Results 2,901-2,920 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: Senator Cummins was quite insistent-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: Okay. I thank our witnesses.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Qualifications (6 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: 165. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the proposed changes (details supplied) to the qualifying criteria to become a psychotherapist put forward by CORU; if he is concerned of the impact this would have on the standard of patient care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53953/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: I apologise for being late. I heard most of Deputy O'Rourke's contribution so I will not repeat his questions. I want to ask about the metropolitan area transport studies, like LSMATS or the Cork metropolitan area transport study. They are not statutory documents in the same way the greater Dublin area transport strategy is a statutory document. Would it be beneficial, or are there moves,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: Let me rephrase the question or the direction I want to go. If it is a statutory document, people are obliged to comply with it in terms of planning and other development, whereas if a document is non-statutory, it is something that may need to be considered but not necessarily adhered to. With regard to Cork and Limerick, which are growing and are two cities with great potential, Mr....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: Again, decision-makers have to comply with it when it is statutory but when it is not, it can be guidance that they consider and then decide not to do. In my view, putting transport strategies on a statutory footing, particularly for those major cities, is a sensible measure, and then to make sure they align with the objectives set out in the development plans. I want to ask about rail...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is good to hear. To be honest, I have never heard so many people talking about investing in public transport as I have in the last three years or so many talking about improving rail services and bus services, including rural bus services, such as the Connecting Ireland services that have been incredibly successful in my constituency. I would love to see more of them but I am realistic...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: There could be cost savings as technologies evolve. There is a suggestion that a continually free system, especially in those architecturally sensitive areas, is a winner. I will move on to the issue of freight, if I am okay for time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: Thank you. With regard to the delivery of freight by rail, is that just for Irish Rail?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: I may have some follow-up questions. Thank you.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will continue on from Deputy Kenny's point about the western rail corridor and the question I finished on about freight. Having a west coast line running south to Rosslare and connecting to Europe is a great opportunity, as is the Limerick to Foynes freight line. I read an article in The Irish Timeson the opportunity to include that line in the trans-European network, which could make it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: I agree with Mr. Strachan. Comparisons are often made with the cost at which countries such as China are able to build high-speed rail. I am not entirely sure what the public participation is in the planning process in China or if it is the same as it is in our planning process. I am sure there are different scenarios in the planning system but public engagement is needed and has to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority: Chairperson Designate (6 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: Hopefully, we are getting better as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: We are meeting to begin our pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the residential tenancies (right to purchase) Bill 2023. Apologies have been received from Deputy O'Donoghue and Senator Boyhan. To assist us in our deliberations on the heads of the Bill, we are joined by representatives from the Irish Property Owners' Association, namely, Mr. Brendan Allen and Mr. Maurice...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: Mr. Davitt is right that the notice given was too short to allow somebody to respond comprehensively. However, we have a period of time in which to consider the general scheme of the Bill. I appreciate Mr. Davitt and the other witnesses being here to assist the committee to get this right. We can certainly give him seven days to submit a more comprehensive written submission. We have a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will now go to the members. They will have seven-minute sections in which they can put questions and receive answers. The first slot is for Fianna Fáil and I call Senator Fitzpatrick.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: Briefly, because we have to keep to seven-minute time slots.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Residential Tenancies (Right to Purchase) Bill: Discussion (5 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will move on.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (5 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: 178. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the Blessington inner relief road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53720/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (5 Dec 2023)

Steven Matthews: 320. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider any extension to the existing time parameters of the vacant property refurbishment grant (details supplied) to account for unexpected delays on a project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53647/23]