Results 2,621-2,640 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: I can tell the Minister of State this industry will never be independent of the political process. I do not think it is much different in any other country. Politics has its paws all over every aspect of construction. The Minister of State can trust me that it is not going to change. Introducing an independent regulator-----

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: -----would help to address some of the problems we have in this area. Deputy O'Sullivan said these people broke some of their own rules; that happens. I hope an independent regulator would make sure they would keep to their own guidelines and rules. That would be part of the job of an independent regulator. Unless we take the paws of the politicians off construction, we will continue to...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: Is two minutes all I have?

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: On the point Deputy Eamon Ryan made about county managers, I agree that many of them have left a lot to be desired. Does the Deputy not think that many of the county managers we have seen in our lifetime were political appointees? More often than not, we can tell which party supported the managers in different counties. We cannot do it all of the time but we can do it most of the time. ...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: I move amendment No. 2:In page 6, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:“Planning Regulator powers 4.The Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the following for section 31:“Planning Regulator directions regarding development plans 31.(1) Where the Planning Regulator is of the opinion that—(a) a planning authority, in making a development plan, a...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: I acknowledge I did not address the amendments the first time around.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: It was more of a general comment. I support Deputy Ó Broin's amendments. As with Deputy Eamon Ryan, I find the Government's position unusual. I do not understand the rationale for why we should not enshrine in our legislation directives from Europe that we feel are positive.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: Too often, we have a lot of loose legislation stating the Minister "may" do this or that. Not often enough do we state a Minister "shall" do this or that. Unless we make firm decisions and put them in legislation, we will, too often, not see the right thing done. This is because those making decisions will have too much wriggle room to do what we would prefer they did not do. To address...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: We are not asking the Minister of State to go faster.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: I, too, express my disappointment that the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, is not present. One could be forgiven for suspecting that the leadership contest is more important than this Bill. It could be a very important one, if things were done right. Clearly, the Minister is eager to avoid trips and falls between now and 2 June. I have a lot of respect for him, but he has made a dog's...

Topical Issue Debate: Surveillance Operations (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: The designated judge has issued the same identical two-page report since 2014 with only the year and date changed. That is no reflection on the judge, this is the system, and it leaves a lot to be desired. There is zero detail in it. How can the Minister have confidence in the designated judge system after the March 2014 audit by the Data Protection Commissioner discovered that gardaí...

Topical Issue Debate: Surveillance Operations (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: This is the 13th time we have raised this issue in this Chamber. We have not been getting a whole lot of satisfaction. In January 2016, the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, announced a review of the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 regarding information on journalists only. We pointed out that the review should be all-encompassing and should include the Criminal Justice...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: 262. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the research behind the claim that Ireland is recognised as having one of the most technologically advanced and carbon efficient food production systems; if there is a difference between the methane emissions of an Irish cow as opposed to non-Irish cows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23553/17]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (17 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: 263. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated methane emissions from the State's beef and dairy cattle; the projected methane emissions from same; if the objectives of Food Wise 2025 will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23554/17]

Other Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (16 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: I asked the Minister to outline the way in which the regulatory co-operation forum set up under the CETA agreement will function. In response, the Minister told me that it will mean fewer barriers and will make it easier for EU countries to do business. She also said that the forum will only be able to make recommendations. It will have no effect on how regulations are formulated. The...

Other Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (16 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: I am pretty fond of going to Canada too. Indeed, I worked there for a couple of years. I am all in favour of us exporting to Canada but that does mean that I should be in favour of the fact that CETA will challenge some regulations. There is no doubt that there will be a drop in certain standards to meet the interests of big business and the public will be poorly served by that. If there...

Other Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (16 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: 64. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way in which the regulatory co-operation forum set up by the CETA agreement will function; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23040/17]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (16 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: 79. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to attract potential foreign direct investment opportunities to County Wexford which may emerge as a result of Brexit; the number of vacant sites and factories the IDA has in County Wexford; the number of visits she has paid to County Wexford since she became Minister in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Support Services Provision (16 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: 445. To ask the Minister for Health the psychology services for adults with disabilities and autism available in County Wexford; the number of whole-time equivalent psychologists for adults with disabilities and autism currently employed in County Wexford; the number that were employed in each of the years 2010 to 2016; if the HSE in County Wexford operates a waiting list for psychology...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Autism Support Services (16 May 2017)

Mick Wallace: 473. To ask the Minister for Health the number of autism liaison nurses currently employed in County Wexford; if they are employed on a full-time or part-time basis; the recommended client to liaison nurse ratio in the community; the frequency with which the liaison nurse is required to make contact with each client and family; and the number of autism liaison nurses that would be needed to...