Results 8,741-8,760 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: I appreciate that the Minister has a large Department with a substantial budget and that it was difficult for him to cover everything in the opening statement. I ask members to stick to asking direct questions. I call Deputy McAuliffe.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: Yes. I ask the Deputy to try to keep it to four minutes.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: I am sorry to interrupt the Minister. We are finished with that slot.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 16 - Valuation Office (Revised)
Vote 23 - Property Registration Authority (Revised)
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Revised) (20 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister and I thank members for the questions.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Message to Dáil (20 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: In accordance with Standing Order 101, the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimates for public services for the year ending 31 December 2021: Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Vote 16 - Valuation Office and Vote 23 - Property Registration...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with Chairpersons Designate of Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann (20 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the witnesses for their attendance today and for submitting their statements in advance. In my short time in Dáil Éireann, I have never heard so many positive conversations take place about investment in public transport, electric buses, hydrogen buses, railways, electrification, new rail lines and investment in existing rail lines. It is very positive to hear that. As...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Engagement with Chairpersons Designate of Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann (20 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: It is good to hear that ambition in terms of expansion of electrification. I know the potential that battery-electric trains can provide as they travel from an electrified section charged. They can do an 80 km return journey. There is also the potential for discontinuous overhead electrification, whereby trains pick up charge. In reality we could look at electrifying Dublin to Cork...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: Everybody is very welcome this morning. I hope everybody had a nice break over Easter. The committee is meeting in public session to consider the national marine planning framework. I have received apologies from Senator Victor Boyhan. Deputy Ó Murchú will substitute for Deputy Gould. I also have apologies from Deputy Duffy. To discuss the national marine planning framework,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. McCabe. The planning framework is a significant document, especially if one includes the Natura impact statement and the strategic environmental assessment, SEA, that accompany it. As a document that sets out to plan for the development, use and management of the maritime area, it includes all sectors. I cannot see any sector that has been left out. Every agency, user,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: I ask Mr. Woolley to be brief. We are running out of time in this slot, although it is an important matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: To get it clear in my mind, I keep having to refer to the terrestrial planning system in order to get a handle on what we are trying to do with the marine area. It is the first time we have taken on developing marine planning. It has not been done in the past. We know that from the previous engagements with the Department on the marine area planning Bill. The NMPF is not a delivery...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: Mr. O'Meara can come back to me on it. It is something I am aware of. I am sure anybody with coastal constituencies will be aware of the popularity of it. It is about having year-round testing of bathing water areas to move it along. The planning framework would support that because we try to address improvements in amenity, accessibility and overall use of the marine area for all communities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: We might come back to that mapping aspect later. I need to move on to the next slot. Deputy Higgins or Senator Cummins will come in on this one.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: It is my turn to come back in again. To go back to the mapping tool that was discussed, could that be live updated, or updated as progress is made? I am looking at the map for the waste water treatment plants, where there is untreated disposal going on at the moment. A number of those plants are in an advanced stage of planning, funding and construction. Will those maps be updated as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: That is very positive. It will be really important for swimmers and for people with a general interest in coastal water quality. I have a couple of questions on the document. Environmental targets on beach litter are mentioned in it but fishing litter is not. When one goes along any of our beaches, one often sees nets, floats, pots, ropes and all kinds of stuff. According to the Natura...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Woolley. In the section on underwater noise, the policy is updated. It is quite a stringent policy that takes account of the impacts of underwater noise on biodiversity and on certain mammals in the water. While it covers drilling, pile driving and various aspects that could contribute to underwater noise, there does not seem to be any mention of vessel speeds. The speed of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. McCabe. In the Natura impact statement and the strategic environmental assessment document, in blue text are the additions or changes that have been made to the text. Those changes to the text resulted from the consultation period or the consultation period the statutory body had put into it. Where did the blue text come from?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: It is good to have it in the document because one can see where the consultation or the feedback has been listened to and where those changes have been made. It is very helpful for someone who is reading the document to see not just a finished document but to also see the process that has been gone through to deliver that document. On a small piece of housekeeping, the 3.5 GW is still...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Senator Cummins. I will move on to the third slot for Fianna Fáil, shared by Senator Mary Fitzpatrick and Deputy Paul McAuliffe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: National Marine Planning Framework: Discussion (6 Apr 2021)

Steven Matthews: I did not catch the section of the Act to which the Deputy referred.