Results 15,521-15,540 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I would like clarification on what exactly was said by the Commissioner last week in order that we can know whether there will be fines and whether the extension of time will affect them. I am going to be in order and speak to the amendments. I assume the first amendment is superfluous because it is going to be after the Bill anyway.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: If the second amendment is only about the committee, as the Minister has clarified, then it seems to be saying the committee will be established by both Houses of the Oireachtas and then it will come back to the Dáil for approval. It seems to me that because of this misunderstanding, the amendments are superfluous. Can the Minister clarify the position?

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: What I really need is clarification on whether I will be making a decision that is going to be a burden on the taxpayer in terms of fines from the European Union, especially with regard to extending the time beyond nine months. Even the best pregnancy would not be extended that far.

Regulation of Charities: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: On behalf of the Labour Party, I note that we will support the motion tabled by our colleagues, the Social Democrats, who we commend for it. The motion rightly allows the House to discuss a matter that has been of enormous public concern over recent weeks. Sadly, we have once again seen outrageous behaviour on the part of individuals attached to one charity. This time that charity is...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: After-School Support Services (12 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: 822. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will maintain an after-school literacy programme for vulnerable children (details supplied) under the Childhood Development Initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21144/16]

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Order for Fifth Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am not going to oppose the Bill. I recognise the decision of the vast majority of Members in the Dáil, but there are still questions around what is likely to happen with possible infringement charges against Ireland, particularly in the context of the possible extension of time beyond the nine months in the Bill. We have not got answers. I ask the Minister to keep the Dáil...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Fifth Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is important that the Minister put on the record what he has just said about his meeting with the Commissioner, because we have not had any report back. All we had seen were media reports. I ask that he keep us informed of any information that comes in this regard. It is a factor in the deliberations we will have on this very contentious and difficult issue.

Housing Strategy: Statements (19 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I welcome the fact the Government has published its action plan for housing and homelessness and that is has done so ahead of time, and also that it has taken on board many of the recommendations of the Oireachtas committee, although, as has been pointed out, not all of the recommendations in full and not all of the recommendations that were made. Nevertheless, it is welcome that the action...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (19 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: 365. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to implement measures whereby planning applications for large housing developments will go directly to An Bord Pleanála rather than to the local authority in the first instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22573/16]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Procurement Regulations (19 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: 510. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will introduce measures to include social value issues in public procurement; if, in advance of such a measure, he will delay the tender for public libraries that is due to be conducted by the education procurement service to incorporate such a provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22278/16]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Childhood Care and Education (19 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: 917. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has had discussions with representatives of child care providers regarding the grant funding agreement for the early childhood care and education, ECCE, programme that has been forwarded to them for signing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22381/16]

Housing (Sale of Local Authority Housing) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is useful that we are having this discussion. I thank the Fianna Fáil members for giving us the opportunity. I believe we need to think through issues of this kind. Everybody here supports mixed tenure and wants to see more mixed communities rather than having all of the social housing tenants in one part of a city or town and private occupiers and owners in other areas. This...

Housing (Sale of Local Authority Housing) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: Most people who were lucky enough to get a house under Part V are probably part of a family and have other family members who have the right to stay in the house once an older person there is deceased. I therefore doubt if much of that housing stock is going back for recycling within the social housing system. It is important to have this debate and I agree with Deputy Martin Kenny that...

Housing (Sale of Local Authority Housing) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: It appears to be the same central way of deciding whether a person can afford to pay back the loan. It seems particularly strict and restrictive. That wider context needs to be examined because local authority loans should be an opportunity for those on relatively low or middle incomes to purchase a house, be it a former local authority house or a private one. People have said that 73,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (20 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: 128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) is expected to move into the refurbished building that has been allocated to it to replace its current inadequate premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22992/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (20 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: 129. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timescale expected for the construction of extra classrooms for a school (details supplied); if sanction has been given to move classes from that school to a temporary location to facilitate the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22993/16]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (20 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: 195. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of void local authority units that have been brought back into use as a result of funding schemes from his Department for this specific purpose in each of the years 2013 to 2016; the system of monitoring the is in place to ensure that each local authority uses the scheme effectively to address the shortage of...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Strategic Plan 2016-2018: Engagement with Ombudsman for Children (20 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Dr. Muldoon in general for the work he does as well as for his presentation and for making it so user friendly. It was a main aim that it should be so. On the fact that the highest number of complaints the ombudsman dealt with were in the education area, could he elaborate on what those were? He mentioned admissions to schools and counselling, but I wonder if a lot of complaints...

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Strategic Plan 2016-2018: Engagement with Ombudsman for Children (20 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: Are Traveller children included among those vulnerable groups?

Select Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Strategic Plan 2016-2018: Engagement with Ombudsman for Children (20 Jul 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: That is a really important point. We all deal with cases – for example, in respect of social welfare and health and across Departments – in which the individual at the front line dealing with the family wants to do something and knows what should be done but is afraid somebody further up the line will say it cannot be done. If we could have the appropriate culture across all...