Results 961-980 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waiver of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of Residential Tenancies Bill 2021 (16 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Gould for the distance he travelled to take part in the vote. It shows his commitment to scrutinising legislation and participating on the committee. To give him an indication of how seriously we take the scrutiny of legislation, as well as the workload of the committee, which gives us a good understanding of the timeframes involved in pre-legislative scrutiny, Committee...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waiver of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of Residential Tenancies Bill 2021 (16 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I apologise for interrupting the Senator but we are here to discuss whether we support the waiving of pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill. If we decide to carry out pre-legislative scrutiny, the Senator will have the opportunity to raise all the points she has made. If we do not carry out pre-legislative scrutiny, she will have the opportunity to make those submissions in the Seanad. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waiver of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of Residential Tenancies Bill 2021 (16 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Senator. To clarify, I was not trying to direct the Senator to say anything. Rather, I am just trying to keep the committee to the agenda and the agenda item is whether we waive pre-legislative scrutiny.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waiver of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of Residential Tenancies Bill 2021 (16 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Duffy. I apologise to Deputy Higgins; I did not see her hand up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waiver of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of Residential Tenancies Bill 2021 (16 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Higgins. The proposal that was put can be considered in the course of pre-legislative scrutiny or when the Bill goes before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It is not a matter for the committee to deal with today. We are here to vote on whether to waive pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waiver of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of Residential Tenancies Bill 2021 (16 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank members for their participation. We will now send-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Waiver of Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of Residential Tenancies Bill 2021 (16 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the members for pointing that out. We will send a message to the Business Committee that we agree to waive pre-legislative scrutiny. The committee will reconvene on Tuesday, 23 March to continue pre-legislative scrutiny of the electoral reform Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Sector: Engagement with Bank of Ireland (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Ms McDonagh and Mr. Kelly for attending and for their submission to the committee. I have three questions about bank closures, staff and the relationship with An Post. In my constituency of Wicklow, Bank of Ireland has decided to close three branches in Carnew, Tinahely and Rathdrum. They are three vibrant and strong communities in south Wicklow. Many rural towns and villages have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: The committee is continuing pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the electoral reform Bill 2020. We are joined from the Data Protection Commission by Mr. Dale Sunderland, deputy commissioner, and Mr. David Murphy, assistant commissioner. We are also joined by Ms Liz Carolan, executive director of Digital Action. Opening statements have been circulated to members. I ask...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: The Deputy has about another minute.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: Sorry Ms Carolan, I have to stick to time. I have no doubt we will return to that question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: The point has been well made. I am sorry to have to cut Ms Carolan off.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: Those were important points about the accuracy of the electoral register and I totally agree with the Deputy. He also mentioned the accountability required in advertising. Does Ms Carolan, Mr. Sunderland or Mr. Murphy want to comment on that or will I move on?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Ms Carolan. Is Deputy Higgins or Senator Seery Kearney next?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: My apologies. I did not realise that Senator Moynihan had returned. I was skipping past her.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has written to us with a submission, which we will take into account as we prepare the pre-legislative scrutiny report on the Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I might follow up on the question asked by Deputy Gould. It is one I put to the Department officials when they were before the committee. The heads of the Bill set out the principles for recruitment to the electoral commission. Do any of the witnesses have a view on whether the electoral commission should have someone with expertise in online information or information technology? Would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: What is the leading country in oversight of political advertising or legislation to address it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Ms Carolan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Sunderland. I apologise for skipping over Senator Fitzpatrick. The Senator should have contributed before me that time.