Results 5,021-5,040 of 5,129 for speaker:Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: General Scheme of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Discussion (12 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Why are fees paid to the board?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: General Scheme of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Discussion (12 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: General Scheme of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Discussion (12 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Mr. Walsh is correct, but the local authority will have the bulk of the work done before it goes to the board, apart from getting a decision on the application. In fairness, this applies to 80% of local authorities. I am saying that in these times when some local authorities are finding it harder, the bulk of the fees paid, not half, should be left with them. We all know that there are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: General Scheme of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Discussion (12 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: That is good.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: General Scheme of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Discussion (12 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Can it be changed? As Mr. Walsh will be aware, within a local authority there is a four-stage plan. I have seen it take three years. I have seen a small one take three or four years. Given that there is a housing crisis, until 2019 there should be just one stage. Local authorities and the Department are both capable of making good decisions. Rather than move back and forth repeatedly,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: General Scheme of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Discussion (12 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: It should be included in it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: General Scheme of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Discussion (12 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Absolutely. I accept and respect that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: General Scheme of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016: Discussion (12 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: On a point of clarification, many good landlords have come to see me in my clinic. They work well with their tenants. It is important that we say this does not happen to everybody, but it does happen to some. I reiterate that there are good landlords who are very helpful to their tenants and it is good to give them a compliment. However, we have to sort out the ones who are not.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We just have seen small snippets of the budget. When we see what areas are being addressed, we can see how the most vulnerable people in every area are affected. This is Mental Health Week and there are volunteers in my constituency putting on over 60 events to help people who are queuing to get appointments for doctors. This budget should address such issues and unless that happens, we...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: -----Fianna Fáil at least sought agreement while Sinn Féin did not. It added nothing. At least we tried to help.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Not at all.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: Hear, hear. Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: We talked to everybody. That is not true.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I will accept that.

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Tax Code (4 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English. This issue relates to the need for the Minister for Finance to ensure that the introduction of a first-time buyer's tax relief is extended to those who have had to surrender their homes on foot of a court order, for example, those who have been divorced or those whose house has been repossessed. Starting over again will be a lot harder...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Tax Code (4 Oct 2016)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I welcome the Minister of State's response. He referred to homelessness but there is a housing crisis and a lack of supply. People who are unable to secure a mortgage will end up renting for the rest of their lives and something needs to be in place for them. To get a local authority mortgage, one has to have been refused by a bank and a building society. This applies to first-time buyers...

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...