Results 3,241-3,260 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I was going to suggest that this had turned into a late debate so early in proceedings. We should move on, though.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: With every measure, a line has to be drawn somewhere. This is what concerns me the most about Sinn Féin’s fiscal or economic policy. It would blow the entire budget in one go, never with an eye to the future and what might happen. There could be further interest rate rises. There might be a requirement to hold something back in the tank to continue to help people. That is...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am concerned to hear these kind of policies of blow everything today and do not worry about it. There is a requirement at times to protect people, which we have done in this budget. We have protected many people through targeted and universal measures. However, there is also a requirement to be prudent and think of the future as well. That is my concern.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: It is a complex area. There are gaps in the data we have regarding landlords. The Residential Tenancies Board has put figures out for the number of tenancies in the country but of course that is a function of the landlord to register the tenancy. For the CSO figures, it is a function of the householder or the person occupying the house on the night of the census to figure out if they are a...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Amendments Nos. 18 and 19 are related and will be discussed together.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Does the Minister wish to speak to amendments Nos. 18 or 19 or will we just take them as agreed?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Through the Chair, please.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: The vote will reflect how people feel on this.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I want to put the question now.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Amendment No. 21 is in the names of Deputies Ó Snodaigh and Ó Murchú.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Amendments Nos. 21 to 23, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Please do not specify, Deputy. I do not want to discuss any live cases.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I do not think we will get to vote on this amendment, or on any of them, tonight but if the Minister wishes to respond we can recommence again in the morning.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister. We are going to adjourn now and we will recommence in the morning.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Please do.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister for his engagement today and all his officials for their assistance. I also thank members.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I welcome everybody to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Today the committee meets with the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA. We are joined by: Dr. Mark Mellett, chairman of MARA; Ms Laura Brien, chief executive officer of MARA; and Mr. Rory O'Leary, principal officer with MARA. I thank the witnesses for their attendance here today. Before...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: That is the plan-led move. The phase 2 developments would be in designated areas. That comes back before the Oireachtas - approval for those designated maritime area plan, DMAPs. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: Senator Rebecca Moynihan has to be in the Seanad and Deputy O'Callaghan has to be in the Dáil. Do they both want to go together in this slot?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will take my round of questions now. I attended the Wind Energy Ireland conference where 17 July was announced as the date MARA was to be established. There was a palpable sense in that room of progress being made in harnessing our offshore potential. The year before at that conference they spoke about advances because we had brought in the Marine Area Planning Act. The offshore...