Results 4,761-4,780 of 5,171 for speaker:Victor Boyhan

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I join previous speakers in congratulating all those involved in the restoration. I thank the Leader for organising a debate on housing which is well overdue. I am particularly delighted that the Minister is coming into the Chamber to speak about the issue. It is important that he tell us what his plans and changes are in terms of a reconfiguration of Rebuilding Ireland within 12 months....

Seanad: National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021: Statements (26 Sep 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister of State. I do not doubt for one moment his commitment, but the reality, on which I want to be clear, is that there were great expectations for him on entering the Department. He had had an enormously long track record in the disability sector, but there was great disappointment. He says he is frustrated. I spent the past two weeks visiting a number of people who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Report: Dr. Mary Murphy and Dr. Rory Hearne, NUI Maynooth (20 Sep 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I thank Dr. Murphy and Dr. Hearne for their presentations this morning but more importantly, for their report. It is a serious piece of research and it raises many issues. There are the five key issues the witnesses discussed, namely, prevention, stocks and flows, emergency housing, HAP - which was discussed in great detail and about which I share many of their concerns - security of tenure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and Dublin Regional Homless Executive (20 Sep 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I am quite conscious of the time. By the way, it was very helpful that many of the witnesses were here at the first session because these two issues totally overlap. The witnesses might comment on the sunset clause set out by Dr. Hearne and Dr. Murphy with regard to the ending of hubs in December 2019 and the practicalities of that. Would they share that ambition? On hotels, we had...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: There have been many recurring themes over the past year, including health, housing and education. I will not spend any time on them today, but they are all linked and are very important. That they keep recurring as Commencement matters and items raised on the Order of Business means we clearly need to focus more on them in the next term. I wish to keep my comments to Article 28A of the...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I thank Senator Lawless for the Bill. I was very happy to co-sign it. He put an enormous amount of work into it from beginning to end. It has not had an easy passage. Many people had to be convinced and many changed their minds along the way. It must be acknowledged that it was not a walkover. Senator Lawless had to consult and convince people. He had to argue and set out the rationale...

Seanad: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I also hope to be brief. I warmly welcome the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, to the House. This Bill makes absolute sense. It is important when something makes sense and has been teased out and argued, and its merits put forward, we should move on with it. There is much criticism of new politics, but it can only be new politics if those from all parties and none make it work. That is...

Seanad: Mediation Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister to the House. I thank the Minister for his comprehensive overview of the Mediation Bill 2017, which I welcome. The Minister summed up the purpose of the Bill in the final points of his speech. Anything that speeds up the resolution of disputes, reduces legal costs associated with disputes, reduces long waiting times and avoids adversarial court proceedings has to be...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Second Stage (18 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister of State and his officials to the House. There is a housing crisis in this country. We know there is a shortage of supply in social and affordable housing and housing generally on the market. The Government published Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, and that is the policy. Therefore, it has to be pursued, not blindly by us but...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I take on board what Senator Ó Clochartaigh has said. They are valid concerns. I do not have a problem with that. I started by saying that this Bill will enable us to deliver more houses but clearly, we do not want houses on sites that are not appropriate, nor do we want buildings that are built without proper planning controls, etc. The reality is, however, that these are sites that...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, for a comprehensive overview of the Bill which clearly sets out many of the points involved. As a group of Independent Senators we will be bringing forward a number of amendments on Committee Stage. We are working on them. We have been talking to and engaging with a number of organisations which represent victims of crime. When talking to...

Seanad: Naval Service Deployment: Statements (13 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for this statement in response to the deployment decision. It is important to have some context in regard to these matters. It is stated the Defence Forces cannot be deployed unless a mission has been approved by the United Nations, the Government and Dáil Éireann. It does not refer to Seanad Éireann or the Oireachtas. It is...

Seanad: Naval Service Deployment: Statements (13 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I am not a messenger boy for anybody.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Procedures (12 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to the House. I put down this Commencement matter some time back. There are two aspects. One concerns the primary eye care report, which has been published, so I do not need to dwell on it. I thank the Minister and the Department for issuing that report. It was long-awaited and I understand it is currently being studied. The next aspect...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Procedures (12 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: The plan outlined by the Minister of State is not ambitious enough in terms of the number of additional procedures that will be carried out in 2018 and 2019. I am disappointed with the reply. I accept the Minister of State is only setting out the facts but as I said the plan is not ambitious enough. Let us deal with the facts. This morning, the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF,...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: Will the Leader seek clarification from the Government regarding the judicial council? All of today's national newspapers report on the Government's plan for a three-person group to recommend the next Chief Justice. The current Chief Justice, Ms Susan Denham, will retire in the next month or so. She has consistently called for a judicial council during her time in the post. Lost in the...

Seanad: School Transport: Statements (12 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I warmly welcome the Minister of State to the House. Any time I have made contact with his office he has been more than forthcoming in facilitating a prompt and speedy response to communications on this matter, and other matters, and in facilitating meetings with parents, stakeholders and county councillors. They were impressed and they appreciate that the Minister of State gave up his time...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Pensions: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Chairman and the committee for permitting me to come here to say a few words. I am conscious I am looking at three senior gentlemen who served in An Garda Síochána. In their service of 11, ten and 14 years, respectively, they have combined service of 35 years. It is a sad reflection on the State that men who put their lives on the line to defend and secure the State...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Pensions: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I spoke about the numbers involved.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Pensions: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I mentioned former Deputy Michael Woods, whom the witnesses mentioned in their submission. Did the witnesses or their advisers consider his case generally and how he rectified his situation?