Results 7,521-7,540 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: I support the amendment to the Order of Business. I see no reason to rush the Bill through the House. When legislation is rushed through, an air of suspicion is created. There is a need for more clarity in regard to the Bill and we must ensure that the social elements it contains are not destroyed. There are 120,000 people waiting for houses and we must ensure that their aspirations are met....

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: The Leader was taking our policies on board. This is an amendment to take Fine Gael's policies—

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: I did not table an amendment because of a lack of time.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: I support these provisions. The purpose behind the 2000 Act was to introduce flexibility and allow for off-site provisions such as land swaps and cash payments to local authorities. This Bill addresses that aspect. Bricks and mortar do not unite people. Our concern is with social integration and in view of this it is important that people from all sections of the community become involved in...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: Will the Minister indicate if he has ordered an audit of all lands owned by local authorities?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: Will the Minister introduce legislation to ring-fence development levies to be used in the particular development concerned? When the levy comes into the main coffers of a local authority it can go anywhere. It is important that the levies are spent in the development concerned.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: How does the Minister propose to collect the levy? This is a question I asked yesterday.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: The Minister did not explain how he proposes to collect the levies.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: I did not understand. I thought the amendment would have to be called.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: The section we are dealing with is designed to ensure the social mix element is not destroyed. How does the Minister propose to collect the levy and will he guarantee that it will not be passed on to the purchasers of affordable housing? It is of the utmost importance that those who need housing do not end up having to pay the levy. There has been a tendency for levies to be passed on to...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: I understand the two year rule was introduced to prevent a flood of applications prior to the 20% social housing provision coming into force. I support the inclusion of the new section, but what we all need is increased housing output to meet the huge demand. There are 120,000 people on our waiting lists and we require upwards of 50,000 housing units to meet the demand. It is important that...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: The Minister said he would like to see a reduction in house prices. VAT was increased by 1% in the budget. As the Irish Home Builders' Association stated, this will put an extra burden on builders in that it will cost an additional €1,800 to build a normal house. Houses are zero VAT rated in the UK. Perhaps the Minister would consider introducing a similar regime here—

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: —in order to reduce house prices. If he could introduce a policy that would reduce the cost of building a house, that would result in an increase in the housing stock.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: Is there a guarantee as to how the subsection will be enforced?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: I agree with Senator O'Meara and the Minister. The voluntary housing organisations have been extremely active in meeting special category needs and in looking after the housing needs of the disabled and elderly in our society. It is important we harness the voluntary housing organisations' efforts to meet the more general housing needs of those on local authority housing waiting lists....

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: Senator Moylan's point is that local authority housing should not be sold, but control on the sale of such housing would be a better option. The sale or lease of houses should be subject to the terms and conditions of the local authority involved and these should be clarified so that houses are not sold to speculators. I believe in control of sales but, where necessary, houses should be sold...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: I thank the Minister for taking the amendments in the manner in which he did. Will further amendments be made to the Planning and Development Act, 2000, as a result of the court decision—

Seanad: Primary Education: Motion. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: I wish to share my time with Senator Terry.

Seanad: Primary Education: Motion. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: The Minister of State and several Senators from the other side of the House acknowledged the poor state of repair in schools, including rat infestation. Senator Fitzgerald had a nerve to refer to the emotive language used on this side of the House. Those who spoke had a right to vent the anger of the public, to whom the Government told untruths in the run-up to the last general election. The...

Seanad: Primary Education: Motion. (11 Dec 2002)

James Bannon: The cut last week in the capital allocation to schools was a blatant attack on young people. Boards of management, teachers and parents are very angry. Our clinics are full at weekends with people complaining about the condition of schools. Three weeks ago a school principal sent the pupils home because of his fears that a storm would blow over his prefabricated school.