Results 2,561-2,580 of 4,672 for speaker:Dessie Ellis

Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (12 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Following the recent constitutional convention decision that housing is a right that should be enshrined in the Constitution this is a timely and worthwhile debate. What it should not be is a time for Government to give itself an undeserved slap on the back for re-announcing housing measures already declared and so far undelivered. The latest of these is the €15 million over two...

Other Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Rental Costs and Controls (12 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: There is a crisis in the rental market. For the sake of €100 or even €50, many people on rent supplement and RAS are being made homeless. We gave a guarantee that people on RAS would be housed but it is not happening. People are reporting that they are homeless. Rent controls will be of use if there is a proper social housing that involves building social housing on a large...

Other Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Rental Costs and Controls (12 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: The Minister of State keeps referring to the €58 million. This is over a two-year period. However, we must also remember that nearly €60 million was cut from the housing budget for this year. Sometimes, we play with figures and it does not always add up. Since 2008, over €1 billion has been cut from the housing budget. That is one of the big problems we have. We...

Other Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Rental Costs and Controls (12 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 38. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce measures to deal with spiralling residential rents especially in Dublin city; and the way he will ensure these do not discourage the development of more rental properties. [11914/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (12 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: 37. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the analysis that was carried out to determine the effect of the 20% requirement for social and affordable housing in any development above five houses; and the potential effects on development of removing these requirements and the social and affordable housing stock. [11915/14]

Gateway Scheme: Motion [Private Members] (11 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I wanted to get an idea of the track record of the Government in providing jobs and training for people, so I looked up the JobBridge website today. The first advertisement I found was for an Advance Pitstop position which had been filled 28 times previously by the JobBridge scheme. This was not about providing jobs, it was about exploiting people as much as possible until they were thrown...

Misuse of Motor Vehicles (Public Spaces) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I am absolutely flabbergasted by the Minister's response. It is not dealing with the real world. The Minister says advice was provided from the Garda Commissioner's officer. It flies in the face of what is said by every garda and superintendent I have met at the joint policing committees, which are also attended by councillors and Deputies from Fine Gael and the Labour Party. The Acting...

Misuse of Motor Vehicles (Public Spaces) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: No, they cannot take them. If they do, they must give them back. That is the specific issue we are discussing. I have attended numerous meetings with gardaí but they have consistently told me that they cannot seize the vehicles. Is the Garda Commissioner lost somewhere? If he is giving this advice, there is something wrong. All we ask is that this legislation be brought forward...

Misuse of Motor Vehicles (Public Spaces) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I will be happy to work with anyone to address this problem in the best possible way. This has caused major problems in parks throughout the country, not just in Dublin. We need to close this loophole and if the legislation I propose does not meet all the requirements, I am open to any suggestions and to listening to what people have to say. This issue has been a scourge on our communities...

Misuse of Motor Vehicles (Public Spaces) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I thank all those in attendance who have helped to ensure this debate goes ahead. I hope to secure cross-party support for the Bill. Anti-social behaviour is a major problem in communities. It is particularly endemic in working class areas owing to lower levels of employment and educational attainment and fewer amenities being available...

Criminal Law (Incest) (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I dtús báire, cuirim fáilte roimh an mBille seo agus gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Naughten mar gheall air. I welcome the opportunity to speak today on behalf of the Sinn Féin party on Deputy Naughten's Criminal Law (Incest) (Amendment) Bill 2012 and I commend the Deputy on his preparation of this Bill. Deputy Naughten's Bill proposes to end a legal loophole that...

Government's Priorities for the Year Ahead: Statements (Resumed) (6 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Just a week ago the Constitutional Convention voted overwhelmingly to enshrine the right to housing in Bunreacht na hÉireann. This has long been Sinn Féin's position and, while welcoming that decision wholeheartedly, we call on the Government to move forward on the issue. The Labour Party and Fine Gael are failing to protect and uphold the right to housing. There are almost...

Order of Business (5 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: As the Taoiseach will be aware, there are plans to merge the penalty points systems in the North and the South. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport recently stated he had encountered serious legal difficulties in this regard. Can the Taoiseach indicate whether these problems can be overcome? Will the proposed merger be provided for in the road traffic Bill and when will that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Small Public Service Vehicle (Consolidation and Reform) Regulations 2014: National Transport Authority (5 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: What about picking up people? If someone drove from point A to point B and picked up several people along the way, how would that be viewed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Small Public Service Vehicle (Consolidation and Reform) Regulations 2014: National Transport Authority (5 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: No, that is car sharing. A person could be picking up two or three people along the route.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Small Public Service Vehicle (Consolidation and Reform) Regulations 2014: National Transport Authority (5 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: The issue is that the rank itself remains on O'Connell Street and is not moved to one of the side streets. That may mean that drivers queue along the side streets and come onto the rank as spaces become available. That might alleviate the problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Small Public Service Vehicle (Consolidation and Reform) Regulations 2014: National Transport Authority (5 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I am not clear how that will work. Mr. Creegan has used the term "external service provider", so these people will not be enforcement officers of the NTA. They will be working alongside the eight enforcement officers already on the ground. Is that what Mr. Creegan is saying?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Small Public Service Vehicle (Consolidation and Reform) Regulations 2014: National Transport Authority (5 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I ask Mr. Creegan to deal with the vetting of drivers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Small Public Service Vehicle (Consolidation and Reform) Regulations 2014: National Transport Authority (5 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: Whether taxis or hackneys, there must be local area knowledge.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Small Public Service Vehicle (Consolidation and Reform) Regulations 2014: National Transport Authority (5 Mar 2014)

Dessie Ellis: I thank Mr. Creegan for his input. I have raised an awful lot of issues and I ask everyone to bear with me if I repeat them because they are issues that I am still not fully satisfied with. I have always believed that single taxi drivers did not get proper representation on the taxi advisory group. I have argued the matter with the Minister and the National Transport Authority that the...