Results 4,681-4,700 of 4,899 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Order of Business (7 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I can provide figures and statistics. All I can say is that it is unacceptable. We need to ensure the health service and the people are not suffering any more.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: On Brexit, I agree with previous speakers that it is important that we try to work out the issues involved. It is going to be a long-term problem for Ireland. While travelling here in my car this morning, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, was on RTE radio speaking about rural Ireland and his Ireland 2040 plan. In the past few months...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am not; I am being honest. I was not in the Dáil or the Seanad at the time.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: What I am saying is that lessons have to be learned-----

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: No, hang on-----

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It is crucial and very important that the Minister include all parties and that public meetings be held.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: As spokesperson for housing in Fianna Fáil, I have major concerns. I have met Minister for Housing, Deputy Coveney, on several occasions. We have our housing meetings every Wednesday morning.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I have to say this. We have been-----

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: -----promoting Dublin. The Minister has brought in a rapid build programme, which again is promoting Dublin. If the Minister is serious about the rural counties, he needs to put a proper action plan in place, and come in and talk to us all.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites and Underused Spaces: Discussion (1 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: While I agree completely with what Deputy Casey has said, I would be of the reverse mind on NAMA properties that were given to the local authorities. It is unacceptable that local authorities do not take some of these properties. I know of four or five houses in my native Carlow that could be taken back. This concerns the bigger picture on properties and sites that are either half-finished...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites and Underused Spaces: Discussion (1 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Mr. Doyle is more than welcome.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites and Underused Spaces: Discussion (1 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I apologise. I did.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites and Underused Spaces: Discussion (1 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites and Underused Spaces: Discussion (1 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That was not a question for Dr. Sirr.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites and Underused Spaces: Discussion (1 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I also welcome the witnesses here today. For clarification, I have spoken about staffing and resources in local authorities on several occasions. Local authority staff do good work in spite of being understaffed. In my local authority in the past five years we lost 110 staff who have not been replaced. That is unacceptable. If someone is on holidays there is no one to replace him or her....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites and Underused Spaces: Discussion (1 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I know everyone is doing their best, and people are going out thinking there is loads of money, but it is different when one goes into whatever local authority. The witnesses might say there are some vacancies, but we now have what we never had before, namely, homelessness clinics, which are chock-a-block. People cannot find housing, whether rented accommodation or whatever. Most people do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Derelict Sites and Underused Spaces: Discussion (1 Feb 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Local authorities have bought back many houses in the past year, in fairness to them, and I compliment the witnesses representing local authorities on that. It is very good. Do the local authorities intend to buy back many more local authority housing units? They have bought in both areas: private housing and local authority housing. Will that be a big thing this year? Will local...

Seanad: Health Service: Statements (25 Jan 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I do not want to repeat what has already been said, but I wanted to meet and speak to the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, because he is my neighbour in Wicklow. I have been dealing with him in regard to a particular case, which I am sure the Minister of State has heard of, involving the respite centre, Tír na nÓg, which at this stage has been closed for more than a year. Even...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jan 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: On the rural programme referred to by previous speakers, it is important that disadvantaged rural areas or CLÁR areas get the funding they need. Small post offices, shops, schools and GP surgeries in rural Ireland are in decline and unless money is put into a proper programme, the plan announced by the Government will not work. It is important that Senators make sure that the most...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Quarterly Progress Report Strategy for Rented Sector: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (18 Jan 2017)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I think many of the questions I was going to ask have already been mentioned. I would like more clarification on the pillars themselves. As I understand it, the figures and statistics are not available. That is crucial. I spent my whole Christmas trying to get people I represent into hotels and trying to get funding in my own area, and it was a massive issue for me. I will address that...