Results 3,861-3,880 of 6,905 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (15 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: 276. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will issue guidance to local authorities requesting that they facilitate housing assistance payment tenants who wish to move from one local authority's transfer list to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56377/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the witnesses for attending and fully support the comments of the importance of the independence of the board. The panel system is a mechanism to try to ensure some collective mix of skills and expertise and some balance. It that is going to be abolished, what is going to be in the legislation to ensure those elements? What mechanisms are going to be in the legislation? What...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Is the Minister not given huge power in terms of that committee and how it is set up and regulated? If the Minster has a lot of power in terms of that committee, how is that a safeguard against a lopsided Minister having too much-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Regulation by the Minister?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: It seems to be a huge concentration of power to the Minister when, as I believe we all agree, it is really important that the board is as independent as possible and is seen to be such. In terms of the list of experience and knowledge that is drawn up, was there consultation on that? How was the list arrived at? Why does it not include areas like ecology, marine environment, climate change...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Great. Head 9 uses the phrase, "It has come to light". Can the witnesses explain more about that and the rationale for the change? What came to light and what is the issue the Department is trying to solve? Is there not a risk of unintended consequences? Certainly we have had submissions from wide-ranging groups on this proposal. They are very concerned how this could have huge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: On head 7 and head 9 is the Department saying that this will not result in any practical changes for people who use or have an interest in the marine environment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I agree with the Chairman that there is no need to sacrifice one for the other. So one can have renewable energy and protect the marine environment, and all of the positives that come from that. I agree with the points made that sustainable development is a very broad term and could mean anything to anyone. On the discussion surrounding the Foreshore Act, the Department gave assurances...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I take that point. Does Mr. Lawlor feel there is enough clarity and transparency evident in the heads of the Bill about how people will be appointed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I am sorry to interrupt but I have other questions to ask. I am sorry but I have limited time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank Mr. Lawlor. My next question is for the Irish Environmental Network. Do the witnesses think there is potentially a concentration of power in the Minister in terms of the heads relating to the board and, if so, how could that be addressed in the legislation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I have just two final questions. From my read of infrastructure delivery, it looks quite different to the other headings. It is not even "infrastructure", it is "infrastructure delivery". It is not about housing delivery. What sort of people would have experience or knowledge of infrastructure delivery? What sort of backgrounds would they have or where would they be working?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Infrastructure is quite a specific section of development.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: But it is the component parts that could be more important.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: This is my final question for the Irish Environmental Network. If we do concentrate the power in the Minister, what risks or dangers would result in the worst-case scenario? I refer to a situation where the Bill goes ahead, as is, and there is a lot of discretion for a Minister. What could that mean if we have a bad Minister with a particular agenda?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Does the Irish Planning Institute feel that a lot of the discretion is already there so this does not necessarily change it? Is Mr. Lawlor saying that it is not necessarily regressive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment Bill) 2022: Discussion (10 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Especially in the current context, the need to do that is stronger than ever. It would be good practice anyway.

Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (9 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: I support this amendment. Turning to my amendment No. 9, fundamentally there is nothing to stop the Government from setting a date for a referendum on this issue now. It could be done and should be done. This has been talked about for years. We need the Government to finally get off the fence on this issue and to name and set a date. If the Government were to do this, then we could then...

Water Services (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (9 Nov 2022)

Cian O'Callaghan: Does the Minister of State not think the Water Advisory Body plays a valuable role and has contributed in a very positive way? Why is he seeking to put forward this amendment?