Results 2,121-2,140 of 25,975 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is all about striking a balance. Regarding Deputy McNamara's point on the speaker and deputy speaker, the arrangement was recommended by the implementation group chaired by Mr. Tim O'Connor. Deputy Leddin was part of that. Once again, it is about striking a balance to make certain that whatever we put in place will work. It is based on the New York model. We took many of the group's...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Once again, the rationale involved a judgment call on the part of the implementation group and on our part to take it on board. It was put forward by the board as a recommendation that would ensure another element that would make the new local authority run very smoothly. It has worked effectively in New York. Let us see how it works.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: We wanted, as much as possible, to retain the means by which the existing council runs in the normal way. The mayor is to bring added value. We had the ceann comhairle and leas-cheann comhairle and there are now to be a speaker and deputy speaker. It is a political call that we took on board. If we set up implementation groups to make recommendations, we are subject to accusations if we...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: When I entered office, it had already been taken on board. I inherited a general scheme and it was already recommended in that it had been adopted by the Government. It was not a call that I made in my role as Minister of State; it was already in a general scheme. This entails a Cabinet decision, and it is something that I, as Minister of State, have to implement. It could bring an added...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It came from an implementation group comprising all stakeholders, including councillors. One of the recommendations on evolving towards a directly elected mayor was that the office to which the Deputy is referring would provide further cohesion in working with councillors. Ultimately, everyone has to work together on this. I have an open mind on it. It has been put forward constructively...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The primary element of this is the devolution of executive functions from the chief executive officer, CEO, to the mayor. That is the principal logic behind this. The Deputy is going into another space that is separate.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The principal logic of this is that we have a directly elected mayor with executive powers. That will evolve even more over time. Deputy McNamara is going into a different area. For me that is a separate issue again. It is almost housekeeping. The mayor is taking over executive powers being brought forward. I mentioned two areas - the budget and the development plans the CEOs were...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I mean-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It should not take away from the fact that it was very well chaired.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The members put a lot into it.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The amendments in Deputy Quinlivan's name relate to section 32 of the Bill which provides for the establishment of a Limerick mayoral advisory and implementation committee. Amendment No. 24 seeks to change the manner in which council members are appointed to this committee. As mentioned, one of the main functions of the committee, chaired by the mayor, is to assist the mayor in the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (15 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendment No. 30 tabled by Deputy Leddin proposes a new section in this Bill to provide that the mayor may prepare a report for the consideration of the Minister for Finance identifying potential new sources of income for Limerick. Under the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, local authorities can charge for specific goods and services. They can levy commercial rates, which are not a...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (14 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 provides that the role of my Department is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist housing authorities in providing accommodation for Travellers, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding. The Act provides that housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the...

Defective Dwellings Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I was acknowledging advice from the officials.

Defective Dwellings Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is good to see so many people contributing to a debate late on a Thursday evening. It shows how important it is. I again commend Deputy Duffy on bringing forward this Bill. As I have outlined already, the Government does not oppose this Bill. However, we must again highlight that, as currently drafted, the Bill has a number of technical and practical shortcomings which need further...

Defective Dwellings Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Duffy, the Ceann Comhairle and the officials in the Houses for facilitating the deferral of the original debate on this Bill until today. I also thank Deputy Duffy for tabling his Defective Dwellings Bill for detailed scrutiny. It will not be opposed by the Government. From his opening contribution, I can see how committed Deputy Duffy is to this. We will respect that. The...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Murphy. In the current year, we have provided additional funding to any local authorities that came forward looking for it because we want to keep the applications being processed. If there are individual applications that are not being processed, the Deputy might bring them to my attention. A review was completed. I came in as Minister for State and went through the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I visited Dublin City Council on Tuesday and we discussed matters in a range of areas, among those dereliction and vacancy. It has put together a collaborative team within the local authority in that area. I note the point the Deputy raised on voids. We want to see voids coming back into use as quickly as possible. The target is 2,300 overall this year and we have €31 million set...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will bring Deputy Nash's concerns to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. Deputy Nash is fully aware that reviews are ongoing in terms of the Peter McVerry Trust, so it would be inappropriate to comment publicly on the issue, but the matters he raises are very serious and I will bring them back to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (9 Nov 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----to examine and make recommendations and develop proposals relating to early intervention services for children and their families.