Results 9,701-9,720 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: Louth met at least one of the criteria and it was not included. That is the core of my point. My point is that the formula is wrong and it does not work. It did not work and that is unfair on my constituents. It is unfair to people who cannot afford to get a house.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: I would like to ask a few more questions to get at the core of the issue.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: That is not the case.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: Why is daft.ie used?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: It is used in the formula.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: There is a reference to daft.ie.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: There is. I spoke to others about this. I will come back to the Department with the facts. One principal point where Ms Nic Aongusa is absolutely wrong, with respect, is that the facts were not presented to the Minister because the Minister, in the case of County Louth, did not see the documentation even though it met at least one of the criteria but he saw at least one other area that met...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: That is not true.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: I do not disagree with Ms Nic Aongusa but the facts are the facts and they indicate that the criteria were not applied universally. I do not want to go through it again. Fact number one is that one area was given to the Minister that did not meet these criteria while another area that met at least one of them was excluded. Does Ms Nic Aongusa agree that this is a fact?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: I do not accept that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: I think daft.iewas used. I can ask directly. The Housing Agency did look at prices on daft.iein County Louth. If I remember correctly, when I queried this, I was told that the daft.ierent average was something of the order of €880. It was not the figure of €905 I got from Ms Nic Aongusa today. I do not say that in a derogatory manner. Rents from daft.ierents were looked at...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: Who said that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: I did not use the word "lie".
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: If I used the word "lie", I certainly withdraw it but I do not believe I used it. The record will show whether I did but the fact is that the representative of the Department will not acknowledge the fact that-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: I accept that absolutely.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: On that very point, we are Members of Oireachtas. I acknowledge that the Department applies the criteria that are decided upon. It is not the case that we ask something of the Department, the Oireachtas presents the formula and the Department provides advice and guidance. The responsibility rests with us.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: My other question concerns HAP. Does the Department agree or disagree that the HAP ought to be included in the assessment of rental supports and in the formula for designating rent pressure zones?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: I will stay quiet. There are many people out there ready to come in.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: I accept the integrity of the Housing Agency's position.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Rental Sector Strategy: Discussion (21 Feb 2017)
Fergus O'Dowd: I acknowledge the integrity and professionalism of the Housing Agency. We had a debate some weeks ago. It bears out fully Mr. Silke's integrity as a public servant in every respect. I have not been wrong in anything I have said so far. Everything I have said is true. I wish to, not challenge, but to query the RTB on its figures. I said "challenge" but what is the word I am seeking?