Results 4,881-4,900 of 5,040 for speaker:Victor Boyhan

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...

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

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Minister of State. This section of the Bill has necessitated the longest debate. I acknowledge that the Minister of State and his officials have worked something in to this Bill, but I believe it is unworkable. I will give a number of reasons. There are no municipal districts in Dublin, there are only area committees many of which take place in very small rooms. We spoke about...

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

Victor Boyhan: They are not.

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

Victor Boyhan: That is not the same thing.

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

Victor Boyhan: Not at all.

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

Victor Boyhan: Will the Minister of State just tell us what the position is?

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

Victor Boyhan: I move amendment No. 11:In page 33, to delete lines 17 to 23 and substitute the following:" " (c) Where the development in question is a housing development, for a resolution to have effect under paragraph (b) —(i) it has to be adopted by a majority of the members of the local authority, (ii) it has to be passed not later than 6 weeks after the receipt of the manager’s report,...

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

Victor Boyhan: We take on board what the Minister of State has said and will withdraw the amendment. I am happy to say we will have other opportunities, as the Bill will be brought to the Dáil where, no doubt, the Minister of State will deal with all of these issues again. I hope the matter will be raised in another forum with him and thank him for his time. Unlike others, I do listen and have taken...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I welcome the Minister and thank him for his engagement to date. I have taken on board what Senator Coffey said, but the Minister is here now. This is his opportunity to perform, to prove himself and to deliver on pre-consultations and engagement with councillors, Senators and Deputies. It is all very well to talk about what we will deliver and then to be told, as we approach the door of...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I would love to have been there with the Minister.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I wish to respond to a few brief points the Minister made. Of course we know that it involves much more complex things; we all know that. I wish to make reference to the Oireachtas Library and Research Service's Bills digest, which is fully impartial. It is an interesting document. I spoke to the Minister's officials when they were briefing us last week and they were not even aware of the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: I will return to that point because the more the Minister engages with it, the more it raises other questions. We engage and that is part of the process. I thank the Minister.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: The Minister is being transparent and it is all very helpful. We are all very familiar with the critical infrastructure applications and fast-tracking to the board. We all understand it. That is not a problem. The point the Minister seems to be missing is the right of citizens to engage in the process. I have previously put in observations to a strategic infrastructure development board...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Victor Boyhan: The point is the Minister is not addressing that. He has not addressed the democratic deficit of the elected members in any of his responses. That is the weakness in it and it is the real criticism. The Minister is the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. Local government is part of the Minister's remit. He should be enhancing the competence of local government...