Results 6,081-6,100 of 6,374 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank the Minister for her response. Clearly, a great deal of thought has been given to this, which I welcome. The steps she and the Department are committed to taking are also welcome. However, this does not necessarily deal with the broader question of people for whom it was not a cause of delay but ultimately who found, just after their 18th birthday, that this potential avenue was...

Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I move amendment No. 17:In page 20, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following:"Amendment of section 58 of Principal Act26. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following new section:"58B.A Child who has been adopted under the provisions of the Adoption Acts shall continue to be entitled to have access to his previous parents or guardians, or relevant non-guardians,...

Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I move amendment No. 4:In page 11, line 4, to delete “In so far as practicable,”. I tabled these amendments on Committee Stage. They seek to remove the five words, "in so far as practicable", from each of the provisions. To give the specific context, it comes back to the right of the child to have their voice heard and whether a child is capable of forming his or her own view...

Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I draw a distinction between this and the point about the constitutional amendment, because that obviously governs an enormous number of areas and how the Constitution and children will interplay with a range of services and entitlements whereas this amendment refers to a basic and fundamental right. That said, I accept the point that a child could not, and probably should not, be compelled....

Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I move amendment No. 7:In page 12, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:“(3) This section shall not generally apply to persons who, at the date of the adoption order, were more than 18 years of age, however, the Adoption Authority may waive this requirement if they believe it is in the best interests of the person for whom an adoption is being sought. The adoption...

Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I welcome the amendments. Obviously, I welcome that it is intended to strengthen the voice of the child in the legislation. It takes on board comments that Deputies from all parties made during the course of Committee Stage and Second Stage. I have a number of queries. That point about a regulatory format for the process is important. It clearly seems, at least to me, largely to envision...

Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (30 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: We will not oppose the amendment. It was explained on Committee Stage and at the briefings. I have not had the opportunity to study it in detail but I made the point at the briefings that it is important that the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill deals with subsequent adoptions of the kind referred to here in a like for like manner. If that is not in the Bill, it is something that...

Secure Rents and Tenancies Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (30 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: My last engagement on Monday before I travelled here was to meet a constituent in a fast food restaurant connected to a hostel. He had been living there for approximately 14 months. He told me of his situation and wanted support to apply for local authority housing, and advice. He has three children and faces his second Christmas in that place. Despite the fact that the owner of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Undocumented Children: Discussion (30 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank the delegates for attending. Their presentation was very interesting. I have a number of questions, the first of which was largely covered by Ms McGinley. In the infographic provided by the witnesses, it caught my eye that almost 80% of undocumented migrants are from three countries. Is there a particular reason for that? Two of them are very populous countries. Is there a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Support Services for Family Law Courts: One Family (30 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. Will the witnesses elaborate on the Cafcass system and what is involved? Does it resemble legal aid or is it more advocacy and support? Much of One Family's work is focused on trying to keep people out of court and work through situations as best they can. Are there still shortfalls in how civil legal aid is provided to families in this...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (29 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Cuirim fáilte roimh mhuintir de Barra anseo tráthnóna inniu agus déanaim comhbhrón leo. I pay tribute to a former Deputy, Minister, Ard Mhéara and freeman, Peter Barry, somebody who made a very substantial contribution to life in his country and city. He remains held in the very highest regard and his service to his country was considerable. I particularly...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Help-To-Buy Scheme (29 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 143. To ask the Minister for Finance if a person is entitled to a rebate under the help-to-buy incentive scheme if they take out a mortgage for 90% of the build value. [36863/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (29 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 258. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the guidance his Department has provided to local authorities regarding the circumstances in which a person in receipt of HAP and who is on a transfer list for the local authority will be housed by that local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36866/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (29 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 262. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the process by which council budgets are developed; the legislative provisions that govern the manner in which amendments are made by elected members during the course of a meeting at which a budget is voted upon; the guidance his Department has offered in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (29 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 285. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has considered revising upwards the income limits under which persons can apply for social housing, in view of the considerable rise in housing rents and the current Central Bank rules governing mortgage approval. [37333/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (29 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 286. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has considered changing the income limits for social housing for the area of the southern division of Cork County Council, in view of the fact that it is largely part of the same housing market as Cork city. [37334/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (29 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 282. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the schemes that exist to assist persons whose incomes are marginally above the income limits for social and affordable housing, but for whom being in a position to save for a large enough deposit under the current Central Bank mortgage rules would be impossible; and the way in which such persons could obtain...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Eligibility (29 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 284. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if it is currently within the gift of local authorities to offer loans or mortgages to applicants seeking housing; if not, if his Department has considered supporting or facilitating such loans or mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37332/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (29 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 283. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans for any future affordable housing schemes. [37331/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments Administration (29 Nov 2016)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 287. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to provide, in legislation or otherwise, for applicants on housing lists to obtain HAP, housing assistance payment, from the local authority of which they are an applicant, to obtain a property to rent within the jurisdiction of another local authority and that HAP payments be directed towards this,...