Results 21-40 of 498 for speaker:John Clendennen

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Business of Joint Committee (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: I apologise. I did not realise it was on it.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Business of Joint Committee (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: As a new TD, when a letter like this comes through is it an invitation whereby the senders would host us and pay?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: Business of Joint Committee (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: Nuclear is worth considering but it is a lot more than just a nuclear power plant. There need to be elements of academia and experience included. There a lot of comparisons and skill sets needed to make it happen.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: I thank everyone for coming in today. I will not go in any particular order with my questions. CIF introduced a report in November 2024 which I found quite interesting. I am conscious the VAT change in budget 2026 would not have been there at that point. Do the witnesses think it will make a material difference?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: On page 9 of the CIF’s November 2024 report it outlined some of the main challenges experienced - low price, awards criteria, bureaucracy and cost of tendering. It all leads to viability, in a sense. We have addressed the apartments element now but does the CIF think more needs to be done from a housing perspective on a broader level whether that is cities, towns or down to smaller...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: Would Mr. Kennedy leave it at serviced zoned land or does it need to be a serviced site?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: Mr. Kennedy mentioned the different stakeholders working in silos. Does he think that local authorities should lead? Can they be the gel to bring cohesion in terms of delivery?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: The Cathaoirleach already alluded to the bigger picture, namely a water pipeline and 30,000 pages in a planning application. I firmly believe that we need to develop some sort of fast-track planning process for larger infrastructure projects. Where would we draw the line in this regard? What would we define as being capable of being fast-tracked versus something that would still need to go...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: That is what I am trying to get at. We have a procurement and tendering process around how we evaluate and rank different criteria. Should we come up with some sort of similar matrix such that rather than just looking at the size or scale of the projects, their importance would be taken into account? Have the witnesses done any background work on a model like that? Have they any thoughts...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: There should be an accelerated planning process, but we need to determine that where a €1 million road in a town is as important as an alternative project that might cost €100 million. Perhaps the witnesses could take that on board and consider it.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: That was my next question: will we see that balance go back to the private sector?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: The Vice-Chair may wish to go first.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: The Deputy is very good. Regarding local authorities, one issue that has come up quite a bit is what their role actually is. If we were to look at a league table of performance, would the witnesses have a concern that corners could be cut? What would they see on the local authorities' dashboard in terms of measuring their performance and ensuring they are effective?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: Based on his experience, does Mr. O'Connell believe that any pushback or reluctance will be more likely to come from members or the executive?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: Mr. O'Connell is claiming I am asking a lot of difficult questions.

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: Mr. Prenty has answered the question in the way I expected to be answered. We have an abundance of money in terms of financing and funding and we know we have a timeframe to deliver. Are the witnesses seeing a change in culture among the key stakeholders and an appetite to actually deliver or is the attitude the same as it was 12 months or 36 months ago in the sense of, "Can we do that"?...

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: One area we did not cover in huge detail was the energy in respect of the capacity of the grid, whether that is for housing development or data centres and right through to renewables. Do the witnesses have any feedback or insights on that whole space?

Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery: The Role of Private Sector Construction in Delivering High-Quality Infrastructure: Discussion (5 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: My final question relates to modern methods of construction. We have a very good facility in Offaly. Dominic will be very familiar with it. The Laois & Offaly Education and Training Board has been investing heavily in it. Where does he see us in terms of the European standard or pace in the delivery and roll-out of housing?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Nov 2025)

John Clendennen: On 12 January 2022, which will forever remain one of the darkest days in the history of County Offaly and indeed Ireland, a young woman, Ashling Murphy, had her life taken in the most brutal and senseless way in the cold light of day. Since this House last sat on 22 October, the courts have delivered their verdicts and sentences. However, there remains a deep sense of unease and dismay...

Finance Bill 2025: Second Stage (21 Oct 2025)

John Clendennen: I thank the Minister for the work he and the Minister, Deputy Chambers, have done over recent weeks and months in relation to this budget but also the work the Minister has done since 2017 when he took office in the Department of Finance. The certainty he has brought to the country and to the economy cannot be taken for granted. I am very conscious that when it comes to budget time, there...