Results 4,701-4,720 of 5,040 for speaker:Victor Boyhan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing and Rental Market: Discussion (21 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the witnesses for coming here and sharing their knowledge. Both of the papers before us are very interesting. I will make a few comments, if I may, before getting into the detail of the questions. I read all the submissions before us today and there is a certain trend running through them. There is basically a need for some regulatory control for the very short-term lets. In...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing and Rental Market: Discussion (21 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: The Department mentioned planning circulars and directions but is it being proactive enough? Mr. Ó Cléirigh said he was preparing another circular but what will happen? He mentioned suggestions and recommendations and said he had issued circulars but it is all very grand to send a circular out. Some may be circulated to members and other may not while some Departments get them...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing and Rental Market: Discussion (21 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the witnesses. I have read the three submissions. I had to go to the Seanad to raise an item on the Order of Business but I am back. I took the time to read all the submissions. They are excellent and concise. As Deputy Coppinger said, this is a simple enough issue. It needs to be seen in the context of social housing policy and the delivery of affordable and social housing. We...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Child Care Services Provision (20 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: In the absence of time and because we have spent 45 minutes on three items, I will be brief and to the point. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate him on his reappointment. I am delighted for him. He does an amazing job. Despite all our challenges and talk on Commencement Matters, it is clearly a very difficult time and resources are a key factor in many of the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Child Care Services Provision (20 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: The reality, which the Minister of State accepted, is that there are over 5,000 children involved. The reply to a parliamentary question tabled in the Dáil indicated that more than 5,000 children who have been brought to the attention of child welfare and protection services have not been allocated social workers. That is totally unacceptable. These are children who are at some level...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I would like to raise three matters: the appointment to the Court of Appeal vacancy; Rebuilding Ireland and the shift or change in Government policy in that regard; and the new Government. I will be brief. I understand, from the media and my engagement with people, that at least three High Court judges had written to the Attorney General, Máire Whelan, indicating that they wanted to be...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Refugee Resettlement Programme (13 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister. I will get straight to the point. The Government made a commitment in respect of the matter I am raising. Commitments are about honour and delivering something. The commitment to which I refer has been restated by the Minister and her colleagues in government. I attended a conference last week at which I heard the stories of many people who have experienced issues...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Refugee Resettlement Programme (13 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister. It is to be welcomed that there is no question of reneging on the commitment to take in 4,000 people. That may happen through other mechanisms, systems and channels, and we can accept that as fair enough. I thank the Minister for the comprehensive reply. I draw the attention of the Minister to the third paragraph of her reply, as it states "Deputies" should be aware...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I join with other Senators in wishing Enda Kenny and his family well as he steps down as Taoiseach today. I sat in the Gallery of the Dáil to listen to him and I was struck by the modesty and simplicity of his speech, which should be acknowledged. He clearly demonstrated that he is a man with enormous energy who has mastered the craft of politics and how it is done, which is to be...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I want to speak in general terms in the context of-----

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: Yes. I will speak to amendments Nos. 2, 5, 13, 17, 18 and 24.

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: That is correct.

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I wanted to speak in general terms regarding those amendments. I appeal to the Minister to accept them. These are reasonable amendments. It is worth acknowledging the trouble, time, research and engagement put in by the proposers of the amendments. The amendments may need to be tweaked and changes made to them and the Minister will articulate her views on them, which I will be interested...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 May 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I wish to raise only one issue, which relates to Coillte. We know that Coillte has 390,000 ha under forestry in this State. That is an enormous natural and national asset and resource, and it is very important. There has been great discussion on the possibility of elements of Coillte being privatised or sold off. We know that there are a further 90,000 ha dedicated to biodiversity, or...

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (31 May 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister to the House. I acknowledge the enormous effort and work she has put into this legislation. I am particularly delighted that she is here today to see this Stage of the Bill through the process. As stated by Senator Conway-Walsh, domestic violence is a crime against families and children and their right to innocence. It is a crime against women and, in some case,...

Seanad: Domestic Violence Bill 2017: Committee Stage (31 May 2017)

Victor Boyhan: -----research and table amendments, contribute to the debate on them and, importantly, remain in the House to hear the Minister's response. There are many who come in here, chaw-mouth, and leave. The people here now are consistently here on these issues. I acknowledge that they are here to listen and to engage. This is about ensuring we have a better Bill. It is about supporting the...

Seanad: Report on Use of Section 12 of Child Care Act by An Garda Síochána: Statements (31 May 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I warmly welcome the Minister to the House. I acknowledge her three-page report but I have heard all of this. I do not mean to be rude when I say that as politicians of both Houses, we are tired of having history lessons about An Garda Síochána and history lessons about child protection. The previous Minister who came into the Seanad was speaking about the protection of women and...

Seanad: Report on Use of Section 12 of Child Care Act by An Garda Síochána: Statements (31 May 2017)

Victor Boyhan: Three months, not six months.

Seanad: Controlled Drugs and Harm Reduction Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (31 May 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister of State to the House today and thank her for her long-standing commitment to this area. I particularly want to thank Senators Ruane and Ó Ríordáin. It is not easy to come into this House and share personal experiences and Senator Ruane has done that on many occasions. She clearly has considerable knowledge of this area, has researched this Bill well,...

Seanad: Controlled Drugs and Harm Reduction Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (31 May 2017)

Victor Boyhan: There is a mob that comes in and belly-aches about this and that and how we can do nothing because this is the new politics. We are in politics for this time and this moment. If we do not deliver, we do not deserve to be here. It is as simple as that. That is the bottom line. I would not want to be in the Seanad if I was not making some contribution. This is the time and Deputy...