Results 4,221-4,240 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Damien English: The Minister, Deputy Coveney is prepared to consider that. There also seems to be a demand for a bespoke Bill, however.

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Damien English: That is what I am saying. It will not be possible to have a bespoke Bill in June. As the Minister, Deputy Coveney said in his opening remarks, there is the option to add it in to the foreshore Bill or to have a bespoke Bill. That is something on which we can consult.

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Damien English: I cannot say today that there could be a June timeline for that.

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Damien English: The Minister, Deputy Coveney said he would consider it. To be clear, he is not saying he can bring forward a bespoke Bill in June.

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Damien English: Yes.

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Damien English: I want to clarify some points to alleviate concerns. I thank Deputy Sean Sherlock for bringing forward the Bill. I hope it is our Department's remit because I spent time in the Seanad dealing with Senator Grace O'Sullivan's Bill. If it is not my Department, then we are all wasting our time. I am fairly confident it is within our remit. I want to clarify that marine environmental policy...

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Damien English: Marine environmental policy rests within our Department, but I will clarify this for Deputies. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, is responsible for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and marine spatial planning.

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Damien English: Because he is. That is how I understand it.

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Damien English: Deputy Howlin has been in government, so he knows how it works. Governments decides and allocates duties to Departments. These issues were, and still are, under our Department. Functions have been delegated to all the Ministers.

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Damien English: I was not asked why but was asked who and I am saying who. I am giving the facts. I agree with Deputies that it is great Deputy Coveney is the Minister. The Minister is charged with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, marine spatial planning and the regulation of the foreshore under the Foreshore Acts. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, also has a range of marine planning and...

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Damien English: I will now turn to all the other issues raised, including one by the Acting Chairman, Deputy Eugene Murphy. Ireland's Clean Coast groups, which are led by An Taisce and supported by the Department, do great work and are viewed as world leaders in that respect. Some issues were raised around that. We welcome and want to have an input into legislation such as this Bill but we must take a...

Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 May 2017)

Damien English: I will clarify the position for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (4 May 2017)

Damien English: New buildings and extensions or material alterations to existing buildings must comply with the legal minimum performance standards set out in the Building Regulations 1997 - 2017.  In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use (2010), which came into effect on 1 January 2012, set...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Panel Report Recommendations (4 May 2017)

Damien English: An expert panel on concrete blocks was established by my Department in April 2016 to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Donegal and Mayo.  The panel have the following terms of reference: - (i) To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Fire Stations Provision (3 May 2017)

Damien English: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Act, 1981.  My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Action Plan for Rural Development (2 May 2017)

Damien English: Overall responsibility for the Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched on 23 January 2017, rests with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. However, as the proposal listed at Action 6 therein relates to a planning matter, its delivery falls to my Department. The proposed action - allowing for the change of use of vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations Compliance (2 May 2017)

Damien English: In relation to the Deputy's request, the matters referred to are matters for local authorities, who are independent in the use of their statutory powers under the Building Control Acts 1990-2014. The Local Government Management Agency collected data on inspections carried out up to 2013 and published this information in the Service Indicators in Local Authorities reports...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff Data (2 May 2017)

Damien English: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (2 May 2017)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 463 together. Sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, together with the planning guidelines on local area plans issued by my Department under Section 28 of the Act, set out the statutory process to be followed in the preparation of statutory Local Area Plans and public consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Architects Register (2 May 2017)

Damien English: Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007 introduced a system of statutory registration for architects and restricted use of the title architect to persons who are registered architects. Section 22 of the Act makes specific provision for registration based on technical assessment of persons who had been independently performing duties commensurate with those of...