Results 7,721-7,740 of 8,745 for speaker:Verona Murphy

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: Page 46 of the programme for Government pledges to invest in healthcare. In Wexford, we have no MRI scanner despite having raised €250,000 towards the project. There are 791 children who have been on the orthodontic waiting list for more than 48 months. We have two applicants for a psychologist position which is to be filled to serve the 40 children on the waiting list for child and...

Water and Wastewater Treatment Services: Motion [Private Members] (19 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: I am delighted to be able to propose and speak on this motion as part of the Regional Group. I concur with everything my colleagues have said on the floor. We all know the importance of top-quality water infrastructure. Unfortunately, much of our water infrastructure needs upgrading. This presents us with an opportunity to plan carefully; to fast-track infrastructural development in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (19 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: 180. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1107 of 28 April 2021, his views on whether most of the 4,500 hectares will not convert to planting given the length of time to obtain the approval which forces landowners to opt for other forms of income from the proposed area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26705/21]

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (18 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: I thank Sinn Féin for using its Private Members' time to table this motion. Over the past week, the housing crisis has come back to front and centre on the political agenda. We have had much debate about cuckoo funds, vulture funds and housing policy. The Minister has said that he is committed to providing family homes - semi-detached or detached houses with front and back gardens, as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Water Services (18 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: 370. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of funding for a sewerage scheme (details supplied) in County Wexford; when works will begin on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25682/21]

Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Second Stage (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I also welcome the opportunity to speak on this topic as the Bill is presented today. Months ago, when it became obvious that the leaving certificate would not be able to proceed in its usual format in 2021 and there was much debate on what should be done, I called for a choice to be given to the students between estimated grades and sitting the examinations. I...

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: I welcome Mr. Walsh, Mr. Egan and Ms Killian and thank them for coming before the committee and for the very detailed statement. As Mr. Walsh noted, we are very tight for time. The questions I may ask will be binary and probably will require "Yes" and "No" answers, in the interest of time. I looked through the part of the annual report referring to strategic housing developments with an...

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: Okay, I thank Mr. Walsh. Looking at the breakdown and the detailed report supplied, 35 cases were taken of which 11 were dismissed. Of the 24 cases that went ahead, An Bord Pleanála lost 70% of them. Seven were uncontested because there was a defect in the decision. Why is the case rate so high?

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: No, the question I asked was why did An Bord Pleanála lose at such a high rate?

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: It would be quite worrying if the board only had to defend some of the eight cases at €3.5 million, in other words, it could have doubled had the board not taken that decision. What exactly has Mr. Walsh, as the captain of the ship, put in place to prevent this? As I look at it, I am beginning to see it as the Titanic. I really hope that something has been put in place to prevent this.

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: In effect, it comes down to the law. The court deals with law, as opposed to policy.

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: That is encouraging to hear. Mr. Walsh said that, in 2020, the board had fewer cases, primarily because of the onset of Covid-19. We hope, therefore, there will be lower litigation fees and legal expenses. What were those costs for 2020?

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: I apologise, my signal dropped for a second. I asked Mr. Walsh what was the decrease in legal fees for 2020, compared with the €3.5 million for 2019.

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: I thank Mr. Egan. The 2020 total is €8.2 million. That is an extraordinary, if not scandalous, figure. I asked Mr. Walsh what structure he had put in place to ensure the board is learning from a process that was spending €3.5 million of the taxpayers' money and, instead, whatever structure he has put in place is not working. That figure of €8.2 million is nothing...

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: Before Mr. Walsh continues, I remind him that he told me that in 2019, he got a detailed report of all court cases. I have read cases and have been into this for two years now. Would it be fair to say that many decisions have been made by the courts because there has been unlawful applications by An Bord Pleanála in relation to density guidelines and material contraventions?

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: Excuse me, Mr. Walsh. Just so we understand each other, judges deal with law and if they make a decision overturning an An Bord Pleanála decision, it means the decision of the board was unlawful.

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: What exactly is the structure? There must be minutes of meetings that explain how these decisions are made. Are they analysed in respect of the court cases? Where are the minutes for the meetings at which decisions are made?

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: My question was about when the board makes the decision. When the board has the inspector's report and it is sitting to make a decision or give a direction on planning, where are the minutes of those meetings? Are they recorded?

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: I want to get this right. An Bord Pleanála has a dominant position in the whole of the planning policy arrangement and decision-making process and Mr. Walsh is telling me that it does not provide minutes to provide for a fully transparent process. On a two-year basis, it is costing the taxpayer in excess of €12 million. It is a serious thing for somebody to take judicial review...

Public Accounts Committee: 2019 Financial Statements of An Bord Pleanála (13 May 2021)

Verona Murphy: Does that sound like it is equitable for the taxpayer? That is what the Committee of Public Accounts is about.