Results 681-700 of 9,113 for speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Engineers Ireland gave evidence to the Oireachtas housing committee last year at a session chaired by Deputy Matthews, who is chairing this meeting. Is Mr. Rafferty aware of the evidence? The date was 13 July 2023. Mr. Rafferty said the representatives of Engineers Ireland have changed their position.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The witnesses should be aware of the Engineers Ireland submission to the committee on housing last year, some ten months ago. It states: Some engineers are of the opinion that IS465 is not fit for purpose as long as it does not consider sulphide oxidation in Donegal defective blockwork and the standard should be updated based on available research. Updated guidance on acceptable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: The previous Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, said it was the largest redress scheme in history. Does it concern Mr. Rafferty that the largest redress scheme in the history of the State, which is potentially going to cost multiple billions, is based on desktop studies, not on peer-reviewed science? That is what IS 465 is. Does it concern him that people are being asked to rebuild...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Before Mr. Rafferty passes to Mr. Wickham, can he tell me what peer-reviewed science IS 465 is based on?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: In Mr Wickham's opinion, why did that panel at that time rule out pyrrhotite or iron sulphate attacks? Why was that ruled out and excluded from IS 465 when evidence of the existence of this deleterious material was known about in the State for a significant period of time before that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Why was it left out of IS 465?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Why not in Donegal? I am referring specifically to pyrrhotite, not pyrite.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Does that concern Mr. Wickham? If we follow the logic of the existing scheme and if we look at the Q and A on the Department website, it assures people that the foundations are fine and that you can rebuild your new home on the existing foundations. This is despite international evidence that the existence of pyrrhotite in foundations means those foundations have to come out. I am thinking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: For my final question on this subject, I want to talk about 100% redress as referred to in Mr. Rafferty's opening statement. However, keeping with the quandary we are in now, Mr. Wickham would have seen the evidence last week. Engineers Ireland confirmed one set of qualified engineers is working for homeowners. It has recommended option one, full demolition. In a considerable number of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I could see the discomfort of Mr. Damien Owens, speaking for Engineers Ireland, when I put the scenario to him. You have one set of eminently qualified engineers disagreeing with another set of eminently qualified engineers. One set is not indemnified. One set does not have confidence in IS 465 and is therefore recommending option one. The other set, because it is duty bound and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I thank Mr. Wickham and I appreciate his answers. I will revisit Mr. Rafferty's opening statement. I know some of our colleagues have already said it. I had an exchange with Mr. Rafferty's senior colleague, Mr. Fergal Quigley, about this at a previous committee. I appeal to him not to have anybody from the Department of housing come in here again to say the grant amount covers 100% of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Does Mr. Rafferty not accept that is a provocative statement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I will tell him why I think it is provocative. Mr. Rafferty is an intelligent man. I would say he is a very intelligent man. Why does he think 1,300 people turned up at a recent public meeting in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in my hometown of Buncrana, County Donegal? Why does he think 500 people turned out at a meeting in County Mayo? If they were getting what Mr. Rafferty says is 100%...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Let us leave aside anecdotes. There are facilitators working at the coalface who are ultimately employed by the State. Mr. Rafferty can easily check this out. They work for the Inishowen Development Partnership and the Donegal Local Development Company. He should make it his business in the job he is doing to reach out to them in the next week, speak to both of them and ask them if they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Will Mr. Rafferty's colleagues, in that case, commit to not repeating that language?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Really excellent work.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: I am based in Buncrana, and when I step out my front door and look up to my right, I can see the quarry that is predominantly responsible for what has happened. It is a societal disaster. That is the only way I can describe it. I am 50 years of age. The people of my generation have had their lives destroyed in terms of what has happened to them. Marriages have broken up and people have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Defective Concrete Blocks: Discussion (Resumed) (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: Homeowners from Mayo, Clare and Donegal recently gave evidence to the housing committee and clearly articulated that, unfortunately, this scheme is going to fall short for most homeowners. We are facing an outcome whereby only those who have significant sums will be able to afford to access the scheme, because what they are doing is taking out the foundations and rebuilding their homes to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 67. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a child's first-time passport (details supplied) will be processed in time for travel on 5 May 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20270/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Budgets (8 May 2024)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn: 469. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will make available the total budgeted amount allocated to each CDNT area in County Donegal (details supplied) from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20685/24]