Results 2,001-2,020 of 2,457 for speaker:John Cummins

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: As regards the contribution of Senator Sherlock, if there was a cumulative rent increase of 4% and 4%, that was illegal and not permitted under the legislation the Government brought forward earlier in the year. If a landlord has been in breach of that legislation, that should be reported to the RTB, which the Government is financing with additional resources of up to €21 million for...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: No.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: The Senator stated that he is not an expert on the Berlin rental market, yet seemed to have a prepared comment on the Supreme Court ruling. It is probably convenient not to have information on the Berlin situation because the fact of the matter is that the decisions that were made by the left-wing Berlin Government resulted in a more than 50% reduction in the number of rental properties....

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I think that is unfair.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: It is unfair to suggest any Senator was laughing at another. No Senator would do so and that was an unfair comment.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: To be fair to the Minister, he noted in his Second Stage contribution, as the record will show, that he intended to introduce Government amendments to the section. From recollection, I believe that happened last week.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I want to raise an issue regarding Rebuilding Ireland home loans. We all know that the product offered through our local authorities is fantastic for individuals and families who cannot get mortgage approval from the pillar banks. In fact, these home loans will probably become even more important next year with the roll-out of affordable purchase units. There seems to be a black-and-white...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I join others in acknowledging the staff who facilitated the late sitting last night. I will put on record my thanks to Tegus, which is a US-headquartered company that announced this morning that it is locating its headquarters for the Europe, Middle East and Africa, EMEA, market in Waterford city with the creation of up to 100 jobs over the next two years. This is a great vote of confidence...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Order for Second Stage (17 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: I again welcome the Minister to the House and I acknowledge the commencement of this very important legislation in the Seanad. It is a commitment he made and I am sure all Senators will join me in thanking him for living up to his word in that respect. Everyone, across the parties, acknowledges the need for the speedy passage of this legislation. In fact, that is the reason the Joint...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: On Tuesday next.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: The Minister has rightfully pointed out that we have to allow flexibility in the process to local authorities if they feel there is a need for commercial activity in an area. We may have areas of the country where large numbers of housing developments have gone in in the past without the commercial side. They may need a supermarket or GP surgery that is not in those areas. If we do not...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: May I comment on that briefly? I do not want to prolong the debate. Having dealt with many files, I believe the information is available. It is certainly available in my local authority area in Waterford. I expect it is the exact same across the whole country. One can look at the information on the website. All the files are scanned and readily available to the public. Where there is...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: We always have to think of the unintended consequences of what is proposed. If I understand the Senator correctly, what she is actually suggesting is that if a person gets planning permission for a site he or she owns, the person will not be able to enter a partnership or sell the site on to another party. The Government is committed to introducing a tax on vacant sites. If one takes the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: It relates to developments of more than 100 units.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: The Senator is trying to force people to sell their land.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: The Senator is trying to take land out of people's hands.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2021)

John Cummins: This is a very finely balanced measure. The points Senator Boyhan made are valid. Sometimes further information requests enable a development to get approval and planning. Oftentimes, however, such requests are used to extend the process, an issue I raised on Second Stage when I said that further information requests were being made by local authorities around the country to request...