Results 4,121-4,140 of 5,013 for speaker:Victor Boyhan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Reform: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (31 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: There is a great deal happening and much is proposed to happen. There is the local government Bill, the Private Member's Local Government Accountability Bill 2018. We need to be mindful that the local elections take place in 2019.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Reform: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (31 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: We might have a few before then. We might have a few this November. There are many people in local government thinking of getting out. The Minister of State will know, if he is honest that his own party is finding it difficult to get candidates. An increasing number of people want to run as independent candidates, which is amazing. That is resulting from the politicisation of people in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Reform: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (31 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: Will the Minister of State publish that report at Halloween?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Reform: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (31 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: That is good news.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Reform: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (31 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: There is one question I meant to touch on. Colleagues have asked me to raise this and they would murder me if I did not. Galway city and county-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Reform: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (31 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: My colleagues, friends and councillors in Galway city and county. The great old Progressive Democrats stronghold is still out there in the guise of independents.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Reform: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (31 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: What is the plan? Clearly there is a process under way. Will it be implemented in the short term?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Reform: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (31 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: What type of decision will be made?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Reform: Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (31 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: Yes, I am.

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: I rise to speak about the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill in the context of the stories that have been released in the past 24 hours by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone. There is nothing new about this story. We have all known this for a long time. I speak with some experience. I could have been adopted three times but my parents, individually, against...

Seanad: Report on Children's Mental Health Services: Statements (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: I will not use all my time as I am conscious that others have things to say. I thank the committee and particularly my colleagues, Senators Freeman and Coghlan, for their work. Apart from the report itself, I found two things most important. I attended on the day of the committee's public hearings and heard the service users and those who wanted to use the service and their families. It...

Seanad: Local Property Tax: Motion (30 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have had the benefit of reading his transcript, which is very interesting. It is something we do not always have the benefit of before the Minister speaks.

Seanad: Local Property Tax: Motion (30 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome that 12 Fianna Fáil Senators have signed the motion. While I would not agree with all of it, it is a good motion and it is good we are having this debate. The current local property tax regime is exorbitant in certain places, and in certain circumstances it is grossly unfair and takes no account of people's capacity and ability to pay. At the same time, we need a form of...

Seanad: Local Property Tax: Motion (30 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: -----for decent local government services. It has nothing to do with the value of their properties, which I think is totally wrong. While I do not subscribe to the current system of local property tax, I believe we should work to demonstrate to people that the revenue that is collected locally will be retained locally, every penny of it. I believe this is where people have a problem....

Seanad: Local Property Tax: Motion (30 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: They are facilitating it. However, they can crank up their influence and their currency with this current Government. We know we will have local elections in 2019. I can tell the House here and now that local property tax will be one of the biggest issues facing the electorate in June 2019. If Fianna Fáil does not make an issue of it, somebody else will. I certainly will be doing...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (30 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (30 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: I went through these two amendments the last time the Minister was here. He said he would reflect on the issues and I am sure he has done so. The aim of the amendment is simple: to ensure that, if an accused is prosecuted for an offence under this Act, he or she will have the option to elect for a jury trial. As the Bill stands, if a person or body corporate is prosecuted for any offence...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (30 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: He was not here on the last occasion.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (30 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: Nobody thinks that.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Bill 2017: Report and Final Stages (30 May 2018)

Victor Boyhan: Just call a vote on amendment No. 1.