Results 781-800 of 2,180 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

John Cummins: I have engaged with some of the members of the CIF, and I know it is not a big issue for the bigger players in this, but is it not a cash flow issue for some of its smaller members? There is that piece. Uisce Éireann is being recouped by the Department for it. Could that be frontloaded? Is there an engagement at Department level? The way I see it, there is a cash flow issue for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

John Cummins: That final offer has to happen prior to the developer pressing the commencement notice. Would the witnesses like to comment on that? It is an issue that has been brought to me. I am just trying to see if there is a way to overcome it whereby we can reserve the capacity in line with the commencement notice and Uisce Éireann can be paid by the Department rather than going from one and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

John Cummins: Is the bond not sufficient? The developer is showing the commitment to commence. It is not just a follow-on or hypothetical from the pre-connection agreement. They are showing a commitment that they will be starting within a four-week period. It is not something that could potentially happen in seven months' time. It is something that is happening.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

John Cummins: I appreciate that but there is merit in investigating the streamlining of it. Account should also be taken of the fact that this is a time-limited waiver. I take the point that people would essentially be banking capacity. That is not something anyone could stand over. I think there is capacity in terms of engagement between the Department, Uisce Éireann and CIF. Perhaps that can be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

John Cummins: What has happened.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Infrastructure Provision and Residential Developments: Discussion (13 Jun 2023)

John Cummins: What is the way out of it?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 May 2023)

John Cummins: I welcome the decision made by the Government yesterday to award the new search and rescue services contract. The contract has received much debate in this House and further afield. The important thing for me is that the contract maintains the four bases of Waterford, Shannon, Sligo and Dublin. A new operator will take over this very significant contract worth €670 million. It is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 May 2023)

John Cummins: Oh God.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 May 2023)

John Cummins: I raise the issue of passports. I hoped that we would not have to raise this issue this year, given the significant resources that Government put into the Passport Office last year. While many get an exceptionally efficient service, particularly with online applications for renewals, it has to be said that there are still issues with paper-based applications through An Post. A person...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (24 May 2023)

John Cummins: I want to touch on two issues. The first is to welcome the decision yesterday by the Cabinet. I commend the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, on introducing changes to increase the sentence for assault causing harm to members of the Garda and emergency personnel. Anybody who assaults a police officer or somebody in emergency services who is doing their best to serve and assist the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: I think Mr. Jones is correct in saying that some local authorities have been better than others in using the CPO powers that are there. I agree with everything there. There is nothing wrong with the local authority making some profit or selling on the land after it is assembled in order to activate it for use now. Others view things very differently. Some would present that as the State...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: Very good.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: I agree but when we talk about minimum and maximum, how prescriptive should that be? We can have big ranges in minimum and maximum. That equates to something very different on paper. How narrow would Mr. Jones have them, in his professional opinion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: I have a good experience. I appreciate it is not like that everywhere but, as has been said, good practice guidelines in terms of documentation can be useful. Perhaps what was done in Waterford is a good template for other areas.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: Mr. Keran mentioned utilising exemptions to avoid the land value share. When the Department was in before the committee a couple of weeks ago, I asked the officials, notwithstanding that we want to see more social and affordable housing, whether they saw that an exemption in place for social and affordable housing may have the adverse effect of just driving a particular type of development....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: If it was more financially beneficial to just go with one tenure type and avoid the land value share, would Mr. Keran see that as a risk?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: Is that for a single tenure type?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (16 May 2023)

John Cummins: I am not saying that it has to happen, but consider the owner of the site who is being hit with the land value share of 30% to develop market housing. He or she can develop social housing without being hit for 30% or develop market housing and be hit for 30%.