Results 7,041-7,060 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Standards (8 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The recent findings of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) are being taken very seriously and Ireland will provide a formal reply to the findings shortly. It is important to note that the Committee found no violations by Ireland in respect of many of the key provisions of the Human Rights Charter, including Articles...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commencement of Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Housing Services Plans are provided for in sections 14 -18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which has not been commenced. Section 14 requires that each housing authority make a Housing Services Plan setting out the objectives which the housing authority considers to be reasonable and necessary for the provision of housing services having regard to the requirements of the...

Private Rental Sector Standards: Motion [Private Members] (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I thank the Sinn Féin Deputies for providing the opportunity this evening to discuss the appalling revelations regarding breaches of standards in the private rental sector, which were aired in last week's "RTÉ Investigates" documentary. What we witnessed was horrendous and degrading. No one should have to live like that and no one should be allowed to live like that. The...

Water Services Bill 2017: Report Stage (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I do not accept the Deputy's interpretation of why we proposed the introduction of domestic water charges but that is a debate that has finished and we are discussing the Bill which is before us. To put aside the 1.7 and the excessive use charge, the essence of this Bill is conservation. Every investment we make in our infrastructure will help us in that. There are already a number of...

Water Services Bill 2017: Report Stage (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Amendments Nos. 35 and 36 are being discussed together. Amendment No. 36 requests two reports on two issues: upgrading the water infrastructure, and changes to the building regulations to ensure there are water conservation measures in all newly-built properties. I do not believe that additional requirement is required in primary legislation. Irish Water's business plan sets out an...

Water Services Bill 2017: Report Stage (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I ask the Deputy to accept my bona fides on this. I brought it to the Government this morning, together with an earlier signature motion for the Irish Water Bill when it passes the Houses. This would allow us to commence the process of refunds as quickly as possible, getting as many refunds to people as we can before Christmas. Regrettably, we will not get them all because of the time it...

Water Services Bill 2017: Report Stage (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I know but I am making the point about what I also brought to the Cabinet this morning when I raised the issue in the Deputy's amendment. We discussed this on Committee Stage and I was quite clear on what I would like to do. I am the Minister responsible and I am telling the Deputy it is my intention to do that. The advice I received and on which I am going to act is that this is not the...

Water Services Bill 2017: Report Stage (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Deputy Cowen captured accurately my intention regarding this amendment. We discussed this on Committee Stage. I too sat on the Committee of Public Accounts and have worked with the Comptroller and Auditor General. I know the excellent work that committee does. The Deputy is accurate when he says this would not be the appropriate place to make such an amendment, rather, the Comptroller and...

Water Services Bill 2017: Report Stage (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I thank the Deputy; I want his comment noted. The Government did not lie to anyone. The agenda is not privatisation which essentially will become impossible following the enactment of the Bill, if that is the decision of both Houses. I did not rule any amendment out of order as that is not my job as a Minister. I believe in water charges, but the Bill does not provide for them. It is the...

Water Services Bill 2017: Report Stage (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I welcome the opportunity to take Report Stage this evening and to speak to the amendments put forward by Deputies. Amendment No. 15 is the first in the group. Essentially, if we were to accept the amendment, we would remove one of the key elements or purposes of the Bill. Therefore, the Government cannot accept the amendment. The provision in the relevant section is for the payment...

Water Services Bill 2017: Report Stage (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: They were ruled out of order as well.

Water Services Bill 2017: Report Stage (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: No, it does not read like that.

Water Services Bill 2017: Order for Report Stage (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: School Services Staff (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisation arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. My Department has not received a sanction request from Donegal County Council for a School Warden.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vehicle Registration (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 states that a vehicle, once declared off the road, must not be kept in a public place. A public place is defined in the legislation as follows: ‘public place’ means any street, road or other place to which the public have access with mechanically propelled vehicles as of right or by permission and whether subject to or free of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The Voluntary Housing Association of the Royal Hospital Donnybrook, called RHD Housing, is currently working with Dublin City Council and my Department to build a complex of 19 apartments at Beech Hill, Donnybrook. RHD Housing has received planning permission for developing this site, which will also include a range of community facilities.  It is anticipated...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: The €20 million threshold for the completion of a cost benefit analysis arises from the Public Spending Code and is designed to ensure that the State gets the best possible value for the resources at its disposal. It applies to all publicly funded capital projects, not just to housing.  I do not accept that this represents a significant imposition and incurs time delays...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Domestic Violence Refuges Provision (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 1993 of 11 September 2017. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Grant Payments (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 15 of 26 October 2017. The terms and conditions governing the schemes were examined in 2013 by a review group that included representatives of grant beneficiaries and the local authorities. They considered how the benefits of the grants could be spread as widely as possible and to achieve fairness and value for money in the grants process....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Audit Service (7 Nov 2017)

Eoghan Murphy: At 30 September 2017 there were 36.9 full time equivalent staff members employed in the Local Government Audit Service.