Results 1,341-1,360 of 5,027 for speaker:Victor Boyhan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social Housing Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Jun 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I thank Deputy Ó Broin for that great presentation. I join him in acknowledging the substantial work that the Oireachtas Library and Research Service has done on the briefing paper. It was circulated to all of us and is very comprehensive. It is important that we acknowledge the enormous amount of work that the service does. It is a wonderful resource for the committees, the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (25 Jun 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister of State. He lives in the heart of Wicklow, the garden of Ireland and a great place for forestry. I am glad he is here to report on plans to increase newly planted forests by 8,000 ha per year under the targets contained in Climate Action Plan 2019. I want to focus in on this. It is an area for which the Minister of State is responsible. If these or any targets in...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Forestry Sector (25 Jun 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. As I said, he might bear in mind that Bord na Móna owns 80,000 ha, although I accept that not all of this land is suitable for forestry. It is encouraging that between 12,000 ha and 15,000 ha has been approved and is shovel ready for planting. That gives us hope and opportunity, and I hope we can sustain the momentum. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I raise an issue relating to the Land Development Agency.The Leader will recall that in 2018 the Government announced the establishment of the Land Development Agency. Its principal aim was to co-ordinate State lands, take them under its control and, ultimately, develop them to the maximum potential for housing and other infrastructural needs and employment opportunities. It is a wonderful...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Jun 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I second Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell's amendment to the Order of Business. I am conscious of time. The Government has launched a draft marine planning policy statement. It is important that we have a cohesive, coherent marine planning strategy relating to development. I encourage Members to engage in the public consultation. If they represent coastal communities, they might take it up...

Seanad: Perjury and Related Offences Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (26 Jun 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I join with the previous Senators and speakers regarding the success of this Bill. I wholeheartedly congratulate my colleague, Senator Ó Céidigh, for, as someone said, his tenacity, persistence and focus. I acknowledge the role of the Minister and his Department with regard to this legislation. With regard to new politics, this proves that when people collaborate and sometimes...

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement 2019: Statements (26 Jun 2019)

Victor Boyhan: He is on the way back.

Seanad: Summer Economic Statement 2019: Statements (26 Jun 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, and thank him for coming to the House to discuss the summer economic statement. As Senator McDowell said, and the Minister of State acknowledged, all budgetary policy must be framed against the background of the rising possibility of a disorderly Brexit in the autumn. That was clearly echoed in both the Minister of State's speech and his...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I raise the issue of a human rights based approach to policing in Ireland, on which a report was published and launched yesterday in Buswells Hotel. I understand all Oireachtas Members were sent an invitation to the launch, which was organised by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, ICCL. I thank the chief executive of the council, Mr. Liam Herrick, and his staff for an excellent piece of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing (2 Jul 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy English, for coming to the House to deal with the issue of voids. As I am conscious that he is very much on top of this whole area, I will not go into great detail. The task under the Rebuilding Ireland policy is to deliver on the social housing targets that have been set down by the Department, in agreement with all 31 local authorities, to address a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing (2 Jul 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister for that very comprehensive response. He is obviously on top of his brief. However, this is July 2019. Several local authorities are saying they are waiting to hear their allocations for this year. Will it be a matter of weeks? I presume so. We are coming into the summer holiday period and a slowdown in the construction sector, and some local authorities are saying...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I want to raise two issues with the Leader, the first of which is the Mercosur agreement to which Senator Ardagh referred. It is important that we have a debate. The timing of that is not for me. The Leader has a schedule and I know it is pretty packed up as we are approaching the end of the session and nearing the recess but it is important that we have a debate. I note, from the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Jul 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I move amendment No. 103a:In page 36, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following:"(8) The need for good standards of communication referred to in subsection (5)(g)includes the need to inform applicants whether or not they have been recommended to the Government for appointment.".

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Jul 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I would like to be associated with the welcome to the family of my colleague and good friend, Senator Lawless, and I acknowledge his enormous work on behalf of the undocumented Irish in America. This morning The Irish Timescarried a story about a report on the undocumented children living in this country. While it is very laudable to campaign for undocumented people anywhere, there are...

Seanad: Redress for Women Resident in Certain Residential Institutions (Amendment) Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages (3 Jul 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister to the House again. Overall, the Bill is welcome. I thank the Minister for his engagement with it. It expands the availability of health services, which are to be provided free of charge to women who resided and worked in Magdalen laundries. It also provides that payments made to the women arising from anex gratia payment will not be included in any assessment of...

Seanad: Citizens’ Assemblies Bill 2019: Second Stage (4 Jul 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I am happy to agree with that. I had not intended to speak. I was not aware that the Minister would mention the Dublin Citizens' Assembly. I know what the Bill is about, relating to citizens' assemblies generally. I do not have a problem with public engagement. I will not oppose this and will support every Stage of it today. I will comment on matters raised in the Ministers' speech. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing for People with a Disability: Discussion (4 Jul 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the representatives from the Irish Wheelchair Association, the National Disability Authority and everyone else for their presence. In particular, I welcome Senator John Dolan who has an amazing track record in advocating for the disability sector, which I am sure is acknowledged by everyone in both Houses of the Oireachtas. I thank Mr. Cunningham and Ms Barron for their quality...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I wish to sympathise on the passing of Councillor John Bailey, a Fine Gael colleague of the Leas-Chathaoirleach, who passed away after an illness lasting some time. It is important that we pay tribute to such people. I knew Mr. Bailey for a long time. I first met him on the greatest day for him and his daughter, Maria Bailey, who is a Deputy and a Member of the Oireachtas, when they were...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Second Stage (9 Jul 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank his officials for holding meetings on this legislation, which I found very helpful. I learned more from them than I have done in many other places. I acknowledge their presence and thank them for giving us their time. I acknowledge also the work of Ms Niamh Larkin who was responsible for a value for money audit on the Local Government...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Jul 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I will not dwell on the issue, but perhaps the Leader will indicate the approximate time at which the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill will be debated today. Committee Stage is due to conclude today. It has been a long journey of many hours. I thank my colleagues who signed many of the amendments, and Senator Norris, for their contributions and time. Despite all the allegations,...