Results 3,081-3,100 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Management of Passenger Numbers at Dublin Airport: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Most of the questioning today has been on whether Dublin Airport is in compliance with the planning conditions. Mr. Jacobs is strongly of the opinion that it is. However, we have strong indications from experts in the planning system, the local authority planning system and An Bord Pleanála that exceeding 32 million passengers goes beyond the DAA’s planning conditions and those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Management of Passenger Numbers at Dublin Airport: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Planning decisions in this country are made in the interests of proper planning and sustainable development and are generally in the common good. I would suggest very strongly that Mr. Jacobs' interpretation of planning here is to suit the business model and not to suit the principles of planning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Management of Passenger Numbers at Dublin Airport: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Why does Mr Jacobs want the cap lifted? If he feels that going beyond 32 million passengers does not go beyond the planning conditions, why not just keep passenger numbers growing? Why does he feel he has to apply for planning permission to go to 40 million?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Management of Passenger Numbers at Dublin Airport: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Is the business complying with the law at the moment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Management of Passenger Numbers at Dublin Airport: Discussion (22 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Okay. I thank Mr. Jacobs.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to a shortage of secondary school places in an area (details supplied); if her Department officials can liaise with school management in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50790/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 245. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the case of a student (details supplied); if school transport can be urgently sought in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50865/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 250. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to annual running cost estimates for pathfinder schools (details supplied); if this shortfall will be supplemented by her Department; if repair and upkeep of infrastructure related to retrofit projects is under consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50953/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 251. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding energy storage batteries being included as part of solar installations under the pathfinder retrofitting schools' projects; if this can be considered in conjunction with a scheme that would allow potential excess energy feedback to the grid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50954/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Men's Sheds (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 272. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if action will be taken regarding the submission by various men’s sheds groups seeking an exemption to paying the TV licence fee; if this can be considered in the context of the relatively low funds available to these groups and the role they play in the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50716/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 417. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of some small preschool owners regarding the new requirement to submit detailed end of year accounts; if he will ensure that this process is straightforward; if funding will be made available to cover accountancy costs; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 425. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the concerns raised by a charity (details supplied) regarding a shortfall in its funding and knock-on impact to the services it provides; if he proposes to engage with this charity on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50670/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I join others in thanking the citizens' assembly. I am sure members of it are watching online today to see how the Oireachtas is going to dissect and look through the very fine recommendations the assembly made. I also acknowledge Deputy McAuliffe, who has chaired all of these sessions. As a former Lord Mayor of Dublin, he was the right choice for that. I am the only representative from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: As a committee, we are tasked with considering the recommendations, which we have tried to do by engaging with various stakeholders, and with assessing if a plebiscite is required. I want to put a question to Ms O'Connor as a member of the assembly. What if we were to come back and say we support local democracy, empowering the mayor and giving people the option to vote for a directly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: In a similar kind of vein, we concentrate a lot on the challenges and the negativity with regard to something but it is important to acknowledge that the reward here could be huge if we get this right. I really admire the people of Limerick for taking that decision. There is an opportunity, with a really powerful mayor with real powers and resourcing behind them, to put Dublin on that stage...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Anybody who is successful in the mayoral election in Limerick is almost the guinea pig. They are going into something where they have got five years to make a mark. I know that if anyone wants to do anything that is significant, substantial and long-lasting, it is difficult to deliver it very quickly. There is always a demand for something quick and shiny to be delivered but if it is going...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: On a point of a clarification, although this report was published almost 12 months ago, I think it was only 20 June when it was passed by the Oireachtas, so by the time the Oireachtas committee received the order, we were almost finished that session of the Dáil. We only managed to get our teeth into this from September on, and we have to report on it by 31 December. I am not sure we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: However, I am confident we will report before 31 December on the basis of the order. I thank the witnesses for their time.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and his officials as we continue Committee Stage of the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023. We were discussing amendment No. 30 which Deputy Leddin had moved. The Minister of State had responded and we will now go back to Deputy Leddin.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Amendment No. 31 has already been discussed.