Results 8,161-8,180 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: Does the Senator wish to direct that question to anyone in particular?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: Mr. Moran is indicating.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: I will take the Green Party slot as Deputy Duffy is not available. I will set the timer so I am as strict with myself as I am with everybody else. Dr. O'Malley referred to a weak form of local government handed over to a mayor. Deputy McAuliffe also referred to the reform of local government. Does Dr. O'Malley consider that we have a very weak form of local government and that handing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: I will elaborate on slightly. I served as a councillor and we often heard it said that it was a weak form of local government and that councillors have no powers and all the power lies with the county manager or the chief executive. If some of the powers that the chief executive currently has are to be handed over to the mayor, does that strengthen local government?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: That they do not have that power does not correspond with the principle of subsidiarity. Mr. Moran said that this would not be an extra budget for Limerick, and it is not that the Government would have to give more funding to Limerick for this to work. It would be that any of the funding that would accrue to Limerick over the next few years, as has been promised through various Departments,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: Ms Ryan has her hand up. I intended to put a question to her as well. She spoke about repopulating the cities. What powers does a mayor need to make that work, in terms of planning, tax incentives and supports to get residential development going in the cities?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: I am sorry, Ms Ryan, but I have to apply the same rule to myself as I apply to everybody else. I am out of time. However, I will come back to it because it is an important power that a mayor should have in respect of local planning. I call Deputy O'Donoghue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: The Deputy has used his seven minutes so I must move on to the next speaker.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: That would be 12 things, if we have four speakers, so perhaps I will ask our guests to each mention one change they would like to see and respond to the revenue-raising question. Would that be a fair compromise?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: Would that be the top change Professor Ó Broin would make to the Bill?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: We are running slightly over time. I have given every party approximately seven minutes so I will have to pull back slots to five minutes if we are going to get through in time. It is not possible to ask a question and have four people respond to it within five minutes so I ask members to be direct with questions to a particular witness. That would be helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: I see some nods.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: I will move to the second Sinn Féin slot.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: I will add to the Deputy's question if she does not mind. On the staff allocation to the mayor, although Mr. Moran said it would be designated by the director general, should that staff be designated in some way as having planning, transport, economic or project management backgrounds, or something in that area? I understand the mayor will need a lot of administrative staff as well but for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the witnesses. We move to the Fianna Fáil slot and Senator Fitzpatrick.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Senator for sticking to her time; it is very helpful. Is Deputy O'Donoghue taking the second Independent slot?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: Ms Ryan Is indicating first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: I do not know if Deputy Duffy is there if not. If not, I will take the second Green Party slot because it is an area I have a particular interest in. It is a fantastic opportunity for Limerick and I commend the people of Limerick on taking the opportunity. As other members said, it needs to be done right. There will perhaps be an extra-long period for a mayor because he or she will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: Does Mr. Moran believe it would be challenging for Oireachtas Members? This is a whole new departure in Irish politics. It is a fantastic opportunity to get it right. It seems to me that it is being suggested that it is not being delivered to the optimum that it could be.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Jun 2021)

Steven Matthews: They are two excellent points. As a Deputy, I often find that we spend a lot of our time in the basement in Leinster House looking through important legislation on housing, marine, planning, directly elected mayors, and electoral reform. Often we should be out and around the counties. It is about trying to fulfil the role that one should as a national legislator. Dr. O'Malley and Mr....