Results 11,521-11,540 of 11,968 for speaker:Paul Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: One-Parent Family Payments (5 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: 21. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the analysis carried out of the impact the changes to the one-parent family allowance will have on poverty levels, deprivation and the level of employment among lone parents; and if she will reverse the decision to end payments to those whose youngest child is aged seven. [9375/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: House Prices (5 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: 78. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the desirability of house price increases; if the policy of his Department should be to encourage or discourage increases in house prices; and if his Department conducts assessments of the likely impact of its policies on house prices. [9656/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Litter Pollution Legislation (5 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: 246. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the exemption from litter fines for election advertising, under sections 19 and 21 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended, covers advertising promoting a registered party but not containing the name of a candidate. [9654/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (5 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: 247. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the percentage of income being spent on housing costs he regards as affordable; his views on the steps the Government is taking to ensure availability of affordable housing for all households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9655/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (5 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: 248. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the Commission for Energy Regulation permitting Irish Water to increase water charges after 2019 if revenue is less than Irish Water expects and that Irish Water may retain profits for an extended period without passing these on to consumers through reduced bills; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (5 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: 249. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has concerns regarding the possible influence the high proportion of Teachtaí Dála who are landlords or have other property interests or both, as detailed in the latest Register of Members’ Interests, may have had in the past or may have in the future on housing policy. [9658/15]

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: The Minister should be straight about whether he agrees with what Irish Water states in briefings to Deputies, that it is most likely that private landlords will be able to collect the money for bills, plus fines, from deposits, while councils will be able to attach them to rents. Does the Minister agree with this? Is that the way he sees it in pursuance of non-payment by tenants? He can...

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: The Minister was so happy about registration levels that he said it was, all of a sudden, a soft deadline. Senator Lorraine Higgins famously declared on "Morning Ireland" that it was not a "drop dead" deadline. Such is the level of success in the Minister's registration rates that he has now gone for a fourth deadline. I do not think this speaks to his confidence in the level of...

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: Is that part of the Minister's work?

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: Only 17% of tenants have registered.

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: 9. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on meetings or contacts he or his Department has had with private landlord representative bodies and local authorities concerning the payment of water charges by their tenants; and the legislative changes or arrangements he is considering on the matter. [9101/15]

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: My question is along the lines of the last one. The only straight answer we received to that question was that legislation would be brought before the House. That was not much of an answer. We could have that answer ourselves. Irish Water is providing different information for the Minister. In briefings it claims legislation will be introduced to provide in concrete terms that if...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: In the real world, rent controls and rent caps do not lead to a decrease in supply. That exists in the world of neoliberal economists who simply look at supply and demand charts, but that is not how it happens. Landlords act as landlords as long as they can make an amount of money which can be made, including with rent controls. Rising rents are a key factor in the homelessness crisis....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: 5. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will report on his meeting with the Irish Property Owners Association; in view of rising rents and the homelessness crisis, his plans on addressing rising rents; his further plans to introduce rent controls; and the other reforms with regard to the rights of tenants, and the tax treatment of rental income, that are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: I ask the Minister to report on his reported meeting with the Irish Property Owners Association and, in view of rising rents and the homeless crisis, the plans to address the rent crisis affecting people. I understand reference was made at the Labour Party conference to something approaching rent controls but referred to as rent certainty. The Minister might provide more detail on that....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: The Government underestimates the seriousness of this problem. We cannot just decide to wait and build houses at the slow rate referred to in the Government's housing strategy. According to the CSO, almost one third of people rent accommodation. They are faced with rent increases of over 10% in Dublin in the past year. A recent report by the National Association of Building Co-operatives,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: 3. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the contingencies his Department is taking for mass non-payment of water charges; the plans in place to increase funding from the State to Irish Water; if an assessment has been carried out on the impact this would have on the EUROSTAT market test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9119/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: Could I ask the Minister what contingencies the Department is taking for the possibility of mass non-payment of water charges; what plans are in place to increase funding from the State to Irish Water in that circumstance; and if an assessment has been carried out on the impact of such an occurrence on the EUROSTAT market test?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: Was the answer "No", that the Minister has not considered the possibility that large numbers of people will refuse to pay and that will result in Irish Water failing the market corporation test and a major crisis for Irish Water and the strategy of off-balance sheet funding is falling apart? The Minister can provide all the options he wants for people to pay. He can make it as simple as he...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Paul Murphy: Thanks a lot. Perhaps I should remind the Minister that his party stood in the previous general election on a platform of opposition to water charges. Any criticisms he can make about the need to have water charges will rebound on him and his previous position. Our position is clear: we are for the right of everybody to have free and quality water - I repeat, everybody in the State. We do...