Results 3,901-3,920 of 4,887 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: They are not. That is the problem. If a person is taken off the local authority housing list and gets back on the list a few months later, he or she starts from the beginning. I have had many experiences of this. The previous record of six or seven years on the housing list is not recognised.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists: Discussion (23 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The issue is that the income limit for eligibility in County Kilkenny is €33,500 whereas the income limit in County Carlow is €27,500. There is no comparison. There are people who are not on the list because they do not qualify on the basis of income levels but who should be on the housing list. I thank Ms Mulholland for clarifying the information but the system is just not...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Fianna Fáil also pays tribute to those who have died. What happened to those young ladies was horrific and our sympathy is extended to their families. On education and the priority we place on it, I want to discuss investment in education before the next budget is decided. I agree with Senator Ardagh that we need to have the Minister for Education and Skills attend the House in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: If the Minister could come back to me with some of those answers, I would really appreciate it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Minister is mixing up the timescales. The timescales are off.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I must correct the Minister. Every local authority’s policies are different. That is where the problem is. What works for one local authority is not happening in another area. That is the problem. It is unfair if the Minister does not give direction to each local authority on policies. It is not right. The stronger ones are gaining, but the weaker ones are suffering. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Sorry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: If the Minister cannot deliver rent pressure zones to other areas, then there is a problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: No, I am sorry. It is very unfair that other counties are suffering because the bigger counties are getting the rent pressure zones. Again, it is the smaller counties that are being totally forgotten. That is absolutely unacceptable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Government should not have brought in the measure if the Minister is not going to be fair to every local authority. It is not fair to local authorities that are not qualifying.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I have seen them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We were told that everywhere would be looked at as it went forward and an area could qualify on the second round. That is what we were told.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes, but we were told that there would be another criterion and a second round. We were told that here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes, we were. I wish to clarify that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Discussion (17 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Is the repair and lease scheme operating in all local authorities now? My understanding is that the uptake is not as good as it should be because of the criteria that must be met. I mentioned the criteria that were causing trouble last time, which is a concern. The Minister has sought a report on vacant properties from local authorities. Has he said to each local authority that there is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Renewable Energy Projects (15 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the Minister to the House. Last year I raised the European Commission's proposal to revise the renewable energy directive. I pointed out that the proposals to phase out biofuels made from EU-produced sugar beet, field corn and rapeseed would remove an income stream worth €5 billion to €6 billion per year to EU farmers, devastate rural economies, close the best...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Renewable Energy Projects (15 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Minister for the reply. We all know the issue here is funding. Despite many commitments to funding, we have seen little of it. I welcome and note that the Minister has made waves on this proposal but we need to hear from him on a regular basis what line Ireland is following in this area. We also need to ensure that all biofuels comply with the sustainability provisions...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Renewable Energy Projects (15 May 2018)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I was not part of that Government. I assure the Minister that I will be fighting hard for a sugar factory. We should have our sugar factory back.