Results 18,401-18,420 of 26,320 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Senator can raise that directly with Senator Byrne. It is a fair point.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir. As she outlined, amendment No. 3 proposes to amend the definition of “University Constituency” in section 1. The current definition is "University Constituency" and the "Universities Constituencies" means all graduates of universities in the State, and of institutions of Higher Education in the State, as determined by the...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: They probably will not, particularly as it is a broader view on it.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senator. I will go through them briefly. The Bill is useful, as I have mentioned. What I am about to say is not a criticism of the Bill itself, but it will show the types of things we need to address. There appears to be no clear definition in the Bill of what is meant by "institutions of Higher Education in the State", which is the term used in Article 18.4.2° of the...

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: There were electronic ballots in Fingal once.

Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I was.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wildlife Regulations (5 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The online public consultation, that was carried out as part of the review of the birds Open Seasons Order, was available to any member of the public or any organisation with an interest in the subject matter. The consultation was advertised widely and had a large response rate. A separate in-person stakeholder forum was held. Representatives from a wide range of cross cutting...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (5 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I have no plans to alter the Residential Tenancies Act in this regard at this time but I do keep the operation of the Acts under constant review and I will make timely amendments, as may be required. I draw your attention to the thorough review of the private rental sector which is currently underway in my Department. This will ascertain what an improved fully functioning private rental...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Invasive Species Policy (5 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department is responsible for the implementation of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species. Under this legislative framework, responsibility for dealing with invasive alien species rests with the landowner. Much of the work in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Emergency Accommodation (6 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I wish Deputy Gould good morning, as I was getting worried there. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle has given some latitude to allow his question, which is good. It is an important question. There is no doubt but that the continued rise in numbers accessing emergency accommodation is of serious concern to me and to the Government. I am working with the national homeless action committee to ensure...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Emergency Accommodation (6 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: No, it was in January.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Emergency Accommodation (6 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Sure, this is the biggest single issue we are tackling and supply is key to all of it. Deputy Gould knows this as well. To give some facts, and to look at last year, 5,478 exits from homelessness were achieved by way of tenancies being created or else people exiting into social housing. We had more people exiting in the last quarter of last year and the first quarter of this year into...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Emergency Accommodation (6 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Sinn Féin would not reinstate the eviction ban and the party has changed its position on this issue three times. It has changed the dates. It has said it would extend it to Christmas this year, then 1 March, then December and then January. The reality is that the eviction moratorium gave us the opportunity to deliver more accommodation, which we did. We have debated this issue. In...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Emergency Accommodation (6 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I did not interrupt the Deputy once. We do need good landlords in the system as well. The measures taken impact supply. They do, and if we were to continue to have an open-ended moratorium, then we would see more accommodation lost in the private rental sector, thereby exacerbating the problem. We are focused on increasing supply, which we are doing.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Service (6 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The implementation of the retained review report recommendations, and the Deputy may know this, is currently part of a sensitive deliberative process of industrial relations negotiations under the auspices of the Labour Court. I inform the House again that I commissioned this review that produced 13 recommendations, which we accepted. The chair of the Labour Court wrote to the Local...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Service (6 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I inform Deputy Brady that the matter is before the Labour Court. I am not going to go down the road Deputy Brady has blatantly gone, in trying to politicise what is a really important issue. We have seen the Deputy's theatrics here before. This Government has a focused, determined, and deliberative approach. I have met many firefighters all over the country. I commissioned the review....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fire Service (6 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Let us allow the Labour Court do its work. As I said, there has been very good engagement from SIPTU and there is a way forward on this. I want this resolved. I have been very clear on that. Remuneration is key to that. No one is sitting on their hands and no one will be sitting on their hands. The unions have entered into the process and I welcome that. Let the Labour Court do its...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (6 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a very pertinent question. The management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, implementation of a planned maintenance programme - which will be important and on which I will expand - and carrying out responsive repairs, is a matter for each individual local authority, and in the main they do that job very well. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (6 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is right that estate management is really important. On Monday, I was in Galway city and county. We have approved in the housing Department alone 300 additional staff in our local authorities this year. Those posts are being filled. I was talking to the chief executive of the housing team in Galway city. Like any other sector, it is taking longer to find and employ people but...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Provision (6 Jul 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree. We see fantastic developments across the country, not least in the Deputy's county. We support the ongoing maintenance of those financially. Estate management is crucial. Some local authorities for a number of years effectively got out of that role and are now getting back into it. I have met estate management teams across the country. That engagement with householders in our...