Results 2,121-2,140 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024) Darragh O'Brien: Yes, and then to Cabinet.
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024) Darragh O'Brien: I hope it is not too many. We are concluding the work on it. Even though some would not believe me, I listen to people across the House from time to time and we have taken a lot of feedback on that. The ESRI has outlined 12 scenarios in its report in respect of the additional housing it believes is required. It is a complex piece of work but it will be ambitious and housing targets will...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024) Darragh O'Brien: Last year we provided significant additional funding in the supplementary to local authorities which were delivering, exceeding and being proactive on this. We have also changed and updated the grants, which is long overdue. I think everyone agrees on that. We have increased funding of €25 million. That will help us as well. There is a 33% increase in grant limits and a 25%...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024) Darragh O'Brien: It is not €25 million but €20 million.
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024) Darragh O'Brien: It is €20 million in total.
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024) Darragh O'Brien: Yes. We have corrected that committee brief, Ms Kehoe has informed me, and that has been emailed to the clerk. Apologies for----
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024) Darragh O'Brien: It relates to submissions from certain local authorities requesting additional funding due to applications on hand.
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024) Darragh O'Brien: Yes, we provided that based on submissions made by those local authorities.
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024) Darragh O'Brien: That is on the repayment piece. Most of our tenures are separate and are longer than that anyway at between 50 and 70 years. It is something the affordable housing team is reviewing and is working with the Housing Agency on. I think Deputy Ó Broin raised that with me a couple of weeks ago during oral questions. That is something that is being looked at to see if there is the ability...
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024) Darragh O'Brien: So am I.
- Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Supplementary) (16 Oct 2024) Darragh O'Brien: That is okay. That has been emailed through and we will correct that. I am sorry for any confusion. We got an extra €5 million at the last minute for the NPWS as well.
- Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: Is the Senator speaking to section 3?
- Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: Yes, I can.
- Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: We had a good Second Stage debate. I reiterate that what is being proposed and brought forward by the Government in this Bill is the most significant reform of Seanad Eireann in decades. For some, it might not go far enough but it is also a response to the Supreme Court judgment. I have supported the Seanad and I campaigned against its abolition. I believe in Seanad reform. However, to...
- Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: Senators have raised this issue which we have also discussed on Second Stage. I certainly will write to the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, engage with him and ask that he update the Seanad on the progress that has been made on the conditions of designation and where the draft regulations are. Senator Clonan has raised that, as have Senators Byrne and Higgins. We will respond through the...
- Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: I have addressed that. The Bill I have proposed and the extension of the franchise is as per the definitions in the Bill. I cannot extend that further at this stage. I have said I believe the Electoral Commission and, indeed, a future government, will be able to build on this most substantial reform of the Seanad and to build on the reform should this legislation pass. I think the...
- Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: I will be back in. I promise. I thank the Senators for their co-operation. The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is here and I will be back in about 15 or 20 minutes and I will be happy to address any further questions then, if that is okay.
- Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senator. First, there are no provisions here that would lead to a reduction in the franchise. This is about increasing the franchise. I will address the points the Senator raised.
- Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: I will address the subject of the register too. Senators have raised many times, both here and from my time in the Seanad, and still raise issues about the current register, its efficacy and how up to date it is. While it has improved, what the Senator is seeking is a wholesale transfer of that data from one register to the other. I will address that. I thank Senator Higgins and other...
- Seanad: Seanad Electoral (University Members) (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Oct 2024)
Darragh O'Brien: We have discussed this. The Senator and I are not going to agree on this at all. We are not removing anybody. We are actually informing people how they are going to register for a new constituency and register for what is effectively a new era in Seanad elections. We are going to back that up by writing to everyone on the register, having a public information campaign, getting data...