Results 9,821-9,840 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report Stage (15 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is what I thought. If she were in my class at school, I would send her home to her mammy with a note about her behaviour.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report Stage (15 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes. I would have to send Deputy Barry Cowen for her mother.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report Stage (15 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: She is after disturbing my train of thought. That is disastrous as it was my final and most important point. No doubt I will have to return to it later.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report Stage (15 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: We need a comprehensive analysis of how we will deal with this issue. A significant and important part of this analysis should be of these actions which are being proposed in this legislation. Whatever else we can say about this Government, and we can all say different things, regardless of where we sit, the housing issues are being tackled, but we need to release all those empty homes.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report Stage (15 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: This is a very important debate. I welcome Minister's comments when he introduced the measures and the additional measures he announced. The Opposition is wrong in saying that the Minister is not listening. He is listening to everybody.

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Report Stage (15 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not interrupt Deputy Cullinane. He might have the manners to stay quiet if it is possible for him to do that. I would appreciate that. The reason we have this problem is that the demand for housing exceeds the supply. I agree with Deputy Catherine Murphy that rents have increased exponentially in the areas we represent. Indeed, in some cases they are not rent but extortion being...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (14 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: 154. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the issues in the case of a person (details supplied) with regard to a place in residential accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40230/16]

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: We have another Oireachtas committee meeting to attend at 5 p.m. which was arranged some time ago.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: On a point of order, I have no problem in meeting, but continuing until midnight is unreasonable, particularly for the staff. There may be additionality arising from documents to be published this morning which will be critically important. We should have time to reflect on them before we discuss them. In my experience rushing legislation is always bad.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: I was able to read about it in the newspapers in the morning and have no problem in adding them to the Bill, but members should have time to deal with them, in an unrushed way, before Christmas.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: This is a very important debate. I have serious problems, not with this legislation, but with some of the planning decisions made in my area. In the Meath County Council area just outside Drogheda, the councillors made appalling planning decisions, overruled development plans - the whole damn lot - and left a community without proper services. I am sure the Minister of State is aware of...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: On a point of information, if they are on Committee Stage-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: I just want to make a point. If they are taken on Committee Stage, there is a full debate on them, whereas on Report Stage there is less of an opportunity to debate whatever the issue is. I urge that they should come in on Committee Stage. I am in favour of the Bill, but we need a proper debate and do not want it truncated. We need transparency and accountability. If this extra document...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: Let us have it transparently. I want to support the changes. However, I do not want any allegations of not giving proper time. I sat in the Minister of State's seat not long ago with a water Bill. I argued for certain things to happen that never did. That very debate is probably one reason I am sitting here and not where the Minister of State is. We need transparency and...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome fast-track planning on the basis that it is transparent and accountable. The Minister has said that the notice is transparent. It is accountable in terms of going to a statutory body with a lot expertise and must have due regard to the development plans as presented. My concerns remain in terms of planning abuses and I refer to my Dáil ceantair, particularly the portion of...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is the Chairman referring to me?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: If the Chairman is referring to me then I ask her to please tell me.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: What I have said is absolutely true.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2016)

Fergus O'Dowd: Any reference I made was to minuted meetings-----