Results 3,041-3,060 of 6,937 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Amendment No. 37 relates to what I was talking about earlier about the importance of delineating areas of historic and archaeological significance. Without lines on a map I do not see how this clause will be effective. It is important that boundaries are defined and delineated. If they are not defined and delineated, how can they be protected? Article 1 of the European Landscape...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Will the surrounding areas be mapped? Will there be a line around the surrounding area?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: They will be delineated.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: They will be mapped. That gives protection to the-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: The surrounding area could include landscapes. Are we speaking about a monument and a few metres around it being the surrounding area?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Using the example of Rathcroghan in County Roscommon, protection could be provided for the full landscape under the Bill.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: That could be delineated on a map with lines drawn around it to show the areas that are protected.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Is the fact that this is not specified in the Bill and that it is somewhat ambiguous not a weakness in the legislation?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 37: In page 27, to delete line 1 and substitute the following: "(e) a historic and/or archaeological landscape – a delineated area of historic and/or archaeological significance;".

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Before that, on the announcement the Minister of State made, can I ask about his non-consequential amendments about Phoenix Park? When will we get a written briefing on those? Will he let us know? The written briefing for the last round of non-consequential amendments was very late for us to deal with it.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Just to be helpful. I thank the Minister of State. Before I address amendment No. 64, I think amendments Nos. 44 and 268 from Deputy Ó Broin are good. They are blunt but they are direct and would serve a useful purpose in the Bill. I cannot see how there is anything to be lost from having them, incidentally. I can see why there could be resistance to them if there is not full...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister of State for that commitment. Is he saying that in respect of 12(2)(e), the wording "the environment in which the relevant thing is situated" means that the environment will not be recognised as an archaeological reserve? Is it that the legislation is open to that?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes but I am just asking about this section of the Bill with regard to Chapter 2 and prescribed monuments. That definition is not defined in section 12(2)(e) around "the environment in which the relevant thing is situated" whereas I am attempting, effectively, to put a-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: In amendment No. 192, I am seeking to delete wording on page 90 of the Bill, in section 72(1)(c). It would be useful to hear from the Minister of State what the rationale is for this wording and why he feels it is necessary to have this in the Bill. I am concerned that this wording could tie the hands of a local authority. I do not see why we necessarily want to specify that local...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister of State for his response. As regards amendment No. 192, I do not see why this wording is needed. Does this wording mean that if a local authority produces a map and shows the monument on it, it could fall foul of this part of the Bill? Showing where a significant monument is could be deemed to be promoting public access. Could the local authority run foul of this...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I accept the bona fides of this as a serious commitment, so I will not be pressing amendment No. 214.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I reserve the right to resubmit on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Committee Stage (29 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes. On amendment No. 192, it would be possible to have a significant monument which is in private ownership at the side of a public road. This legislation states that unless the owner of that monument, because it is in private ownership, gives explicit permission it would simply not be legal for a local authority or Minister to promote public access to it. This would be the case even...

Historic and Archaeological Heritage Bill 2023: Instruction to Committee (28 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: I raise very similar concerns to others on process. This week we received 24 pages of new amendments from the Minister that have nothing whatever to do with archaeology or heritage and everything to do with seven existing pieces of legislation which are entirely outside of the existing scope of this Bill. We received a verbal briefing on this for one hour a couple of hours ago. I have...

Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Report 2022: Statements (28 Jun 2023)

Cian O'Callaghan: As regards freshwater quality, as the Minister of State is aware, Ireland has more than 84,000 km of rivers and streams and more than 12,000 lakes. This is a significant resource but we are going backwards as a country. As he would know, the number of near-pristine river sites has declined from more than 500 in the 1980s to just 32 today. As a result, we risk losing several native species...