Results 3,621-3,640 of 5,031 for speaker:Victor Boyhan

Seanad: Budget 2020: Statements (8 Oct 2019)

Victor Boyhan: We need to address the issue of HAP because it is unacceptable. I welcome the provision of €17.5 million that has been set aside to provide for the Land Development Agency but I predict there will not be such an agency this side of a general election because we are only at the stage where we have the heads of a Bill. There is a long way to go to develop the Land Development Agency...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hardship Grant Scheme (2 Oct 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting my Commencement matter which is related to the agricultural hardship grant that is available to assist herdowners. While I acknowledge and recognise that the topic is not within his ministerial brief, I thank the Minister of State for coming to take it. As he will be aware, the aim of the hardship grant scheme is to assist herdowners who retain and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hardship Grant Scheme (2 Oct 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive report on this issue. I welcome any effort or renewed effort to eradicate TB, as well as the renewed strategy. We have been talking about eradication of TB for a long time, certainly longer than my time on the planet. The key point I wish to drive home today is that there must be fairness in the operation of the hardship grant scheme as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and Land Development Agency (2 Oct 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the delegates for coming and wish Mr. Coleman well in his role as chief executive of the Land Development Agency. The Minister circulated a briefing note on his appointment yesterday, which reminded me that Mr. Coleman was involved in NAMA, banking and accountancy - three areas that do not generally instill much public confidence or trust. One of the big challenges facing the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and Land Development Agency (2 Oct 2019)

Victor Boyhan: Does that mean that lands currently vested in local authorities will not be defined as "public lands" for the purposes of this legislation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and Land Development Agency (2 Oct 2019)

Victor Boyhan: Is anything being proposed in the legislation? Is the LDA happy to leave it sit or would it like to see changes made though the Bill?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I refer to the issue of Dún Laoghaire Harbour which was mentioned extensively in the national press today, particularly in The Irish Times. We had quite a hot debate with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, who has overall responsibility for harbours and ports, about this issue on 3 October 2018. I recently printed and read the record of that debate. Many times...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Beef Industry (26 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this Commencement matter, which deals with the appointment by the Minister of new agricultural attachés in the Irish embassy network, and I welcome the Minister. It has been a difficult time for agriculture and for the Minister, given the current Brexit situation. More than 50% of Irish beef is exported to the UK. Irrespective of the outcome of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Beef Industry (26 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister for his reply and I welcome his commentary regarding the diversification of the market, which is really important. In light of the ongoing debate in respect of Brexit and our over-concentration on the UK market, with, as already stated, over 50% of our beef being exported to that jurisdiction, we have to diversify. This point was echoed by the Minister. He also...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I raise a matter related to agriculture. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine appeared in the Chamber earlier and we discussed important issues such as diversification and the challenges facing communities. In particular, we spoke about the beef crisis, although I do not intend to rehash all of that now. We had a meaningful engagement and discussion. The Minister spoke about...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (26 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister of State. I am not going to take too much time but will make a few key points. I am a member of the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning, and Local Government and, as such, I have had many opportunities to engage with the Minister of State and officials from his Department. I again express my appreciation and thanks for their work. The housing committee is very...

Seanad: Housing: Statements (26 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: We are back on track.

Seanad: Housing: Statements (26 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Reclassification and Future Outputs of Approved Housing Bodies: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the witnesses for being here. Unfortunately, I had to step out of the meeting as I had to deal with an item in the Seanad. I do not have the advantage of knowing the questions that were asked but I take it from the comments of the two Senators present that securing meaningful engagement with the sector is an issue. When I attend Oireachtas joint committees, I tend to notify...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Reclassification and Future Outputs of Approved Housing Bodies: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I am a Senator. Mr. Lemass should not promote me over my station.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Reclassification and Future Outputs of Approved Housing Bodies: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: So it is 52 short.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Reclassification and Future Outputs of Approved Housing Bodies: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: Mr. Lemass referred to the transfer of assets in relation to the AHBs. I presume these are the AHBs outside of the 260 he is talking about. What does Mr. Lemass mean by that? Is there a substantial inventory of all of that? I presume the Department is on top of all that. I mention the over-delivery by AHBs. Mr. Lemass should remember the targets were too low. Many of us would have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Reclassification and Future Outputs of Approved Housing Bodies: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: Given the focus on Rebuilding Ireland, I take it these statistics are there. It is just a question of us having them because they are there. As Mr. Lemass is telling us that AHBs are over-delivering, we must have some way of backing up this statement. If Mr. Lemass could relay that message to the relevant people, I would appreciate it because it is so important for the committee to track...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Leader for including on the Order Paper a motion I submitted on the by-election process. I can move the motion at this juncture if that is in order, as it is to be taken without debate. Is that in order?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2019)

Victor Boyhan: I will do so at that point. As the motion is to be taken without debate, I had better speak on it now. I take this opportunity to point out that the idea behind this proposal to is to get the by-election process in place. The issue of who the candidate will be is not a matter for me or for the Seanad. It is a matter for others, the political parties and the Independents, to decide who...