Results 1,361-1,380 of 2,180 for speaker:John Cummins

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: In general, I am not specifically talking about a case. In general, where action is not followed as recommended in a report, what happens?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: On forestry, in general, we are aware of the impacts across the board. The EPA referred to agriculture. I too believe significant work is being done by the agriculture sector to try to minimise the problems, but I am not so certain about the impact of forestry. Maybe that is an omission by me in not knowing the issue in as much detail as I perhaps should. Will the witnesses briefly outline...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the Chair and the witnesses. I am not being parochial even though I could probably be accused of being so in referencing some areas in my constituency in County Waterford but what I am trying to do is tease out the process that occurs when an issue is identified and what stages are followed to remediate the issue. It was stated to the HSE that 30 days was a significant time. An...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: The next slot is the Fine Gael slot. I will take that. Senator Boyhan referred to Irish Water's engagement with us as Oireachtas Members. It is important to put on the record the positive and proactive engagement we have with Irish Water staff. I can speak from my experience of trying to resolve several issues in Waterford. I thank the representatives for that. There are particular...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: It would not be brown.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Perhaps we can take that up offline. Another case in point is Bunmahon, which I also referred to. An EPA report shows significant deficiencies. I have been engaging with Irish Water on putting a scheme together through the small towns and villages growth programme. The difficulty obviously is the timelines. Mr. Gleeson referred to this in his initial remarks. If we are starting a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Irish Water can never eliminate a possible objection, but in the case of Bunmahon, there has been very proactive engagement from the community and there is a very good group in place that is working to try to ensure the proper facilities are put in place to service the community. The hope would be that that engagement piece would reduce the issue. Could other measures, such as those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I am sure the EPA would have had an opinion and we will write to it in that respect.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: That is more than sufficient.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: That is very diplomatic. Thank you.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: I am not sure if the witnesses are going to shock Deputy Flaherty with their innate knowledge of Longford.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Deputy Ó Murchú has been very patient. I will hand over to him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Of course.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Very briefly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: In order to address Mr. Cuddy's ask, we will look at other areas where he believes flushing is required and provide a comment on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: The connections policy and the charges in place from the CRU were touched on. In framing my question, I am conscious that Irish Water would not want to deny itself a revenue stream. The difficulty I have is not with connection charges for greenfield sites or the infrastructure that has to be put in place, but more with the charges for brownfield sites and urban renewal spaces. Thankfully,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Where flexibility is allowed, I ask that it be applied because we want to regenerate existing units and bring them back into productive use. When people are willing to do that and put their money into it, they should not be penalised for doing so. If the representatives could ask the committee to include two things in a report on water quality to help them in their work, what would they be?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: Mr. Laffey may have something to add.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Issues Surrounding Water Quality and Supply: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

John Cummins: We need streamlining of the process, notwithstanding the constraints that are there. That is understood. I thank the members and witnesses for their attendance. It was a constructive meeting that will feed into our report on water quality. I also thank the witnesses from the EPA who attended earlier.

Seanad: Impact of Cost of Living Issues on Young People in Ireland: Motion (28 Sep 2022)

John Cummins: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I thank the Senators for bringing forward this Private Members' motion. I will focus on the housing elements. The motion calls for a plan to be devised and implemented to address issues related to accommodation for young people and their families, making use of vacant properties and providing social housing to those in need. As someone who...