Results 5,681-5,700 of 6,937 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: In this legislation, the Oireachtas is seeking best practice. We are not seeking for it to be the case that, since the standard practice in other State agencies is to do something this way, we will not question it. If the Minister of State is going to defend this practice, he should explain to us why he believes that it is beneficial during a housing emergency when we need every bit of...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 119: In page 18, to delete lines 12 to 14.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 121: In page 19, to delete lines 15 to 17.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I appreciate the report will be available to people on the website. However, co-operation between local authorities and the LDA should be two-way in terms of having the provision for the report to formally go to local authorities as part of accountability. It seems to me to be a very sensible amendment that would not place a huge burden on the LDA. It formalises communication, co-operation...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: Deputy ÓBrion had his hand up first but I am happy speak first. This section and the discussion on these amendments are a key part of the Bill. Amendments Nos. 157, 160, 164, 166 and 169 in this grouping are in my name. They all seek to remove the references to market value and substitute the words "existing use value". If we are serious about delivering affordable, cost-rental and...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: The Minister of State has spoken to the amendments I have tabled. I accept the view put forward by Deputy McAuliffe was put forward in good faith. I do not agree with it. I do not believe under the legislation we will see land acquired at little or no cost. What we will see is land acquired with a fairly marginal impact on the full market value because of the provisions on affordable and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Chairman. I will try to keep my questions brief. Beginning with Mr. Joyce, in his opening statement he talked about there being a lack of sanctions for running candidates and elected representatives who have articulated anti-Traveller views for many years. What sort of sanctions are needed? Does he think those sanctions should be in this legislation? Should the electoral...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank Mr. Joyce for that response. I have a question for Ms Lane of the NWCI on the issue of gender quotas. They are currently set up such that each party must have a minimum of 30% male or female candidates and that will rise to 40%. Does the NWCI have a view on the male side of those quotas? Are they needed? Men have always been over-represented in Irish politics. We have a...

An Bille um an Naoú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Ceart chun Tithíochta) 2020: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I agree with Deputy Canney's comments about the importance of local authorities and that it is nearly impossible for them to get approval for housing. If the Government is serious about building social housing, the very long process the authorities have to go through, which makes it very difficult, needs to be tackled. Anyone watching this debate who is in a housing crisis, and there are...

Traveller Accommodation: Statements (3 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: The report published last week has a number of quotes from children that I want to read into the record. A 12-year-old girl said, “Walking up to school you see all the rats ... they would be running up and down the walls of the trailer”. A 14-year-old girl said, “People ask why I’m dirty, but I’d be ashamed to say. I don’t want to say it was from...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (3 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: 239. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) has had their driver theory test postponed by nearly a year; the steps he is taking to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30352/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (3 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: 271. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the way a person can access the chat function on the Rebuilding Ireland website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30350/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (3 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: 272. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if renters will be protected from potential rent increases of 8% in some instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30372/21]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: 282. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he is taking to support agreements (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30353/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (3 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: 299. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason her Department declined an application for an extra reading class in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30371/21]

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: My amendment, No. 62, is very similar to amendment No. 61. The wording is slightly different but the aim is the same, which is to ensure that the review of the achievement of the purposes of the Act by the LDA and its subsidiaries would be on an annual basis rather than every five years. This is a new agency and it is important, in the context of transparency and accountability, to make...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: It is important to distinguish between the two different provisions of this Bill. There is a provision for an annual report, which I support. There is no issue with that. In this section, we are talking about the review-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: There are two particular sections, one of which provides for an annual report. I do not have any issue with that, it is fine. The section I am seeking to amend relates to the review of the achievement of the purposes of the legislation. The review is required every five years. I do not think the timeframe is adequate, it should be done on an annual basis. If the Minister considers an...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 62: In page 11, line 27, to delete "31 March 2024, and every 5 years" and substitute "31 March 2022, and every year".

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jun 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: The ESRI report today is highly significant, not least because the ESRI is an independent, mainstream and very well established centrist think tank. The game is up now for the Government and it can no longer ignore the very clear and strong calls for public investment along the lines of what the ESRI and the rest of us have been saying for a long number of years. The Government can no...