Results 2,221-2,240 of 25,975 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Family Law Cases (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: On behalf of Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee, I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this matter. I will take the specific point raised by Deputy Durkan back to the Minister. As the Deputy will also be aware, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, published the first family justice strategy in November 2022, which sets out a vision for a family justice system of the future. This will be a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Human Rights (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: No offence taken.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Human Rights (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputies Collins and Pringle for raising this important issue. As the Deputies have stated, I will take the matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin. The deterioration of the human rights situation in Belarus is gravely concerning. Reports of the continued use of torture and ill-treatment against those in custody and the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Family Law Cases (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I convey my apologies on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Justice, who cannot be here due to another commitment. I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this important matter and giving me the opportunity to provide clarity on some of the issues he raised. I acknowledge this is an issue on which he has campaigned. As the Deputy will be aware, management of the courts, operational...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Construction Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and for providing me with the opportunity to update the House on the matter. I reassure the Deputy and the House that the Government fully acknowledges the stress caused to homeowners due to defects that have arisen in their homes. I will deal with the last question first. In regard to the number of houses in an individual estate in his...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Construction Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important matter. With regard to the individual builder, the likelihood is that a builder of that size is a member of the CIF. I would have thought making contact with the Deputy might ensure our lines of communication with the builders themselves. It is all about the homeowners. I reassure him and the House that the Government is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defective Building Materials (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for raising this extremely important issue, which provides me with the opportunity to update the Seanad on the matter. I offer an assurance to the Seanad and to the homeowners and residents of the many apartments and duplexes with defects that we are absolutely committed to resolving it. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and I fully acknowledge the stress that is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defective Building Materials (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I understand the frustration of the homeowners. I want to offer reassurance to them, Senator Boyhan and the many public representatives in this Chamber and in the Dáil Chamber. As for the facts, the Government has approved the scheme, which requires to be underpinned by legislation. We want legislation that is fit for purpose. Second, we have committed that in terms of fire safety...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and allowing me an opportunity to provide an update. Frank Gunter sounds like an incredible man. I have not met him but he lays claim that you are only as young as you feel. He is obviously very energetic, which is good to hear.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: At what age?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: My God, he is a lesson to anyone.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes. I will outline the current position. The Senator raises an important point. In my role, the issue of providing housing for older people in an area has come up over the years. Under action 6.3 of Housing for All, local authorities have been mandated to consider the housing needs of older people through the housing need and demand assessment, HNDA, framework and to feed this into their...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter and I see her genuine personal interest in it. it is very much in her local community. The annual summary of social housing assessments also provides valuable data as it counts the numbers of persons aged over 60 and 70, which the Senator referred to, who have been assessed as eligible for social housing supports. The summary further...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: Where are they from?

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Parking Provision (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome Sasha and Zara, who are visiting with Senator Conway. It is great to see them both. I think Sasha is continuing her mother's tradition, so well done. I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important issue. Before I go into the substance of the response, I agree with her on it being appalling that people who are not disabled are parking in disabled parking spots. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Parking Provision (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I again thank the Senator for raising this important issue. The Department of Transport, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and I are fully aware of the distress associated with the complex and everyday challenges faced by people with dementia and their families and carers. The Minister fully appreciates that a dementia diagnosis requires a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Eligibility (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. She mentioned carers, who provide phenomenal work for society and, more particularly, for their families and loved ones. I will give some background. I am going to read from the conclusion of my notes and work backwards. As the Senator has highlighted, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, has asked her officials to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Eligibility (13 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I again thank Senator Maria Byrne for raising this very important point. As she is probably aware, the Department reviews and changes means tests on an ongoing basis. Over the last three budgets, changes have been introduced to the means test for the fuel allowance, disability allowance, working family payment, farm assist, carer's allowance, blind pension and the one-parent family payment....

Planning and Development (Fees for Certain Applications) Regulations 2023: Motion (12 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Fees for Certain Applications) Regulations 2023, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 30th June, 2023.

Planning and Development (Fees for Certain Applications) Regulations 2023: Motion (12 Jul 2023)

Kieran O'Donnell: No. I will move the first two motions and I will make a comment on the third motion.