ordination among those but too often those of us who are in public life a long time, and I am in public life 30 years, have seen development take place in the absence of appropriate infrastructure. I am not necessarily talking about water and sewerage,...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: Whether we like it or not, regrettably there is a lack of planning enforcement. Last year a case was brought to my attention concerning a young married couple in the west. It would take €100,000 to put their house right but the builder did not want to know. He was driving around in a BMW car but had to all intents and purposes gone bust legally. Another case involved a young couple in...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: It is my experience that not all developers failed to complete estates because they could not afford to.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: In too many cases for my liking, developers drew down money from purchasers, put it in their pockets and clipped it away. If any entity is to retain funding appropriately, it should be the planning authority. We have been discussing this matter for years. I discussed it 30 years ago. The late Gerry L'Estrange, God rest his soul, was a member of Westmeath County Council in 1979 when he and...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: Are they by one developer?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: In my time on the local authority, every year the county engineer, as he was then known, would bring a list of estates before the members. There would be X number which would be recommended for taking in charge, then there would be information on others which had so much works to be done etc. Given that planning and planning enforcement is an executive function in the main, it might be an...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: Clearly, we do not like it. I ask the Minister of State to consider coming back on Report Stage with a Government amendment to give the locally elected members a role in directing the chief planning executive, which is the county manager, to take action against rogue developers. Clearly, what is obtaining at present is not successful.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: I agree with the last comment by Senator Coffey.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: I referred to this matter and I am glad that the Minister of State will re-examine it. Whether something is a trivial matter depends on who is living next door. What seems trivial to a planning enforcement officer might be a major issue for the person living there.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: I know of such an instance, but I will leave it at that. As I am satisfied by the Minister of State's comments, I will not contribute as I had intended.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: Ag 10.30 maidin amárach.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Nov 2009)

Camillus Glynn: I agree with all Members' comments in regard to the adverse weather conditions being experienced and how this is impacting in an adverse way on societies around the country. Today the Taoiseach is visiting County Westmeath, the south of which, in particular Athlone, did not escape the floods. I understand that the €10 million provided is to assist in the relief of hardship for flood...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (1 Dec 2009)

Camillus Glynn: I ask the Minister of State to reconsider it either in this House or in the other House.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Camillus Glynn: Gardaí have made significant drug seizures recently, including a large cache in Moate which I understand was destined for sale in my home county of Westmeath. These seizures bring a sharp focus on the real dangers that arise from drugs. The town and county joint policing committees are fora in which information can be passed to gardaí. The Garda, Judiciary or Oireachtas cannot...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Dec 2009)

Camillus Glynn: Hear, hear.