Results 8,561-8,580 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: Deputy Gould, please.

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 the Senator. There is one minute for Fianna Fáil to come back in for its last slot. I apologise, but we have run over time and I will have to cut the speaker short.

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

Steven Matthews: Had Senator Seery Kearney finished her question?

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 her to finish her question. We might be able to get a written response to it or fit in a quick verbal response if possible.

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 the Senator. I have to call a halt to the questioning. As regards the DPIA the Senator referenced and its publication, I ask the Deputy to furnish the committee with a copy of it when it is published.

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 the Deputy.

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 members. We have reached the end of our allotted time. I thank all of the witnesses for their engagement. It has been very helpful. The meeting is adjourned-----

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 note Senator Cummins’s request. As the Senator knows, we will deal with that request and the committee will decide whether it will issue that request to the general secretaries of those-----

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 Senator Cummins. We can address all correspondence matters at our next meeting. I thank the witnesses. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, 25 May 2021, at 11.45 a.m.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Product Labelling (19 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: 106. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to a campaign in Wales that seeks to require both Welsh and English labelling on all products for sale in that jurisdiction; if such an initiative could be considered in Ireland to encourage the use of the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26736/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (18 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: 459. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a programme (details supplied); if opt out mechanisms are in place for teachers or parents who are opposed to the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25584/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: We are joined by the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with responsibility for local government and planning, Deputy Peter Burke. The opening statement and briefing material have been circulated to members. Today we will commence pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme of the local government (directly elected mayor with executive functions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State. It is only right to acknowledge the voters of Limerick who voted in favour of having a directly elected mayor. Voting took place in a number of other places in 2019 which came quite close to that result. The reason we are here is due to a democratic vote. The people of Limerick chose to pursue this. The election of the mayor will be democratic as well, so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Deputy McAuliffe. The Minister of State has taken note of the observations.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. That is head 12.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Unfortunately, we may have lost the link to Deputy O'Donoghue. We were just at the five-minute mark but I can let Deputy O'Donoghue back in to finish his point later, if he so wishes. It is my slot now. It is important to reiterate the point the Minister of State and Deputy O'Donoghue made. There is a cost applicable to this, but it also brings tremendous value. For somebody to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: Will there be specific roles for special advisers or will their selection be up to the elected mayor?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: The Minister of State made a really important point. As someone who ran in the elections at that time, I am aware that one does tend to concentrate on one's own electoral success without being able to put the time into, for example, campaigns relating to the EU elections or other matters. Limerick has a fantastic opportunity to lead the way and set the example that other local authorities...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Local Government (Directly Elected Mayor with Executive Functions in Limerick City and County) Bill 2021 (18 May 2021)

Steven Matthews: That is another item of legislation in respect of which we are quite far advanced in our pre-legislative scrutiny. We are looking at the compilation of the electoral register and also seeking to increase inclusivity in the voting system and to get the voter turnout numbers up. I accept the comments of Deputy Quinlivan in respect voter turnout in certain situations.