Results 8,761-8,780 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

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

Steven Matthews: If you could do so briefly, Mr. McCabe, as I have two more questions to get back in but we only have 14 minutes left.

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

Steven Matthews: Mr. McCabe can see cross-party desire in this committee to ensure we meet the 30% target of marine protected areas. As Mr. McCabe has said, public consultation is under way which will lead to legislation to designate those areas. As Mr. McCabe has said, it will be a legislative process to scrutinise the legislation. I am delighted the committee has taken such a keen interest and I look...

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

Steven Matthews: It is complex and difficult to achieve because statutory processes are already in place for how one can develop, or not, in a special area of conservation or tourist site and guidance for Ramsar sites and natural protected heritage areas, so we will have to develop what one can or cannot do in a marine protected area. I asked Dr. Tasman Crowe about that when he was here for the...

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

Steven Matthews: Does Deputy O'Callaghan have a question?

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

Steven Matthews: That concludes all the questions. We have a private meeting now and I suggest we discuss that matter. Deputy Ó Broin referred to section 73. My planning and development Act copy is clearly out of date because the section I am looking up refers to protected structures. It is obviously not the section to which the Deputy was referring. Could he send that section on to the committee?

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

Steven Matthews: I thank the Deputy. We will discuss this as part of our correspondence meeting. I thank the Department and all the officials, not just for their attendance this morning and the briefing last week but for all the work over the past couple of years, which is evident from this document. I will now adjourn the meeting for fifteen minutes and we will meet in private session.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (31 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: 299. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had the opportunity to meet with representative bodies for cabin crew, ground staff and airline cargo employees as part of the broader engagement of his Department with the airline industry regarding the recovery of the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17123/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (31 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: 565. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the State Examinations Commission guidelines with regard to the leaving certificate oral examinations which state that face masks must not be worn by either the teacher or the student during the exam; if provisions are being made for teachers and students who are in a high risk category or live with a person...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (31 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: 758. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to assist those on lower incomes in accessing level 9 college courses; if his attention has been drawn to the need to address existing barriers to this level of education which is the required minimum standard in some industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17118/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Car Parks (31 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: 893. To ask the Minister for Health if a mechanism will be investigated that would allow for free parking in public hospitals and healthcare facilities for patients with specified diagnosed long-term illnesses who require frequent visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16435/21]

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State for his attendance and for his time recently to meet to talk about nature-based solutions, such as soft engineering projects upstream that can work with nature to alleviate the downstream flooding that we see in many towns and villages. It is apt, following the last exchange, that we look at the financial aspects of that. It is my belief that investing in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: It is great to be able to see people face to face in the committee. We have been used to seeing each other on screens for a long time, so it is great to have the opportunity to meet face to face in public. Today, we are continuing our pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill 2020. After this meeting we will suspend for 15 minutes for our private meeting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Costello. I will now move to members. I call Deputy McAuliffe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: If we stick to the time limits, we will have time to return to the issue. It is an important aspect and we should ask about it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Ó Broin and I invite Mr. Costello to respond.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Costello. I have a couple of questions arising out of submission from Facebook, in particular annex 1. Mr. Ó Broin said Facebook has difficulty with the definition of "political advertisement" and it is seeking a stricter definition to be applied to it. I note from the Twitter submission that it has a comprehensive definition of "political content". Would a tightening up...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: Twitter appears to be able to be objective in defining what constitutes "political content". Facebook could apply that same objectivity based on the definition applied by Twitter and inclusive of the suggested definitions of what it should include, as set out by Mr. Ó Broin. It is an issue that can be overcome in the context of this Bill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: I thank Mr. Ó Broin. We will now move to head 122 and the concerns regarding the appointment of a responsible person. The term "responsible person" as set out in the in the heads of the Bill is a term already provided for in the Electoral Act as being a person in authority within either a third party or the accounting unit of a political party. Its inclusion in this Bill may be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: Sure, but we are talking about a short timeframe in this legislation in terms of the couple of weeks of the electoral cycle. If we were to go with Mr. Ó Broin's suggestion that a responsible person should be just a point of contact, namely, a mere conduit that bears no responsibility. There has to be a responsible person appointed. Mr.Ó Broin spoke about developing a reporting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: ^ General Scheme of Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Mar 2021)

Steven Matthews: Mr. Ó Broin has an issue with the establishing of a business relationship as outlined in head 123. He is concerned about what happens if he already has a business relationship. If there is an existing business relationship, which then tries to submit political advertising, that would trigger this aspect of the Bill. There can be an existing relationship but if it gets into political...