Results 2,981-3,000 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: The question has already come up about monitoring and managing social media, online content and how it has the ability to twist and turn. It has the agility to move quickly. I am intrigued to know how we can possibly try to address it. It seems like a slippery fish, and it keeps evolving and changing. When we looked at the electoral reform Bill at this committee and started to lift the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: There is the obvious messaging that is very easy for people to pick up on and there is the more nuanced messaging or the dog whistle, as it is referred to, because it is only audible for certain people or certain cohorts. We need to follow up on that and chase that down because that might not be apparent. Some of those messages are not very clear as to the direction they are going but they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I have other questions but I will move on to members. I call Senator Boyhan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Things have moved on a little bit. On the issue of addresses on the ballot paper, it is important for the returning officer and for the process to have traceability as to who the candidate is. It might be necessary to find them if election posters have been left up, for example. That is why it is not a completely vague address. However, I question the necessity for it being so detailed,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: My experience of polling stations is that the returning officers and presiding officers over them are really good and competent. They are always able to answer questions. We probably all have different experiences. I take note of the Senator's point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Mr. O'Leary listed what a potentially busy electoral period we have over the two years ahead, with eight electoral events. I only count seven. Which one am I missing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I see. Mr. O'Leary meant voting events, not necessarily electoral events.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Are they classed as that? Even referendums.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Returning to the research strategy, there are a number of high-level issues talked about there. Obviously, the commission will assess what comes in from the public consultation. Something may spring from that which the commission had not considered and it may decide to take a look. The commission will get these in by, say, 12 January and go through its assessment. When it produces its...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Let us say there is to be a general election next October, November or whenever - everybody is guessing different dates for it. Could the commission reasonably have made a recommendation by that point around postering? The commission will be making recommendations, but it will be up to the Oireachtas to legislate to put those into action.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will make a submission, but the listing of addresses of candidates on ballot papers is something I would like to see dealt with. I do not know whether we will be able to do it in time for the local and European elections, but it is a vexed question. There could at least be guidance provided to candidates applying on what they can put down. A little further on, because it probably will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Yes, I know. The commission was constrained by the Electoral Reform Act 2022, which only allowed for constituencies with three, four or five seats. I drew up my own version of six-seater constituencies anyway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I know, yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: True. I refer as well to a constitutional change concerning the ratio of people to TDs. If this were to happen, then it might not be necessary to move to constituencies with six seats. It might be possible to go back to what we have previously.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Yes. I am conscious the research areas the Electoral Commission is going to work on may be important to a certain cohort of people but not to others. Some people may just not be concerned that they are now in a constituency with three, five or six seats. However, if you are a candidate in one of those areas, this is going to be of great interest. There is also the issue of posters. Some...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 73. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding Departmental policy or guidelines in relation to the retention, repurposing or sale of former State-owned buildings that are no longer in use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51946/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 279. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 21 November 2023, the steps she will take to ensure that all qualifying applicants to secondary schools in Greystones are accommodated for September 2024; if a copy of the most recent Departmental review on demand for secondary school places for Greystones can be provided; and if she will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 280. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the new school building for a school (details supplied); the timeline for its completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52311/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 303. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to delays in releasing sports capital grant funding for a club (details supplied); if this funding can be issued before the end of the year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52000/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local and European Elections 2024 and Subsequent General Election: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: It certainly does. Depending on what is done with constituencies, the result could alter the outcome of an election. Depending on the formation of the next Dáil, as well, if the commission were to come up with a report recommending six-seaters, it may not suit the Oireachtas at that time to move to them. Anyway, I suppose that is democracy for you.