Results 1,161-1,180 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Valuation Office (29 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 provide for the valuation of all commercial and industrial property for rating purposes. The Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions under the Acts and the making of valuations for rating is his sole responsibility. I, as Minister, have no function in decisions in this regard. As the Deputy is aware, a valuation for...

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I take on board the Members’ comments. This will be decided in the next two weeks. My officials and I will consider every other contribution that has been made. I ran out of two pens while taking notes, so much was said. I thank the Members for their contributions.

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Hear, hear.

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Yes, please. I was not aware that we were finished. I thank the Deputies who contributed. To reiterate, it is the intention of Government to devolve as much power as possible from the hands of the executive to the hands of elected people. I take on board what most of the speakers have said, which is that it might be better to focus on a few strategic areas first rather than going for the...

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: He was passionate. Okay. Perhaps I confused anger and-----

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: That is fair enough.

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Deputy is consistent in his anger but I understand his passion. On the issue of the Association of Irish Local Government and the comment the Deputy made at the start, I had a meeting with both representative groups during my first month in the job. It happened.

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I could not believe it myself because I had a list of things that I wanted to cover and I expected something similar from the representatives. I hope I was clear enough in my speech at the start. The Deputy said that we would be codding people if we did not give directly elected mayors real powers. He is right; we would be. I do not want to cod people. I want the directly elected mayors...

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Deputy mentioned signing off-----

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: ----on files.

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I did not mention one-off planning applications either. The Deputy referred to signing off on planning files. That was the phrase I wrote down.

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I did not refer to one-off planning applications either. I just want to make that clear.

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I absolutely accept the Deputy’s point on directors of services. There is no point in divesting the chief executive role without doing something similar with the director of services role. That is absolutely right. I am not going to get involved in the specific case in Dublin but the Deputy went on further to give out that Dublin was not included. The reason for Dublin’s...

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Yes.

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I agree fully.

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his endeavours yesterday evening regarding the commitment I made.

Directly Elected Mayors: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I thank Deputies and members of the Business Committee for allowing time for statements on the issue of directly elected mayors, which was raised in our discussion on the Local Government Bill 2018 before Christmas. Deputies expressed the view that there should be an input from this and the Upper House prior to the Government making a decision on the exact role and functions of directly...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Reserve (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: The Minister and his Minister of State are in the Department of Justice and Equality today, so I have the task, due to being on the rota, to respond.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Reserve (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I remember the opposition and the issues that arose when a reserve was first mooted and introduced. From my experience of knowing people in the reserve, that some of them had similar appalling experiences to what was outlined by Senator McDowell. Equally, I could mention a number of people who are now gardaí having first been members of the Garda Reserve. It is not accurate to say the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Reserve (24 Jan 2019)

John Paul Phelan: I will try to ascertain who will conduct the review. In hindsight, perhaps the review on the Central Bank, which was done in three months, was a bit rushed.