Results 8,461-8,480 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Amendment No. 8 has been already discussed with amendment No. 2. Is the amendment being pressed?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Amendments Nos. 9 to 11, inclusive, 37, 38 and 86 are related and will be discussed together by agreement. Amendments Nos. 10 and 11 are physical alternatives to amendment No. 9 and amendment No. 38 is a physical alternative to amendment No. 37.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I am sorry, we are running out of time.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: We are just out of time. Deputy Gould is indicating and Deputy Cian O'Callaghan has an amendment within this grouping. Deputy Ó Broin also wishes to come back in. We will return to this amendment, No. 9, with Deputy Gould.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Land Development Agency Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: My thanks to the Minister and Deputy Ó Broin. We have a meeting confirmed for next Tuesday morning at 9.30 a.m. Deputy Ó Broin has made a good suggestion because we will probably have to hold consecutive meetings to get through the Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: 78. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to matters in relation to the Barrow bridge (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28437/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I apologise, Chairman, that my unmute button would not work. If you give me the opportunity to contribute now, I will be brief. It is directly related to insurance costs. Is that okay?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I might clarify the question a little, and I thank Mr. Bradley for his answer. I take it that would also be the answer from Mr. Connaughton. I understand that if somebody has made a claim because of an event that has occurred, such as flooding or damage, the premium may go up. That is the nature of insurance. Across the board in insurance premiums throughout the world, across everybody's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: If I could come back in on that, Mr. Bradley referred to one-in-200-year events. Flood defences are designed and constructed to anticipate one-in-100-year rain events or one-in-200-year coastal or river floods. In some areas where flood defences have been put in, people are still not in a position to get insurance. Given that all these flood defences are designed for a one-in-100-year...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I have been contacted by people who say they cannot get home insurance because of flood risk, even where flood defences have been constructed. Is Mr. Bradley saying there is no issue there then, for any insurance companies? If there are flood defences constructed by the OPW, with a one-in-100-year, a one-in-200-year or a one-in-300-year event design capability and they are signed off on,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Does AXA build in a risk factor there or does it take the flood defences as being adequate for a one-in-200-year or one-in-300-year event? Do people get charged more, even when flood defences are constructed in their area, than people who do not live in an area at flood risk?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Okay. Would that be the same in Mr. Connaughton's experience?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Okay. I thank the Chairman.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Developments in the Insurance Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: The representative from Engineers Ireland is gone. That is unfortunate, as I would have directed some of my contribution to him. In terms of the impact and the costs that insurance companies must include because of climate events, the impact that is having and the billions it has cost due to storms, flooding, roads being washed away, trees being brought down and businesses being closed, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I will be brief. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth. There has been a lot of talk about the salaries and payments required to recruit specialists. Does the Minister of State believe other factors are at play in recruiting such specialists to our NCSC?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Has the headcount been increased in recent years in the National Cyber Security Centre?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I get that it is a much more complex situation and that other organisations have their own responsibilities and roles to play. With regard to the incident response by the NCSC, does the Minister of State believe it demonstrated the required capacity in responding to attacks?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cybersecurity: Discussion (Resumed) (26 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State and ask him to pass on our thanks to the team and our ongoing support for what is required to continue on this cybersecurity war, as it has been referred to.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (25 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: 97. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the maintenance of the Wexford to Waterford railway line; if he plans to maintain the previous maintenance schedule that had been in place in recent years; if it will be ensured that this section is included in the strategic rail review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27573/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (25 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: 135. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons currently on the waiting list for the standard driver theory test; the mechanisms being put in place to alleviate this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27871/21]