Results 3,681-3,700 of 4,884 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Budget 2019: Statements (9 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I was glad to see Sinn Féin and the Labour Party mention Fianna Fáil so many times in their contributions on the budget. At least Fianna Fáil made a confidence and supply agreement for three years and did not run to the hills like Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin criticises everything from the minute it comes into this Chamber, and I see the Labour Party is doing the same. I...

Seanad: Budget 2019: Statements (9 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: -----will stick with the confidence and supply agreement. I was very disappointed with the way Sinn Féin criticised everything here today. I ask the Minister of State to ensure that promises that have been made will be delivered to the people because we need that.

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: As I stand here, we have a team competing at the IGBA Handa World Blind Golf championship in Rome. I wish the team well. I raise the matter of the the leaving certificate - words that fill most of us with fear and dread, even the teachers in this room. We have an extraordinary education system. Some of the brightest minds in the world are born, study, invent and shine here but something...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I support the Bill. Earlier this week we heard the story of a woman in emergency accommodation delivering stillborn twins, which is horrific. It is frightening that this is happening in 2018. We must ensure this does not happen again. The point was made to me recently that a generation of children are growing up thinking that "no fixed abode" is an address. Children in homelessness have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Deputy spoke about Focus Ireland, which does a very good job. I have recently had cases where I rang the local authority and was told it had to set up meetings with Focus Ireland. One cannot just go to see the charity. This is not working as it should and it cannot be right to have to go to one's local authority and request a meeting. We might bring Focus Ireland before the committee...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is something we should look at in the long term.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: One could be waiting a week to see Focus Ireland, even if the case was an emergency.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I agree with the Deputy's Bill but we need to look at something that will speed up the process to ensure people can see someone from Focus Ireland on the day they need to see someone.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank Ms Hurley for her report. I have a question about the allocation of €116 million for the provision of homelessness services which represent an 18% increase on the allocation for 2017. May we have a breakdown for all of the local authorities? It is important to know where the money was spent in each of the 31 local authorities. Does the Department have guidelines? Ms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is part of the issue of homelessness.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The lack of supply is the main cause of homelessness. There is also the fact that so much money is going into the HAP scheme. Perhaps the officials might address those matters.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Is that into private emergency accommodation or local authority housing? When a family is in a hub is it both?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: There is local authority housing for some people who are in hubs.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: They only let a family or an individual stay for a few nights. It causes problems because they are back and we have to try to find HAP for them. In the long term we might need to look at getting a hub or somewhere stable for a few months so that we can find a place for a family or whoever it may be because the short timescale of the bed and breakfast-type accommodation is causing problems....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I agree with Ms Hurley but there is a problem because only 22 local authorities have taken up the place finder service while others have not. With this emergency, every local authority should have this in place to get children and families back into homes. That is something we all need to look at. Every local authority needs to focus on this because it is crucial that every one of them...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I did not know that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes, the Chair mentioned that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Sep 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: While we have to welcome the fact that the numbers of homeless are down it is unacceptable for anybody, a child or parent, to be homeless. We all need to work to make sure no one is homeless. It is frightening to think people are still homeless. Rents are rocketing up. When I asked the Minister about the rent pressure zones he said he thought it would be illegal to put the rest of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Sep 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I think there is a fault on both sides.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Future of Council Housing: Discussion (26 Sep 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I read the report. We all have concerns, particularly about local authorities. I raise the issue of rent payments. The reason for the 97% figure is that they scald people. Letters are sent constantly. I have a concern. We are not a bank. I was a councillor for 20 years. As a councillor I worked with the housing department. If one misses one payment, one can be guaranteed to...