Results 561-580 of 6,295 for speaker:Michael D'Arcy

Mother and Baby Homes: Motion [Private Members] (15 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak about these important matters. I believe that the amendment tabled by the Minister highlights in no uncertain terms the seriousness with which the Government treats this matter and the actions it has taken to date. The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters was established in 2015 as part...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Deployment (15 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank the Senator for raising this matter which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan. On 18 December 2018 the Government endorsed the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and accepted all 157 of its key recommendations, including those related to the reassignment of non-core duties, subject to further evaluation. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Deployment (15 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I do not have the answer to that specific question, but it must be emphasised that the work in implementing the recommendations made in the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is a long-term commitment that will take a number of years to complete. The recommendations made in the commission's report will be implemented on a phased basis in the next four years. A...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (15 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank Senator Lawlor for giving me the opportunity to update the House on the review of the wind energy development guidelines. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is undertaking a focused review of the guidelines to address a number of key aspects, including sound or noise, visual amenity setback distances, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Guidelines (15 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I have nothing to say except one thing. There was no need for the Senator to be as ignorant as he was.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Rents (15 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I thank the Senator. The right of local authorities to set and collect rents on their dwellings is laid down in section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of rent schemes under section 58 is an executive function and is subject to broad principles laid down by the Department, including that the rent payable should be related to income and a smaller proportion of income...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authority Housing Rents (15 May 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: While it is not my Department, I spent time on Wexford County Council and I know the area that the Senator is talking about well. I know that there are areas throughout the country with towns which are in two counties. Bunclody and Carrickduff are the best example between Carlow and Wexford. I was not aware that there were joint estates such as the estate the Senator is talking about....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: The Deputy should note that neither my Department nor the Central Bank has information on the number of persons who had latent defect insurance with the now bankrupt Danish insurer, Alpha, and who have since organised alternative insurance. The private and commercial nature of these arrangements means that such information is not publicly available.   In a recent parliamentary question...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I will read the relevant section of the reply again; it is pretty clear. It states, "The Department engaged with Insurance Ireland to seek voluntary agreement of this proposal through a protocol. Unfortunately, no such agreement could be reached on a non-legislative basis." Insurance Ireland represents the main insurance companies. We were unable to agree on the recommendation from the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: It is six weeks.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I want to clarify that, in regard to the previous year's premium, when I came into this position, I was the one who was pursuing that. It has not been in train for 30 months but rather 15. That is how long it takes to get something through these processes in order to improve transparency for consumers. I have not spared the insurance companies where I think they have not acted in a fair and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 62 together. My Department is currently working on developing legislative changes that would oblige insurance companies to inform policyholders of claims made against them. The objective of the proposal is to ensure that policyholders are informed as soon as possible after a claim against their policy is lodged and informed after a claim is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: A key recommendation of the cost of insurance working group, CIWG, was to establish a national claims information database. The Deputy will be aware that the Central Bank (National Claims Information Database) Act 2018 was commenced on Monday, 28 January 2019. The required consultation by the Central Bank with regard to the publication of the relevant regulations to outline the scope of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I understand and accept that there is anger. Everything that I am doing is to try to ensure that we give businesses the opportunity to stay in business and trade in the way they should be trading. Deputy Pearse Doherty was correct to say there is no measurement in the State. There is also no measurement internationally for what we are trying to do. The CSO came to us last January with a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Apr 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: Anybody who says there is no urgency in relation to insurance is wrong. Deputy Pearse Doherty is wrong. It is very rare but everybody in this House, the other House, those in government and in opposition, is putting his or her shoulder to the wheel to try to rectify the insurance sector. I have complimented every Member in this House and in the other House for the co-operation that exists...

Report on Public Private Partnerships for Public Sector Infrastructure Projects - Liquidation of the Carillion Group: Motion (4 Apr 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I agree with Deputy Byrne that Mr. Murray has done a super job on the promotion of the work we do in the Oireachtas. Many Members do not always get the level of coverage they should but Mr. Murray has brought coverage of proceedings to each of the counties he has covered. I support the continuation of that service. It is a good service and this is a matter for the Ceann Comhairle and the...

Report on Public Private Partnerships for Public Sector Infrastructure Projects - Liquidation of the Carillion Group: Motion (4 Apr 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: When Deputy Thomas Byrne and I were Senators, a Bill introduced by the former Senator, Feargal Quinn, highlighted the disservice being done to subcontractors. There are also many subcontractors in the private sector who find themselves in difficulty because they are dealing with larger companies. An interaction of unequals is leading to such difficulties. Former Senator Quinn's...

Report on Public Private Partnerships for Public Sector Infrastructure Projects - Liquidation of the Carillion Group: Motion (4 Apr 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I welcome this report. Most of the issues raised in it do not fall within the scope of PPP policy. The focus of much of this report seems to be the impact on subcontractors arising from the liquidation of Sammon, itself a subcontractor working on the schools PPP bundle 5 project. This intrudes on law dealing with the complex situation of company insolvency rather than PPP policy or public...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2019: Motion (28 Mar 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: I welcome the opportunity to make an opening statement on the deferred surrender facility, which is an important technical instrument to allow the Dáil to formally approve the expenditure by Departments and agencies in the current financial year of capital moneys carried over from the previous year. The multi-annual system is designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2019: Motion (28 Mar 2019)

Michael D'Arcy: No, it is capital projects.