Results 961-980 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regeneration Projects Funding (13 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I am taking this question for the Minister of State, Deputy English and the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy who are unable to attend. As Deputy Kelly noted, Tipperary town is a town I know very well. I could not agree more with him about the town. It has many things going for it but it is equally true that even during the Celtic tiger years it was a town which was behind the curve of much...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report (13 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Section 23 of the Local Government Act 2001 empowers the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to divide a local authority area into local electoral areas and to amend those areas.  However, in advance of deciding to make an order under section 23 of the Act, the Minister must, in accordance with section 32(2) of the Local Government Act 1991, request a boundary...

Death of Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy (12 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I join those who have expressed sympathy to the Browne and Ryan families. I welcome them to the House today. As Deputy Aylward said, it is a sad day, but is also a fitting tribute to two men who in different ways represented their communities with distinctions as Members of the Oireachtas and members of other bodies further afield. I particularly welcome Nancy Browne and her children,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Members' Remuneration (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I did not think it was 20 years ago - that was the same day I entered myself. I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 958 together. Following the recent local elections, our 31 new councils are beginning their five-year term serving their communities. I want to join with the Deputy in wishing each of the 949 councillors elected the best of luck in the work that lies ahead for them in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Authority Members' Remuneration (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I agree with the Deputy. This is something I found during the course of the election. The pressures referred to by the Deputy, especially those relating to social media abuse, for the want of a better term, were an issue in attracting people to stand for election. We need to have a broader discussion in that regard. The Deputy is also correct in pointing out that the workload,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 82 together. A public consultation on a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) on the Establishment of an Electoral Commission was undertaken by my Department earlier this year. The RIA sets out a number of options for establishing an electoral commission, including functions that might be assigned to it. These options and functions have regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 69 together. Rates income is critical to meet the cost of services provided by local authorities. Local authorities levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation pursuant to the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015. The annual rate...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Election and referendum posters are regulated by law under the Litter Pollution Act 1997 (as amended) and by electoral law. Electoral law provides that every notice, bill, poster or similar document having reference to a Dáil, Presidential or European election or to a referendum shall bear upon its face the name and address of the printer and publisher thereof. Failure to comply with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 92 and 962 together. I welcome the decision by the people of the Limerick City and County Council area, in the plebiscite held on 24 May 2019, to support the Government's proposals for a directly elected mayor with executive functions for their area. It is now my intention to deliver on the will of the people of Limerick without delay. Significant work...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: In February 2000, the then Government approved, in principle, the introduction of direct vote recording and electronic vote counting at elections. In broad terms, electronic voting and counting was originally proposed in order to: - improve the efficiency of electoral administration; - provide election results more quickly; - make it easier for the public to vote; - support a positive...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Electoral law provides that a ballot paper at an election is invalid for a number of reasons: if it does not bear the official mark; does not clearly indicate a first preference for some candidate; indicates a first preference for more than one candidate; has no mark placed in it; or has anything written or marked on it, which in the opinion of the local returning officer is calculated to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Register of Electors (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Government previously decided that work should commence on modernisation of the voter registration process in the context of the possible need to register voters resident outside the State in the event that a proposed referendum on extending the franchise for Presidential elections is passed.  The project will include consideration of wider policy and legislative changes,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: My Department is currently compiling the results for the recently held European and local elections and referendum. The information is being compiled based on returns from local returning officers and will be published in due course on my Department's website and will include the information requested in the question.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seanad Reform (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Programme for a Partnership Government includes an objective to pursue the implementation of the Manning Report, formally known as the Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform. That report makes recommendations to restructure and reform the Seanad, including implementation of the 1979 amendment of the constitution to extend the university franchise at Seanad elections to...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Ní forálacha ar bith sa dlí toghcháin a bhaineann le cumas Gaeilge na foirne a oibríonn in stáisiúin vótála i gceantair Ghaeltachta.  Foráiltear sa dlí toghcháin go mbeidh stiúradh na dtoghchán faoi gach ceann comhairimh áitiúil.  Mar sin féin, eisíonn mo Roinn treoir chuig gach ceann...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Government Reform (11 Jun 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 saw the dissolution of 80 town councils and the Government has no plans for their reintroduction. Instead, the focus of current policy is to strengthen the operation of the 95 municipal districts established in 2014 and which cover the entirety of the State’s population as opposed to the 14% of the population previously represented by town councils....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (30 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I apologise for getting caught in traffic around Naas. I thank Senator Byrne for raising the issue. I would also like to thank her for her support and very active campaign in the recent plebiscite for the directly elected mayor in Limerick city and county. I have no doubt that her support and that of civil society in Limerick were instrumental in the positive vote there, as was the support...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (30 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I reassure the Senator again that the legislation states the Minister must produce a report and legislation on a directly elected mayor within 24 months. I intend to do so within 12 months, if possible. It is the number one priority in drafting legislation in the local government section of the Department. As the Senator can appreciate, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (30 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I have not yet received the report.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Government Reform (30 May 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I should have mentioned Henry Abbott who chaired the committee that was responsible for gathering and disseminating information on the plebiscite. He is an eminent former judge.