Results 8,521-8,540 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: We have the general secretaries here today because, ultimately, the responsibility for ensuring compliance with data protection rests with the secretary general on behalf of his or her party. Is Deputy Ó Broin a member of the executive? Does he have an executive function within the party?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I was just trying to clarify matters because we have executive members of parties here. I now invite Mr. Brian Sheehan to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I invite Ms Billie Sparks to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank all the witnesses for keeping to time. I ask members to limit questions and answers to five-minute slots, so for witnesses, this five to six minute slot includes time for answers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I presume Deputy Fitzpatrick's questions were directed to Deputy Ó Broin. He has one minute to respond.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I apologise for interrupting the Deputy, but I need to stick strictly to time slots. As a committee, where a witness has been unable to answer a question owing to time constraint, we ask that he or she submit written answers. We may need to address some of the questions in that regard. The next speaker is Deputy Gould.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Deputy Ó Broin is appearing as a witness today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: As Chair, I have ruled previously in pre-legislative scrutiny, PLS, sessions that witnesses do not question witnesses. If the Deputy wishes to make a statement, that is fine, but I will not permit him, as a witness in committee today, to question other witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: We can come back to that at the end. I would like to proceed now to the Sinn Féin slot, which is Deputy Gould. I ask Deputy Gould to put questions to the witnesses and we can wrap up at the end with Deputy Ó Broin, time permitting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Nobody is denying that Deputy Ó Broin is a member of the committee and he has certain privileges. The Deputy is within the confines of Leinster House so he has privileges above those of other witnesses in attendance. In that regard, I need to be fair. I cannot allow a witness who has extra privilege to put questions to another witness. I do not think it is fair for one witness to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy Ó Broin and I call Deputy Gould.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I ask Deputies to be clear in regard to whom they are directing their questions because we do not have time to go to each of the six witnesses to give an answer. I ask Deputy Gould to clarity the witness to whom his questions are directed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I apologise and I thank the Deputy for clarifying the matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: We are out of time on that slot. In relation to Deputy Gould’s first question, during the session in two weeks' time, we intend to invite the Irish Traveller Movement, the National Youth Council of Ireland and the National Women’s Council of Ireland to attend to address some of those issues of expanding and increasing voter participation in elections. Pre-registration of 16-...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I am sorry, but I have to move on as we are out of time on that slot.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Time for this slot has expired.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I ask Ms Sparks to respond to the question in writing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Is Senator Boyhan taking the second slot also?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: That is fine. I would like to pose some questions myself. I have been knocking on doors for 20 years with an electoral register in my hands. Candidates engage with people and they take note of whether a person is likely to support them. They do that for their own benefit. This has moved into a much greater sphere with a much more complex collection of data. It puts the wealthier parties...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bil 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (20 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I ask Mr. Sheehan to respond and adhere to the time allocation of one minute.