Results 1,401-1,420 of 6,933 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I would be happy to do that. On amendments Nos. 721 and 722, which relate to Part 6 on environmental assessments, will the Minister of State expand on how they relate to alterations and on the assessments provided for and considered under Part 6? I ask specifically about how they relate to strictly protected species under Annex IV of the habitats directive.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I appreciate that but they relate to Part 6 and with respect to the adequacy of the consideration set out in this Bill regarding making alterations to permissions including extensions or other changes. In terms of Part 6 to which these relate, how do amendments Nos. 721 and 722 ensure that adequate assessments are made under Part 6 covering all of the considerations which might need to be...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I understand that. I am asking how strictly protected species under Annex IV of the habitats directive are provided for?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: In terms of Part 6, which these amendments reference, and ensuring adequate assessments are carried out, how are strictly protected species which are covered under Annex IV of the habitats directive included in the process or the assessment?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: My concern about these Parts of the Bill is that it is not very clear or explicit. The exchange we have just had probably demonstrates that. I just asked that question about Annex IV of the habitats directive, strictly protected species, and it took a while to be able to get an answer on it. I am concerned that the legislation is not explicitly clear here, that this could be missed or that...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I am not asking for them to be replicated. I am just asking if it is robust enough to ensure that all of these assessments are adequately considered and if that is considered to be explicit enough here. In your view, it is.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: In relation to the role local authorities have been given in respect of development, I note that the deciding authority is the competent authority for the purposes of Part 6, environmental assessments, and that the deciding authority is established in section 133(3), I think. If the local authority is the competent authority, does that have any impact on its role and the decisions it is making?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Okay. That is the formal separation of roles and functions under the legislation to ensure there are not any conflicts or pressures.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Amendment No. 828, which relates to page 339 of the Bill, proposes to delete lines 12 to 16 of that page and to insert a new wording there. One of the requirements of the habitats directive, under Article 6.3 is that you need to consider not just the impact of an individual plan or project that is proposed, but also the combination of effects, including complex interactions and cumulative...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I am sorry, I could not hear the Minister of State.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Sure. However, section 184(2)(a) to (g), inclusive, use "shall". My concern is that section 184(b) relates to habitat types and species whereas section 184(c) does not. The cumulative effects on habitat types and species is the concern. I do not have an issue with the wording in section 184(c). It is an issue with the wording in section 184(b), which is subject to the Minister's...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: My question is about the way it is written. Could section 184(2)(b)(i) be read such that the wording in section 184 (c) would not apply to section 184(b)?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: So everything from subsections (a) to (g) goes together. That is what the Minister of State is saying.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: The wording in section 184(c) specifically applies to all habitat types, species -----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: That is, therefore, how Article 6(3) of the habitats directive is provided for in the legislation.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: 64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make contact with a school (details supplied) in relation to a funding matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15577/24]

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (9 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: 92. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will expand or alter the 'one stop shop' list of suppliers, to allow homeowners access to more competitive prices when upgrading windows and doors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14036/24]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (9 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: 124. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the case of a location (details supplied) will be examined, whereby a house is not included in the National Broadband scheme due to its location, but it has extremely slow broadband speeds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14889/24]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (9 Apr 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: 128. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to combat the price increases across mobile and broadband providers; if these increases are consistent with price gouging practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15054/24]