Results 2,561-2,580 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: That is good. I think amendment No. 794 is mine as well and it also amends page 306 of the Bill. It is the same. The Bill states, “and parking provision” and my amendment is to add the following after that: “including electric vehicle parking and charging systems, and centrally located sheltered secure bicycle and e-bike parking”. It is to define more clearly...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I was just going to ask that. Where do we define what "parking provision" is? If I come in with an LRD and it is 100 or 101 units - whatever it might be - and I have to provide one parking space per unit, where does it set out that it must have an electric vehicle charging system or a shelter for e-bikes? Is that in the guidance documents?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State. I do appreciate that fact. I have marked the amendments he said he will take away and have a look at. I fully accept that we are dealing with very complex legislation and that anything that goes in here, for example, even a comma in the wrong place, can have unforeseen consequences.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: The Minister of State is taking what I am trying to do here in the spirit it is intended, which is to bring transport, walkability and active transport into the planning system as best we can. I am happy with the discussion on those amendments. My last amendment is No. 1188, which relates to Schedule 4 - "reasons for refusal of permission that excludes compensation". Section 390 1.(g)...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: Could the applicant have a basis for argument if there was a refusal and the reason for refusal was a deficiency in public transport? I say that considering that the provision of public transport is outside the remit or capability of the applicant. I just want to get clarity on that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: Yes. My understanding is----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I just want to make sure it is understandable and clear. If there is a deficiency in public transport, is it a legitimate reason for refusal? Would we rely only on section 390 1.(g) of Schedule 4 for that? Is it clear enough in paragraph (g) that it could be a reason for refusal?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: It does, but it leads to a further question. When we talk about infrastructure in development we talk about the hard infrastructure - the pipes in and the pipes out. Irish Water is able to say whether there is not enough capacity in the drinking water supply or the wastewater treatment system is at capacity but it is a little bit of a grey area to define a deficiency in public transport....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State. That is the end of my amendments. On the basis that he is going to come back to me on the transport-oriented developments and the hierarchy of road users model, I will withdraw amendment No. 14, while reserving the right to reintroduce it on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I move amendment No. 18: In page 32, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “ “National Biodiversity Action Plan” has the meaning assigned to it by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023;”. In this amendment, I seek to introduce the national biodiversity action plan to the definitions section. I do not have to tell the Minister of State that this is...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State. I note that in section 48 the term "the national biodiversity plan" refers to the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017 to 2021, which was published by the Government on 5 October 2017. The Minister of State recently published the fourth national biodiversity action plan. I consider the reference in section 3 to be outdated. For this reason, I suggest that...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I was at the launch of the fourth national biodiversity action plan in the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin. It was a packed house, and the level of expertise in that room represented lifetimes dedicated to nature protection and enhancement. Often they were lonely voices for many years. The sense of enthusiasm, optimism and hope in that room at the launch of that plan was palpable. It...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I accept that the Minister of State will take our concerns away and bring them back on Report Stage. On that basis, and because he has clarified amendment No. 18, I intend to withdraw it.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: We have a meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. and for people's welfare they need to have a break.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I call the Minister of State on amendment No. 410.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: I can.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: Please repeat that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: On the basis of what Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, committed to before the break, I would expect that this amendment will be considered in the same vein.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: Can I just ask Deputy Ó Broin to clarify something, so that I can understand what he is trying to do here? It is already set out how to create an SAAO, but the Deputy is seeking to have creating an SAAO as an objective within a strategy as well, is that it?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Steven Matthews: They may also be created by a reserved function. One could argue that tree preservation orders should be in here too, but there is a distinct section in the Bill to create orders for tree preservation and to create special amenity area orders. I do not know if that would add to the conflict. Is that another omission? We might ask the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, to consider if that...