Results 12,121-12,140 of 26,025 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Referendum Campaigns (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to provide for the holding of a referendum on housing. The Programme for Government also commits to establishing a Commission on Housing to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability, and quality-of-life issues in the provision of housing. It is intended that the Commission on Housing will review the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government committed to establishing a Commission on Housing to examine issues such as tenure, standards, sustainability, and quality-of-life issues in the provision of housing.  It is planned that the Commission on Housing will be formally established in September this year. The Chair designate for the Commission was announced in May, and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department publishes a detailed monthly report on homelessness, based on data provided by housing authorities. The Report outlines details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities. The Reports are available on my Department's website at the following link: The most recently published data is in respect of April...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: All new dwellings must comply with building regulations, the aim of which is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings, and in addition achieve a 60-year durability for all key elements. The building regulations apply to the design and construction of a new building (including a dwelling) or an extension to an existing building as well as for material...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Staff (22 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: There are 7 employees of my Department earning less than €12.30 per hour. My Department does not hold the requested information in respect of the State Bodies under its aegis.  These State Bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the table below. State Body Contact E-mail Address An Bord...

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (23 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am grateful to the Ceann Comhairle and all Deputies for facilitating the debate on this urgent legislation in the Dáil before the summer recess. I thank the Chief Whip, the Minister of State, Deputy Jack Chambers, the members of the Business Committee and, in particular, the members of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local...

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (23 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will talk to the Deputy afterwards.

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (23 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: It is not the case.

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for tabling the amendment. Deputy Duncan Smith has a related amendment which has not yet been moved. Am I correct in saying that I am only addressing amendment No. 1 at the moment?

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I can speak to both. I thank the Deputies for tabling the amendments although I cannot accept either of them. To define "deposit" as is proposed in these amendments, which are well-meaning, is unnecessary. Section 4 amends section 16 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, inserting a new section 16(a)(iii) which provides a new reference to a deposit a tenant might be obliged to pay....

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputies for tabling these amendments. I cannot accept them and I will explain why presently. First, I want to inform the House that no one is pretending to do anything. We brought in effective measures last July and we have extended them since. In addition, we brought forward some permanent changes, relating to rent arrears, deposit restrictions and minimum notice periods,...

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I have very little else to say, other than I have outlined why I am not accepting the amendments. We have been doing very detailed work in respect of the rent increase issue, which I expect to be able to bring to a conclusion shortly. I have said that. If some Members do not want to accept that, it is fine. The whole issue is not about pretending that it is a serious situation. I know...

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputies Duncan Smith and Cian O'Callaghan for their amendments. They have outlined the purpose of their amendments, which is to extend the deadlines concerning protections and eligibility. In framing all the legislation we produced since the lifting of the blanket eviction ban, the concern I had and that was raised with me legally related to how legally sound the measure was....

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I am aware of it.

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not want to get into a political back-and-forth with Deputy Cian O'Callaghan; he knows exactly what I said. I said the trend has been absolutely in the right direction. The number is still far too high; there is no question about that. Monthly figures on families, children and individuals who are homeless will be published on Friday and I expect to see a further reduction. The figure...

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will deal with a number of issues that have been raised. On amendment No. 10, I understand from Deputy Ó Broin's contribution that he will withdraw this amendment. I thank him for his understanding in that regard. We are actively working on that and I intend to come back on that within a short period of time. I think the Deputy understands why I cannot expand too much on that at...

Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (23 Jun 2021)

Darragh O'Brien: I will check out that point. It is a good point. I understand if they had paid in advance above the two months and availed of the 28-day notice period, any rent paid past that date should be refundable. I will double-check that with officials this evening and respond to Deputies. We need to further clarify but that is my understanding of how it is read right now. The notice period is...