Results 201-220 of 446 for speaker:Niall Blaney

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: In relation to the quarries in County Donegal, there was more than one quarry involved in the county. On the point that was made on professional indemnity insurance, we do not want to see this becoming a bone of contention as the scheme rolls out. I have one quick question on that. What are the organisations represented actively doing with the Government, specifically the Minister for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: I thank both deputations for coming. This has been a very worthwhile exercise and I thank them for their involvement to date. Sometimes this issue has got very heated, but we recognise the witnesses bring a very important element to ensuring the scheme works. We also appreciate the fact the scheme has evolved so much. That flexibility has resolved many issues on the ground. There are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: A damage threshold has been included to ensure the houses that are worst affected are looked about. A situation might arise in a county as dispersed as Donegal whereby an area such as Buncrana has an awful lot of these houses versus the area where I am from that has fewer such houses. More builders may be available for a time, given that they may all be taken up with work in Buncrana. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: I have two points to follow on. I back the point made by Deputy Conway-Walsh about personal circumstances and finance requirements for the damage threshold. I believe it is only right that personal circumstances would come into that situation. There are many individuals who are in hard economic and personal situations. I would extend this further where certain individuals find themselves...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: I get that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: I just feel that is wrong because that is part of the make-up and it cannot be left to fall down on top of a kid. An accident could happen. There are many accidents that could happen in this regard. It is not about blowing this out of the water. I am just being realistic about it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: We have had many deliberations in recent years. There is a realisation that not only in Donegal, Mayo or Clare because of mica but nationally because of the demand for building houses there is a lack of builders. I have spoken to the head of the local employment office in Donegal who is very receptive to the idea I am going to put to the Department. I suggest there should be specific...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: When the commotion settles-----

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: I want to welcome the Minster to the House-----

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: I commend the Bill and the work that has gone into it heretofore. The establishment of an electoral commission under the Bill is monumental and overdue. Any democratic Government must aim to include as many people as possible in the electoral process and remove barriers to voting. There are also welcome changes to incentivise electoral boundary decision-making processes that will hopefully...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. David Donoghue and Mr. Rory Montgomery (2 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: I thank the Acting Chairman. Both Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Donoghue are most welcome today. This is a fascinating series for many of us. Many of us feel that this is particularly important work given the background that they themselves have explained in relation to the Good Friday Agreement, and for us to discover how it came about because many of us would like to see this island united as a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. David Donoghue and Mr. Rory Montgomery (2 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: Were there are any other parties? Was it just the DUP and UUP that opposed the Good Friday Agreement at that stage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Niall Blaney: I welcome Mr O'Connor. I heard him say he is a bit of a nerd. I think that on this topic he is joined by a lot of nerds around the table.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Niall Blaney: This is a great session. I welcome the Chairman not intervening when Mr. O'Connor was coming towards his final words, even though it was over the time. It is welcome because what he is contributing here is fantastic stuff.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Niall Blaney: There are a number of us on the committee who are very interested in this work leading up to the 25-year anniversary. It is very important this committee does a report, and many of us feel that way. It is very important we get that insight that many people do not know or understand. This is the start of that journey. Mr. O'Connor still has a great insight and it is great to get the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Niall Blaney: For me, that is a vital element. Today, different things are going on behind the scenes, such as the protocol, Brexit, the shared island unit and creating shared spaces as we all move forward. For me, this is vitally important. We need to know from the one period of time on this island when they did all agree what was the architecture, what was happening in the room, how trust was gained,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Niall Blaney: Yes. Mr. O'Connor mentioned some of the politicians, such as John Hume, Seamus Mallon and David Trimble. Would he agree they paid a price for peace? Would he agree that, by extension, they did that knowingly? I welcome the opportunity to have Mr. O’Connor before the committee today. If needs be, I would love to see him before the committee again. I say this because people like...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Strive (19 May 2022)

Niall Blaney: I will start by giving those present a very warm welcome. I thank them for their presentation. As far as I am concerned, the work they are doing is very powerful. We as a committee, or Government members within the committee, can do to help their cause and expand their programme, we absolutely need to do. Some of their testimony today has been very strong and clear. Politicians are...