Results 61-80 of 175 for at speaker:Francis Noel Duffy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Response to the Humanitarian Situation in Ukraine: Engagement with Ambassador of Slovakia (23 Mar 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: I suppose my curiosity is raised by the fact Slovakia is independent. Has Ukraine been fighting for independence since the wall fell? What I saw over the past decade was that there was a struggle there. There was unrest, although it was quite silent. I have sometimes talked to my friends about this. There was not much noise about the Ukrainian struggle a decade ago but now it is where it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing: Discussion (22 Mar 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: I thank our guests for their insightful briefing. I acknowledge the work they do for the State on public housing. I have three questions. I may start by confusing myself on the first one but it relates to the fact they have informed us of the type and level of funding available to local authorities from the Housing Finance Agency, HFA. Can local authorities avail of a better rate than the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ukraine's Application for Membership of the European Union: Engagement with Ambassador of Ukraine. (15 Mar 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: I thank the ambassador. I admire the ambassador's strength and that of her people. It is amazing to see their resolve and their steadfast position. I will not cover what has been said. I have a small question. It is in the context of us, as individual public representatives, and the social media presence we have. How can we reach out to the Russian people and people in other sovereign...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (17 Feb 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...for their briefings. As always, I welcome their insights and wisdom. I confirm I am on campus. I concur with Deputy O'Donoghue's comments. I think we are all in the same position. I note that South Dublin County Council has only one conservation officer and that she deals with the county's record of protected structures, RPS, grants; protected structure applications; architectural...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Priorities (25 Jan 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: 94. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans for a redress scheme for homeowners impacted by defective properties; if he has given consideration to the Defective Dwellings Bill 2021 introduced at first stage to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3304/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency: Chairman Designate (20 Jan 2022)

Francis Noel Duffy: I confirm that I am on the Leinster House campus. Firstly, I congratulate Mr. O'Rourke. I thank him and Mr. Coleman for coming in to brief us today. Their positions in the LDA are extremely important with respect of the delivery of public housing in our country and may the road rise to meet the agency's agenda. I have a number of questions. It is great to hear up front that cost rental...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (Extension of Notice Periods) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (14 Dec 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, for sharing his time with me on this very important Bill. I also thank the Simon Communities of Ireland, with which I engaged on this Bill, and Wayne Stanley in particular for unifying many parties on both sides of the House on this critical issue. It is a very reasonable proposal which I hope the Government will seriously consider progressing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Urban Regeneration: Discussion (14 Dec 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: Given we do not CPO very often, because there is a process involved and we have to get lawyers in, who have to drink a lot of tea thinking about what they are doing or whatever it is they are at, how do our guests foresee that going forward? My understanding is the push the Government wants is to ensure we find these units and, if they are not being used after six months, CPO them. Do our...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...leases on commercial properties in other jurisdictions. My other two amendments are critical to solving the issue of homelessness as a result of evictions. The first seeks an extension to termination notice periods to tenants in tenancies of less than six months from 28 days to 90 days. The second amendment is the most important. It is a simple but critical measure to ensure that both...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (3 Dec 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: I thank the Minister of State for bringing forward this Bill. A crucial provision of the Bill is the introduction of indefinite tenures, which is a Green Party policy and a commitment we secured in the programme for Government. However, in a recent discussion with Father Peter McVerry, he had a very clear and frank message for us legislators, which is that we have to be far more radical...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: I thank the Minister for his commentary. I am divided on this. From working in my area of the city in the past 20 years, I have seen multiple planning applications . They contain layer upon layer. I have experience in this so I can read through these things and organise them, but if you are going to get blank planning applications that are not going through, it will seriously confuse...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: A circular issued in 2018 was interpreted by South Dublin County Council, at least, as prohibiting councillors from requesting a planning application or from being shown large ones. Mr. Paul Hogan from the Department told us a new circular would be issued to clarify the original document, or whatever you want to call it. In South Dublin County Council, we were not allowed to look at...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: ...very simply extends the definition of homeownership to include apartments. For many people apartments are their forever home and many choose to downsize as they get older by purchasing apartments. I will leave it at that. I think there is another amendment there so I will wait for the Minister to respond.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: I will be very quick. I broadly agree with the other Deputies on these amendments. To ensure an inclusive and transparent planning process, we believe that the LRD opinion, and the application documents, should be made available to the public on the planning authority's website within three days of the provision of the LRD opinion. I am not sure where that is going at the moment, but in...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: If the current planning system is abolished next week but I put in a planning application tomorrow, I could still be in the system next summer. That is just how it works. There is a 13-week process for planning applications. That is if further information is not sought. If it is, it takes up to six months to go back in. An appeal to An Bord Pleanála can take anything up to six...

Planning and Development (Amendment) (Large-scale Residential Development) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (25 Nov 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: I thank the Minister for his briefing on the Bill, which was considered and constructive. I truly welcome the abolition of the strategic housing development scheme, which was a programme for Government commitment. A core tenet of our democracy is a robust, transparent and democratic planning system that allows for genuine public participation to bring about good planning solutions in a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Heritage Council: Chairperson Designate (23 Nov 2021)

Francis Noel Duffy: I congratulate Dr. Moloney on her new position. I thank her for her briefing, and Ms Teehan as well. The information we have been given so far has been great. I have a great passion for heritage, similar to that of Senator Boyhan and others on the committee. My background is in architecture and I have had the privilege of spending most of my career working with protected structures. My...