Results 1,901-1,920 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace

Johnstown Castle Agricultural College (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: Johnstown Castle Agricultural College is certainly part of the Bill. I think the college should engage in the seaweed issue because there is scope for an industry related to seaweed in the area. Given the environment along the south coast of Wexford there is considerable potential for the harvesting of seaweed. I understand this area comes under the remit of the Department of the...

Johnstown Castle Agricultural College (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second and Subsequent Stages (12 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: I am prepared to teach you.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (12 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: 26. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects all citizens will have access to high speed broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24772/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: 64. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the recent interim advice note published by the Association of Consulting Engineers on the apparent discovery of pyrite in concrete blocks provided by block manufacturers; if he will outline the required testing standard and testing method for concrete blocks; his views on the implications for affected...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: The Minister is aware the Association of Consulting Engineers published an advice note on 15 May about cases of apparent pirate content in concrete blocks provided by block manufacturers. The Minister has been assuring us for a while that with the new regulations everything would be well but clearly everything is not well. How will the Minister address the latest problem?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: The Minister has stated the system is working well because the culprits are being chased. While he has told me about all the wonderful European legislation and regulations that are place, we must go back to the same chestnut. If pyrite has arrived in blocks, the threat is dangerous to any block that has additional sulphate and that gets moisture. Many blocks do, such as all the blocks...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: That is the major problem across the industry. Moreover, the Minister's new building regulations will flounder unless he reinforces the local authorities with funds.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: It was obvious back in 2007, when the first regulation on checking for pyrite in stone was brought in, that the regulation in question was not as onerous as the British standard. I acknowledge this was changed in February 2013, which is welcome but the major problem is that all along, the Construction Industry Federation and not the State appears to determine what is happening. Public...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: The bigger the builders, the more corners they cut.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pyrite Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: The procedures are reactive, not proactive.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: 66. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the projected social housing construction programme; the number of new builds that are expected to be delivered under the programme by the end of 2016; the number of new builds expected to be delivered through the Part V arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25603/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: My question seeks to ascertain how many social housing units will be built by the end of 2016 and how many new builds will be delivered through the Part V arrangements. Part V has not been operating properly and the construction industry is lobbying hard to have it eliminated as a means of incentivising builders to restart house building. Is there any truth in the rumour that the Government...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: The main argument coming from the construction sector is that profit margins on houses are too low for the banks to consider lending, and Part V eats further into these profits. I believe that anyone who would buy a site today and build houses on it would still make some money on it. If the banks will not lend, it tells us there is a problem with the banks. The taxpayer bailed the banks...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: Will the Minister of State give a commitment today that the Government will insist on at least a minimum of 10% social housing on every site which is given planning permission in the future? That is a must. Apart from providing social housing, it tackles the considerable social problems in the city. If there is a problem and banks will not lend to builders, is there not more of an...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: We must get a measure on it because as long as development land can be sold for telephone numbers we will always have a problem with housing in Ireland.

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: Wexford County Council applied for funding of €733,000 this year to return units to people for housing but was granted only one third of that sum. Given that this is one of the cheaper ways to create housing, will the Minister of State explain why she did not give the council the rest of the money? I want to highlight something Michael Taft, research officer at the UNITE union,...

Other Questions: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: The money to which we refer is separate from the troika money.

Public Sector Management (Appointment of Senior Members of the Garda Síochána) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: I support the aim of this Bill brought forward by Deputy Ross, which is to de-politicise An Garda Síochána by providing for the independent appointment of the Garda Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and other senior members of the Garda. The Garda Act 2005 gives the Government very wide latitude and discretion as regards the appointment and removal of senior gardaí. It...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: 78. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the recent projections by the Environmental Protection Agency which state that Ireland is unlikely to meet EU targets for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from transport, agriculture, residential, waste and non-energy intensive industry by 2020; the amount in fines Ireland will face for breaching...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme (17 Jun 2014)

Mick Wallace: 97. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding available to remediate houses damaged by pyrite up to the end of 2015; the number of pyrite damaged houses he expects to be repaired by 31 December 2014; the number repaired by 31 December 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25451/14]