Results 2,001-2,020 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (26 Sep 2017)

John Paul Phelan: I will contact the Senator directly and we can meet up.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Register of Electors (20 Sep 2017)

John Paul Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 745 and 746 together. Irish citizens are entitled to vote at Presidential, Dáil, European Parliament and local elections as well as in referendums.  British citizens may vote at Dáil, European Parliament and local elections.  Citizens of the European Union may vote at European Parliament and local elections while non-European Union...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (11 Sep 2017)

John Paul Phelan: The Programme for a Partnership Government sets out a number of requirements in relation to local government reform. This involves the submission of a report to Government and the Oireachtas on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability, and to ensure that local government funding, structures and responsibilities strengthen local democracy. The Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Boundaries Review (11 Sep 2017)

John Paul Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2038 and 2052 together. The Cork Local Government Implementation Oversight Group has been established to oversee arrangements for the alteration of the boundary between the respective areas of jurisdiction of Cork City Council and Cork County Council, in light of the recommendation in the report of the Cork Expert Advisory Group. The group’s first...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion. (20 Jul 2017)

John Paul Phelan: I ask committee members to be conscious of the fact we have approximately one hour.

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (13 Jul 2017)

John Paul Phelan: The national taking-in-charge initiative, NTICI, for residential estates was launched in April 2016 to support and accelerate overall national action on the taking-in-charge process for housing estates, including estates with developer provided water services infrastructure. A specific focus of the initiative was to expedite progress by local authorities and relevant stakeholders, including...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (13 Jul 2017)

John Paul Phelan: The report is being finalised at the moment with recommendations about sustaining progress on the taking in charge issue, and Crossbarry will be included in that. In late 2015, there was a national survey of housing developments that were not taken in charge which indicated that there were 5,655 completed housing developments nationally which were not taken in charge by local authorities,...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes Status (13 Jul 2017)

John Paul Phelan: We are going to wait to see the report on how the pilot programmes worked first. It is estimated that the number of housing developments that are unfinished and not taken in charge with water services issues will mean a total cost of €300 million. That is a considerable amount of money and will have to be found somewhere to complete some of the sewerage schemes such as Crossbarry....

Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Accommodation Provision (6 Jul 2017)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Deputy for his kind comments. In the committee of which we were both members, the level of agreement on the direction housing policy needed to take was striking. In my answer, there was no attempt to say anything other than that hubs are a temporary arrangement, albeit a much better arrangement than B&B and hotel accommodation. I reiterate that these facilities must meet...

Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Accommodation Provision (6 Jul 2017)

John Paul Phelan: I will try to answer as many of the Deputy's questions as possible. If some questions are not touched on, I will certainly endeavour to obtain further answers afterwards. One of the key commitments in Rebuilding Ireland is to only use commercial hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless families in exceptional circumstances. The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (4 Jul 2017)

John Paul Phelan: I thank Senator Lombard and the Cathaoirleach. I am glad to be back in Seanad Éireann, albeit in a different capacity. The issue the Senator raises is highly contentious both in Cork and around the country. The report of the Cork local government committee in September 2015, based on the position of the majority of the committee, recommended that a unitary authority should be...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (4 Jul 2017)

John Paul Phelan: The implementation group will investigate every aspect of what might be suitable for Cork. However, it is the job of officials in local authorities, elected members of local authorities and Senators to represent the views of the people - Senator Lombard represents the people of Cork. I represent the people of Carlow-Kilkenny and the wider country in my new position. A local plebiscite, as...

Protection of Employees (Collective Redundancies) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (29 Jun 2017)

John Paul Phelan: I thank Deputy Cullinane and the Members who contributed to this useful discussion. I note that both Sinn Féin speakers referred to establishment parties offering tea and sympathy. That phrase must have been part of their briefing note. In the establishment of the Duffy-Cahill process, which has led to the review the Tánaiste outlined, more was offered than tea and sympathy. No...

Topical Issue Debate: Bank Branch Closures (29 Jun 2017)

John Paul Phelan: I believe the issue was withdrawn or deferred.

Topical Issue Debate: Bank Branch Closures (29 Jun 2017)

John Paul Phelan: I believe it was deferred.

Topical Issue Debate: Bank Branch Closures (29 Jun 2017)

John Paul Phelan: No, I am not.

Topical Issue Debate: Bank Branch Closures (29 Jun 2017)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Deputy for his kind remarks. The Minister cannot attend. He was at Dublin Castle today and was present in the Chamber for an earlier debate, but he has had to step out. I am happy to take this matter in his stead. The issue the Deputy has highlighted about the diminution of services in rural areas is a real one, but he also acknowledged that the State had a 14% share in...

Topical Issue Debate: Bank Branch Closures (29 Jun 2017)

John Paul Phelan: Can I take it that the rest of the response will be read into the record?

Topical Issue Debate: Bank Branch Closures (29 Jun 2017)

John Paul Phelan: Okay.

Topical Issue Debate: Bank Branch Closures (29 Jun 2017)

John Paul Phelan: I will read the last paragraph of my statement into the record before responding directly. The bank has advised that the implementation of any change takes place on a phased basis in branches with a two-month period for comprehensive customer notification. Bank of Ireland has commented that it has a dedicated team committed to supporting vulnerable and elderly customers that provides...