Results 1,841-1,860 of 7,166 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: As regards a Minister or a local authority doing this, they have a certain level of democratic accountability, but State agencies are a couple of steps removed in that regard. They can have accountability to Ministers and so forth but different State agencies, Ministers and Departments will come at this with different perspectives. Some could be particularly tied or may not be so neutral in...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 88: In page 29, to delete lines 11 to 17 and substitute the following: “18. (1) The competent authority (M) shall, as soon as is practicable after enactment and for the purposes of ensuring compliance with the public participation requirements of Article 9 of the MSP Directive, and the Aarhus Convention in particular Articles 6, 7 and 3(1), prepare and publish...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: This is useful in terms of clarifying the issue. We could have a State agency whose sole remit is to maximise the amount of renewable wind energy. Under this legislation, it would be perfectly okay for that agency to assume the role of preparing designated marine area plans. Am I correct that that could happen?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: We could have a State agency whose remit it is to promote, maximise and facilitate renewable wind energy in our seas and marine areas, which is a perfectly legitimate and valid remit, but it could then be entrusted with this role. While under this process it would have to consider other things beyond renewable energy, marine biodiversity and so forth, my concern is that its focus would not...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I appreciate that. My concern is that the remit that drives the particular agency might be a singular focus. I appreciate that to participate such agency or body would have to go through a process but allowing for that in legislation does not appear to me to be the best process. I completely understand the local authorities having that role but not the State agencies. The fact that it...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: In terms of safeguards, an agency or body would have to get ministerial sign-off and the approval of the Oireachtas to initiate.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (9 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: 2. To ask the Taoiseach the expected timeline for the citizens' assemblies committed to in the programme for Government. [52452/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: 441. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when Covid-19 restrictions in schools will next be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54515/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (9 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: 442. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be permitted to take on another first year class in the academic year 2022-2023 given the demand for ETSS places in the catchment area far exceeds the number of available spaces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54519/21]

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I want to ask about vacant local authority homes. The report published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission shows that there are almost 5,000 empty local authority homes throughout the country. Some local authorities take more than a year to re-let a home. Cork City Council, for example, takes 85 weeks on average to re-let a home. With more than 60,000 households on housing...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: 8. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with transport will next meet. [52454/21]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I raise with the Taoiseach the issue of access to public transport for people with disabilities. Last Friday, lifts at nine railway stations were out of order, meaning people with disabilities could not access public transport and trains at those stations. It is completely unacceptable this would happen. It is vital public transport be accessible to everyone. This issue has been going on...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Electoral Process (10 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: 100. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will publish a report on the public consultation on modernisation of the electoral register process which concluded on 15 March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54923/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (10 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: 194. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the visa of a person (details supplied) will be extended; if so, the steps they need to take to progress same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54855/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Assisted Human Reproduction (10 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: 222. To ask the Minister for Health if he will legislate for international surrogacy as part of the proposed assisted human reproduction Bill; if so, when he will publish the legislation; if he will engage with key stakeholders (details supplied) on his proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54854/21]

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: Also on section 30, there is not public participation or consultation with any other body when the Minister decides to issue a direction, except with that body. The Minister of State might explain why that is the case.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: If this work is done and submitted but does not result in an authorisation and it does not go that far, the database will still capture the information. Building up knowledge on the marine environment is very important.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister of State. This is very helpful.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: Given the Minister of State's helpful comments and the current wording, which would, contrary to his intention, allow MARA to sell, perhaps he will withdraw these amendments and come back with a proper wording on Report Stage. As it stands, amendment No. 123 is highly objectionable.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I will speak to amendments Nos. 129 and 130. It is welcome that a representative of the CCMA will be on the board. That is a good idea. Amendment No. 130 is very good. We probably all have, at various stages, experiences with boards that sometimes do not have the required expertise. I understand the Minister not wanting to be overly prescriptive but some formula of words should be put...