Results 4,161-4,180 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Supports (18 May 2017)

Damien English: Can I finish please?

Topical Issue Debate: Homeless Persons Supports (18 May 2017)

Damien English: I would love it. That would be great. I will provide some figures for last year from the housing authority. It is worth noting that nationally in 2016, over 1,200 new social housing tenancies were awarded to homeless households. Furthermore, we expect that those families currently accommodated in hotels will primarily have their housing needs met through the housing assistance payment,...

Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Scheme Payments (18 May 2017)

Damien English: I am sure Deputy Creed expects to be Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a very long time and my understanding from farmers is that they want to keep him as Minister for a long time. While there might be a new Taoiseach, I am sure Deputy Creed will still be there and taking questions here. Again, I expressed his apologies at the outset that he could not take the debate here...

Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Scheme Payments (18 May 2017)

Damien English: I thank Deputy Ferris for raising this issue. I understood he wanted to discuss TAMS, but I will try to cover other matters as best I can. I will set out the current position regarding the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS II. During 2015, a suite of six measures were announced under TAMS II. These measures were launched under the new rural development programme 2014-20 and...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: I will try to be brief. I will address amendments Nos. 4, 6, 7, 15 and 56. Despite the spirit of the conversation and the support of everyone here, we cannot accept the amendments as they have been put forward, but I would agree with all the arguments that have been made and the logic behind them. The amendments proposed by Deputies Cowen and Casey regarding the oversight and assessment of...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: Yes, in the Seanad debate.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: I will go with Deputy Jan O'Sullivan who covered this amendment quite well. People have to realise-----

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: People have to realise that the power is not given to a Minister but to this House to scrutinise a decision of the Minister. Members come in here not just to comment or raise issues, and they do a great job of raising many issues, but politicians have to also make decisions. That is what democracy is about. There are many commentators in the media every day of the week but politicians go...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: I know the Deputies did.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: There is a Bill on that to come in later on.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: We are doing that.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: We will not be always here, despite what is in my best interests.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: No. It is wrong to-----

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: On zoned lands.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: I will address amendments Nos. 2, 3, 21, 33 to 43, inclusive, 49 to 55, inclusive, 57 to 59, inclusive, 66 to 68, inclusive, and 98, as tabled by Deputies Wallace and Clare Daly. I do not propose to accept these amendments because I do not think it is appropriate to remove functions from the Minister or to transfer certain functions from the Minister to the OPR. The planning regulator will...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: That is democracy. The Deputy might not like it, but that is what happens. It happens all over Europe and people accept it. As a country, we need to have evidence-based debates. Ministers still have to do their jobs. I would prefer not to shy away from that. The amendments before the House are recommending the removal of ministerial decision-making powers. That is wrong, and that is...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: The Deputy covered a lot, though.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: We do enshrine directives. That is the point I am trying to make.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: To be clear on the Aarhus Convention, I have listened to the points being made for a long number of years. We are compliant with it. Our job is to respond to the directives and implement them. That is what we do. As a planning authority, the Department reckons we do not need this amendment. We are implementing the directives; that is our job. The Deputy will keep arguing that we are not...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Damien English: No, it is not.