Results 2,901-2,920 of 4,399 for speaker:Martin Browne

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petitions on Unauthorised Developments: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: I do not agree we are here to ride roughshod over any local authority or organisation. That has not happened since this committee was set up. I said in my opening remarks that we were giving a right of reply to everybody and that an invitation would go out to the other party that was involved. It was agreed the other people who were involved would be asked either to write to the committee...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petitions on Unauthorised Developments: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: I propose that following a closing statement from Waterways Ireland and Westmeath County Council we suspend this part of the meeting and that we take up this matter at our next private meeting. Are members happy to proceed in that way?

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petitions on Unauthorised Developments: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: I propose that we suspend this section of the meeting until we get legal advice. We will revisit the issue at our next private meeting in two weeks' time. Is that agreed? Agreed. On my own behalf and on behalf of the committee, I apologise to the witnesses for what has transpired. We will seek the legal advice, following which, hopefully, the witnesses can appear before us again.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: We have three petitions for consideration today. The summary notes and recommendations in regard to the petitions were circulated and discussed in private session with a view to the decisions on them being taken in public session. I suggest that we consider petitions 42/21 and 48/21 together. Petition 42/21 is in regard to saving the services at Owenacurra Centre, Midleton, County Cork....

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: To my knowledge, the issue with regard to the Owenacurra Centre is with the health committee. I am not sure of the position with regard to the St. Brigid's service. As mentioned by Deputy Buckley, we had a discussion earlier about bringing in the HSE. As the Committee on Public Petitions, our function is to hear petitions from people in regard to issues arising in their local areas.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: We have the option of asking the Committee on Health to sit in with us, if members wish that. I call Deputy Higgins.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: For information, this committee has precedence over the other committees. That is why I am suggesting the Committee on Health would join us for a joint meeting. I call Senator Craughwell.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: If no other member wishes to come in, I suggest that we send an invitation to the Committee on Health to have a joint meeting. I see Deputy Buckley wishes to come in.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: We will ask the secretariat to make contact with the Committee on Health. We will have a joint meeting and take it from there.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: Which one did the Deputy say is political? Was it St. Brigid’s?

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: What does the Deputy base that on? I know the town. Some 11,000 signatures have gone in from south Kilkenny, north Waterford and south Tipperary, and all parties are involved in it.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: Will we have a joint meeting with just the HSE or, as Deputy Buckley said, will we have our meeting on St. Brigid’s and Owenacurra first and then a joint meeting with the HSE?

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: I agree with the two previous speakers. We said at the start that we would all leave party politics at the door. Before I let in Deputy Higgins, I suggest that we have a meeting with Owenacurra and the St. Brigid’s committee and then have a separate joint committee meeting with the HSE. I think it will get very messy if we try to have in two committees, the HSE and the two petition...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: As has been said, this committee is the first port of call for any petition coming from the public. If the issue is not resolved here, we can refer it on to the Joint Committee on Health or any other Oireachtas committee. The first port of call should be this committee. I have a dilemma because I do not know which of the two candidates for the role of Vice Chairman indicated a desire to...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: I do not know if the petitioners have written to the health committee. Perhaps Deputy Buckley knows. Regardless, I still come back to the point that this committee gives people from communities all over the country an opportunity to bring their concerns to a public platform in Dáil Éireann. If we bypass them with the HSE, there is a possibility that the people of south Tipperary,...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: Just to clarify, I am not sure if the petitioners have actually written to the Joint Committee on Health but I know they have met the HSE. The same is true for the St. Brigid's petitioners who would argue that they have the backing of 11,000 people in the south Tipperary, south Kilkenny and north Waterford catchment area. They feel they have exhausted all available options and that...

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: Is Senator Murphy referring to St. Brigid's or Owenacurra?

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: I withdraw that.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: As I said, I cannot speak for the St. Brigid's hospital committee. I do not know if it has used the forum. I know the people involved in the committee and I imagine they will have exhausted all avenues.

Committee on Public Petitions: Decisions on Public Petitions Received (3 Feb 2022)

Martin Browne: We have had a good discussion and we now need to make a decision. We can check if the petitioners have met the regional health forum and we can even ask the regional health forum to appear if we so wish. Do we wish to defer the matter or send an invitation to the two petitioners, the Owenacurra centre and St. Brigid's hospital committees, ask that they come in and give their take on the issue?