Results 1,941-1,960 of 4,676 for speaker:Dessie Ellis

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Electricity Transmission Network: Discussion with EirGrid (4 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: I was making a comparison of different sources of magnetic fields and it is not like with like. If one was standing underneath when one's car broke down or somebody was working there it is not comparing like for like with what Mr. Slye originally said.

Other Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (5 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: 7. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to deal with the very large increase in homelessness; and the deadline for the proposed delivery of 450 National Asset Management Agency for dealing with homelessness. [51922/13]

Other Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (5 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: As the Minister knows, there has been a huge increase in the number of people who are homeless. There are approximately 5,000 people who are homeless; 1,400 in emergency accommodation in Dublin each night, while there were 139 people sleeping rough in Dublin on 12 November. Recently two people who were sleeping rough died. These were tragic incidents. In the past six months the number of...

Other Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (5 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: It is quite clear that the level of homelessness has escalated, for which there are several reasons. Landlords are cutting off the contracts of people in receipt of rent supplement and the people concerned then have to look for another rent supplement, but they cannot find a rental property anywhere. It is a major crisis and they cannot access a place. If one goes online, one can see that...

Other Questions: Homeless Accommodation Provision (5 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: We have a major crisis in housing. There are approximately 112,000 people across the country on housing waiting lists, and the homeless are obviously included in that. We need to be more imaginative in how we approach this issue. We need to build more social housing. Perhaps the way to do this is to have the local authorities operate to the same criteria as voluntary housing bodies, which...

Other Questions: Unfinished Housing Developments (5 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: 29. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the estates that are to be demolished due to their unfinished state; the criteria for deciding on these developments; and the timeframe in which these demolitions are expected to happen. [51923/13]

Other Questions: Unfinished Housing Developments (5 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: This is about the unfinished housing estates and the timeframe for their expected demolition. How many estates are involved?

Other Questions: Unfinished Housing Developments (5 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: One of the problems with these unfinished estates is that it is planned to demolish so many. We are told that some of them will be demolished because of their location. The houses might be perfect but they might be demolished because there is no demand in those areas. That would be a tragedy. The Minister must examine that very carefully. In addition, many estates have been built that...

Other Questions: Pyrite Resolution Board Membership (5 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: The Minister announced that he was putting a certain amount of funding towards the resolution of pyrite in houses, but there are over 800 houses urgently in need and time is pressing. The timescale seems to be getting ever longer. Can the Minister give some indication of when he will have this scheme up and running?

Order of Business (5 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: There are plans for the penalty point systems to be harmonised North and South to make them more effective. People have evaded penalties, penalty points and fines for a number of years and we do not know what this evasion amounts to in monetary terms. The Road Traffic (No. 3) Bill is due for publication. When will it be published? This is an important issue in the context of safety.

Bethany Home: Motion [Private Members] (10 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue and to do my small part in representing the wishes of a group of people who have been forgotten for far too long. First, l pay tribute to Niall Meehan and all the others involved in Bethany Home survivors group who have kept on the pressure over the years. I pay tribute to my colleague, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, and her officials who have...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Remuneration (10 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: 480. To ask the Minister for Health if any salary top-ups have been paid to any members of staff at St Michael's House, Ballymun Road; if so, the amount that was given; the date on which it was given; and the source from which the top-up was taken and the position to which it was paid. [52598/13]

Topical Issue Debate: National Food Bank (11 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: It is believed that, globally, one third of the world's food goes to waste. Unsurprisingly, the bulk of that waste is in the Western world - in Europe and the United States. Of course, to address global hunger fully, we need a radical shift in the distribution of wealth but, more locally, we can also help to ease the suffering of those currently economically oppressed by putting in place an...

Topical Issue Debate: National Food Bank (11 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the Minister of State. There is no doubt a huge amount of work is done by the charities, and the Minister of State referred to 563 charities which are delivering different items, which is very worthwhile. However, it is clear there is a huge loss of food from other sources. As I said, Aldi indicated it had to get rid of €10 million worth of surplus food, which is scandalous....

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: On balance I support Deputy McEntee's amendment. If somebody received three points on two occasions he or she would have six penalty points, which is a harsh penalty for two offences. With six penalty points a young driver or a person with a provisional licence would be put off the road, but by increasing the number to seven we are giving them a little extra leverage. One can argue from...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: I do not really have any problem with these amendments. I wish to ask about learner drivers and drivers with provisional licences who drive unaccompanied by a qualified person. There are a large number of such people out there and we are imposing penalty points. I do not know how the law will be enforced. I suspect there are a large number of people doing this and renewing their...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: Yes - two penalty points for a learner permit holder driving unaccompanied by a person with a full driving licence.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: Does the amendment include a doctor travelling in his car to the scene of an accident? A doctor is not specifically mentioned.

Leaders' Questions (17 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: That is nonsense.

Leaders' Questions (17 Dec 2013)

Dessie Ellis: The money should be put into infrastructure rather than meters.