Results 1,121-1,140 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Deputies who have acknowledged the work we have been doing through the homeless strategy, which I launched in August 2008 and which has been a work in progress since then. On amendments Nos. 32 and 33, we discussed Deputy Lynch's amendment in some detail on Committee Stage. The amendment proposed by Sinn Féin seeks to provide a new statutory definition of homelessness. I...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: With regard to the point made by Deputy Barrett, I cannot deal with that matter under this amendment. On the issue of homelessness, rather than getting bogged down in the semantics of how homelessness is defined, providing a consistent basis for the practical implementation of the definition across local authority areas is a more meaningful approach in terms of delivering the necessary...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 40: In page 22, line 2, to delete "before the commencement of this section" and substitute "before the coming into operation of this section". Amendments Nos. 40, 44, 50 to 52, inclusive, 54 to 56, inclusive, 60 and 166 are drafting amendments recommended by the Parliamentary Counsel to replace the word "commencement" with the phrase "coming into operation" in seven...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: The commendable objective in this amendment is one with which everybody involved in the planning and delivery process would agree. However, it is neither appropriate nor necessary for inclusion as a statutory provision. I do not propose to accept the amendment.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 44: In page 24, lines 33 to 35, to delete all words from and including "before" in line 33 down to and including "commencement" in line 35 and substitute the following: "before the coming into operation of this section continues to have effect after such coming into operation".

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: The making of an allocation scheme is a reserved function of the elected members of the housing authority. As such, it is a matter for those members to agree the terms of the allocation scheme in accordance with the legislative framework set out in the section. I do not intend to interfere with that. Therefore, I do not propose to accept the amendment.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: The housing authority is the body with overall responsibility for the delivery of the housing programme, specifically with regard to assessments and allocations. The authority will undertake the assessment of need in accordance with the new arrangements to be set out in regulations. It seems appropriate that it would have full responsibility for making an allocation scheme for determining...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: This amendment was discussed briefly on Committee Stage when I referred to an important Government amendment, that was agreed, providing for a more comprehensive listing of housing services in section 10 of the Bill by including support other than the provision of accommodation or financial assistance to households who were formerly homeless or to tenants of dwellings of which the housing...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 49: In page 30, line 43, to delete "Part 3" and substitute "Part 3 or 4". These are stylistic and drafting amendments in Parts 2 and 3 of the Bill to delete or insert commas, to improve and clarify the meaning of text, to provide more accurate references and to delete unnecessary content. They have been recommended by the Parliamentary Counsel.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 50: In page 34, line 28, to delete "its commencement" and substitute "its coming into operation".

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 51: In page 35, line 29, to delete "before the commencement of" and substitute "before the coming into operation of".

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 52: In page 35, line 38, to delete "after the commencement" and substitute "after the coming into operation".

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 53: In page 36, line 5, to delete "2007" and substitute "2008". As promised at the select committee, I examined the citation of the Health Acts in conjunction with the Parliamentary Counsel. The correct citation is the Health Acts 1947 to 2008 and this amendment provides accordingly. I thank Deputy Ciarán Lynch for bringing this matter to my attention.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I thank the Deputy twice.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 54: In page 37, line 1, to delete "purchasing" and substitute "the purchase of".

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 55: In page 37, line 3, to delete "purchasing" and substitute "the purchase of".

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 56: In page 37, line 4, to delete "purchasing" and substitute "the purchase of".

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 57: In page 37, line 26, to delete "subsection (5)" and substitute "subsection (5) or (6), as the case may be,". This amendment inserts in section 32(7) a reference to subsection (6) in addition to the existing reference to subsection (5) following the insertion of a new subsection (6) on Committee Stage.

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I move amendment No. 58: In page 38, to delete line 10 and substitute the following: "(a) sections 28, 31, 32(8) and (9), 47(4), 48(5) and (6), 75(4), 76(5), 98 and 99;". Section 33 provides that interest is payable on overdue payments to housing authorities in respect of specified rents, loans or clawbacks. This amendment would enable housing authorities to charge interest on overdue...

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Report and Final Stages (25 Jun 2009)

Michael Finneran: I cannot accept this amendment. The provisions already in the Bill for the operation of a hardship clause provide sufficient and appropriate steps that are also sufficiently flexible to allow housing authorities to operate them in a sensible manner. I ask the Deputy to withdraw this amendment.