Results 4,841-4,860 of 4,932 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Seanad: Address by An Taoiseach (Resumed) (29 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the Taoiseach. I am my party’s spokesperson on housing and there are one or two issues about which I am very concerned. We have had four months of meetings with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Coveney. Arising from those meetings, we have been told there is an 84-point action plan. One of the only two results to emerge from those meetings...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I extend my sympathies to the Lucas family. It was a very sad situation and the whole of Ireland was in shock when we saw it on the news and read about it. As the Leader is aware, now is the time for local authorities to do their budgets. Councils have experienced major changes. The most significant issue for local authorities is the abolition of all the town councils. Additional issues...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Irish Water Safety: Chairperson Designate (28 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Most of my questions have already been asked but I wish to compliment Irish Water Safety. Most parents ensure their children learn to swim. I have never learned to swim but I have ensured that my children can swim. I will address my inability to swim. It is crucial that people are aware of water safety. There are swimming pools where I live, so people go to the pool all the time and not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Last week I asked the Minister about addressing the cap, particularly in local authorities. I checked this further during the week. Part of the reason people are becoming homeless is that the cap has not been changed in each local authority for so long. Five years ago local authorities did not have homeless clinics.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: This is part of pillar 1, but I did not get a reply last week. It was something I wished to address under that pillar.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Okay, but that must be seriously examined. With regard to land aggregation, the Minister is concentrating too much on rented accommodation. Long-term rental will not solve the problem in this country. Renting over the long term will only cost the State money. Consider all of the land the local authorities have. In each budget they are paying pay back a certain amount to the banks because...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Elderly people will not get any work done on their homes. A lady called to me last week. She is a local authority tenant and she cannot afford to fix her gas boiler. We tell those tenants that we do not fix gas boilers, doors or windows. We do not do any repairs anymore to local authority houses. The Minister must address this because people are living in fear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I have many more questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: They do not. That is the problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The tenants pay for it, however.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness: Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: In response, the landlords are increasing rents.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I would like to speak about housing. The Minister hit the nail on the head when he said each local authority was different. Rural local authorities are not receiving the same amount as councils such as Dublin City Council. They do not have the tools to take in high incomes. I know that the Minister will look at rural counties such as Carlow when he is putting his housing programme in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Minister clarified the €2 million figure relating to the Carlow local authority. He met those representatives. We must be practical. Everybody is paying much money on property tax. I know people have seen what I hope are good changes. At the end of the day, when we see so much homelessness and so many people on hospital waiting lists, it is important this budget addresses such...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Some local authorities will not pass budgets so what exactly will the Minister be able to do for them? As the Minister indicated, issues arising from the Lansdowne Road agreement are starting to have an impact on local authorities. What will the Minister be able to do for those authorities as it is where we are at?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Minister will know from dealing with them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: The Minister will know from dealing with them. He does not need anyone to shout. He will know when he has the facts and figures from these local authorities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I believe the Minister is totally wrong regarding the person who shouts louder.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Absolutely not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 34 - Housing, Planning and Local Government (21 Sep 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I shout, but for good reasons. When the Minister sees the figures he will know why.