Results 4,341-4,360 of 4,899 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Local Government Finance: Discussion (9 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I agree with Deputy Casey. I have seen changes because of the various cuts. People cannot afford to pay these amounts. We are dealing with people's money and livelihoods. This is not our money. The number of cuts across the country has been unreal. There seems to be an unfair system. Everything has to be audited and regulated and payments need to be made, but we are in a crisis. When...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I want to highlight the RTÉ investigation in the "Nightmare to Let" programme. I saw the programme, as I am sure all of us did. It is very sad that we depend on RTÉ to highlight issues that we have been constantly highlighting to the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. He is doing absolutely nothing about it. Only 4% of rental properties are assessed. It is unacceptable. I have...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am very disappointed by that answer.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is a very disappointing answer. When we have to see RTÉ-----

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: -----yet we are telling the Minister every time we see him.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am telling the Leader the truth.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Nov 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I attend a housing meeting every week. I am very familiar with them and I know there is nothing being done.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Draft General Scheme of the Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill 2017 (Resumed) (26 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Deputy Ó Broin has made some of the points I wanted to make. The biggest issue here is that the system does not have a regulator. I am a firm believer that every public body now needs a regulator because there is so much unaccountability. Ms Ní Fhloinn mentioned looking to the local authorities for figures on enforcement, complaints and convictions. A builder wanting to build so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Draft General Scheme of the Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill 2017 (Resumed) (26 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the witnesses for being here today. Our objective is to ensure we have excellent builders and tradesmen in Ireland that we can be proud of. The problem now is the lack of builders and tradesmen and we need to work on that. I believe the ones we have are the best they can be and we need to ensure that we appreciate them. The main issue for me is the bonds. We are all aware of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Draft General Scheme of the Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill 2017 (Resumed) (26 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Is there not a need for regulation in this regard because footpaths, roads and so on form part of building contracts?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Draft General Scheme of the Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill 2017 (Resumed) (26 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Will the fee be payable every two or three years or will it be a once-off payment?

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: In April 2017, the then Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, announced €1 million in funding for a closed circuit television, CCTV, scheme for each of the years from 2017 to 2019. However, not one community group or organisation has had an application accepted under the scheme. The current Minister, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, indicated the funding is secure for...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the Deputy Leader.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We all received CSO figures this week. Campaigners are calling for flexible careers for Irish women to prevent a decline into poverty after the CSO statistics revealed that 98% of carers and those carrying out household duties are female. More than six out of ten, or 61% of nearly 200,000 carers are female while 30% of those women carers provide 29 hours or more of unpaid work weekly, which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Update on the Next Stages of the Review of A Vision for Change: Department of Health (19 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I thank the witnesses for the report. A Vision for Change is crucial. All of us know people who suffer from depression. On the issue of awareness, will Mr. Kane elaborate on the Let's Talk and Walk and #LittleThings campaigns? I am a firm believer in using campaigns to highlight issues because we need to speak about mental health. It is crucial that funding is provided for campaigns....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Update on the Next Stages of the Review of A Vision for Change: Department of Health (19 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Future of Mental Health Care: Update on the Next Stages of the Review of A Vision for Change: Department of Health (19 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It does.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I wish to raise the national planning framework up to 2040. The last chance for submissions is 12 noon on Friday, 23 November. It is crucial for Senators, Deputies and the public to make submissions. The plan envisages that the number of people aged over 65 will more than double and half the jobs people work in now will not exist. There is a ten-year national investment plan and that is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Planning Framework: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I have concerns about planning for 2040. As the Taoiseach comments on the front page of the plan, half of the jobs that people will be working in by 2040 may not even exist today. This the reality and there will be major concerns. The Minister of State mentioned education. I am a firm believer that education can open up many doors for people. Whether it is do with apprentices or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Planning Framework: Discussion (18 Oct 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am finished now. There are great initiatives in this and there are great plans. However, we should start with local authorities and local people who are on the ground. If we listen to them, this can be delivered on. I am sure the Minister of State will, but I have given examples of what I believe needs to be done.