Results 4,841-4,860 of 5,013 for speaker:Victor Boyhan

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

Victor Boyhan: With respect, I asked the question, which was on an issue that had been raised in the submission. We are asking Dr. Sirr to tease out the rationale for the argument he made, which is not to say we are for or against it. It is not possible for the Department to be represented at every meeting. By their very nature, these meetings involve an engagement. I am not agreeing or disagreeing with...

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

Victor Boyhan: I welcome Ms Dillon, Mr. O'Connor, Mr. Silke, Mr. Walsh and Mr. McGuinness. In particular, I welcome Ms Catherine Keenan, who is director of services in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, a council with which I am more familiar. I again thank the witnesses for submitting their presentations in advance. This gives us the great advantage of being able to read them and in some way prepare...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (31 Jan 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister for her comprehensive response to the amendment. I also thank Senators Ruane and Black for bringing this critical amendment forward. The abandonment of children and their best interests are very contentious issues. The last time the Minister was in the House we talked about the complexities of family. There are many reasons and circumstances for these situations where...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I want to raise three issues concerning the appointment of judges, the Adoption Bill, and local government legislation. In The Irish Timestoday, and in other media, we see copies of correspondence and reports on the Government's plans for appointments to the Judiciary. Some points need to be made about this important matter. Senators will be aware that this House passed a motion and the...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jan 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I will raise two issues. One relates to the Road Safety Authority and the second relates to Northern Ireland. I have received a lot of correspondence in the past couple of weeks on the Road Safety Authority and Members will recall that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, was before the House recently and gave a substantial amount of time to himself to read a...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (24 Jan 2017)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister to the House to discuss an issue that is close to my own heart. The Bill, which gives effect to our constitutional provisions, has been a long time coming. In 1992, Ireland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 2010, it passed the Adoption Act and subsequently ratified the Hague convention on the protection of children and co-operation in respect...

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)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the team from the Department, and particularly thank the Secretary General, Mr. McCarthy, for his presentation. First, I want to put on the record it was disappointing that we did not have a presentation on the review of the action plan for housing and homelessness, which was originally scheduled for 7 December. Mr. McCarthy will recall we had a piece of correspondence from his...

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)

Victor Boyhan: My questions will deal specifically with the Secretary General's opening statement. Before that, in my earlier remarks I referred to the meeting of 7 December last. I accept the Secretary General's response. I have no problem with it and I am glad he explained it. Mr. McCarthy stated with regard to pillar 2: "While the final detailed figures for social housing output will be collated...

Seanad: Be Winter-Ready Campaign: Statements (15 Dec 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister for coming to the House and giving an overview of the response. It is his responsibility as Minister of State and chairman of the Government task force on emergency planning. He may have already done it but I would like to encourage the Minister of State to ensure local authorities are actually ready because in my experience few are. The first port of call for most...

Seanad: Be Winter-Ready Campaign: Statements (15 Dec 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I was in the boy scouts

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Dec 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I know the Leader has a motion on Thursday, but we are coming to the end of our session and I want to know when the next Stage of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill will be taken. I understand time has been set aside until midnight for the meeting of the select committee of the Dáil, which is not a matter for us and it is going on as we speak. More...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (8 Dec 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting for debate as a Commencement matter the question of the lack of a full and comprehensive Garda station in Maynooth, County Kildare. I spoke to officials in the Garda Commissioner's office yesterday to confirm some facts, which I will now outline. Maynooth Garda station opens for two hours a day from Monday to Friday. The highest ranking officer in...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (8 Dec 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. Will he keep this matter under review? It is unique. This is more than a rural Garda station. There are 14,000 students on campus and 16,000 living in the catchment area. It is unique. Recent events have heightened the anxiety of people. I call on the Department and the Minister to keep the issues around the station under...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I ask the Leader for an update on the following matter. We listened to Ms Nicola Sturgeon speak about Ireland's response to the refugee crisis. This is not the time to have a wider debate, but our response has been very disappointing. A number of figures and promises were reneged on. Many refugees in Europe are unaccompanied children and the refugee crisis is a major issue. The words of...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister to the House to debate the Social Welfare Bill 2016. For me, the main issue that jumps off the page is that of restoration of cuts. In fairness, it was honest of the Minister to admit that it was the previous Administration, of which he was a member, that brought about the cuts, including in respect of the telephone allowance. The majority of the e-mails I have...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (29 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I want to be 100% sure about a matter. I must talk through the Chair to clarify something. I take it from what the proposer said that she would settle for one of the proposed options. Rather than prolonging the debate, it would be interesting to hear the Minister of State's response now. Is he amenable to any of the proposals? He does not have an amendment tabled under this section. Is...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (29 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: Are we going to discuss the amendments?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (29 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I appreciate that.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (29 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I have listened to what the Minister of State said and I will support him. I am disappointed however in that it is not correct to say the amendments are the same thing.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (29 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: They achieve the same thing but one cannot be judge and jury in one's own cause. That is a very simple principle. This is an initiative on which I am generally happy to support the Minister. The Minister came to the House all smiles and he was very reasonable. All I can say from my first few months in the Seanad is that it is a very disappointing set-up. There are very few people in the...