Results 14,721-14,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: We are not attempting to muddy the waters. While I take the Deputy's point on the setting up of group water schemes as private companies, drinking water is being provided for the public through these systems.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: It may be regulated, but the issue is that the Government should be collectively responsible for the protection, management and maintenance of the public water system. If group water schemes are part of the system that is providing water for the public, we need to be able to define it. That is all I am saying. I am not arguing that group water schemes are in public control. However, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I do not want to make light of this important issue. There has been much debate and many marches and disagreements on concerns about the privatisation of public water systems. Putting this issue to bed is part of the overall settling of the water issue. While the Fine Gael Party and the Government accept that there are also genuine issues which need to be teased out and finalised before we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The case I cited in Cork was not intended as a specific example. I picked two towns at random because I do not know the specific detail. I am not referring to specific design and build contracts or any specific case in Cork because I am not familiar with the facts. The only wastewater treatment facility with which I am familiar in Cork is one which I opened in Cork Harbour a few weeks ago....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I take the Deputy's point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I do not disagree with that but the issue is whether the wording, as proposed, deals with it comprehensively. The Deputies do not need to convince me - I need to be convinced from a legal perspective that the wording we are using does what we want it to do. I am not giving excuses but asking legitimate questions to which I need answers from the Office of the Attorney General. This will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Senator will get it when it is ready.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I can only give the committee the benefit of the Attorney General's advice when I have it. The reason I interacted a lot with the Attorney General in the context of the water committee's recommendation is I was anxious that the final report would make recommendations that were legally sound. I had an obligation to do that as the Minister who will have to put the legislation together on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: There is an obligation on the committee to scrutinise it as well. We sometimes get this from Deputy Ó Broin, where he tries to create a political narrative out of a process, which is what is under way. There is no effort by us to delay. If he is asking me for advice on this process, which I have offered to give - he can proceed without it if he wants-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I promised I would help the process. We have had consultation with Deputy Collins. Following that consultation, we indicated that we would make the briefing note we had put together for the Attorney General available to the committee. If the Deputy wants to muddy the waters with group water schemes in the context of that briefing, he can. I have not done that. I have provided the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: First, it is not the Attorney General's job to decide on policy. Policy considerations are matters for us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am sorry; if the Deputy waits, he will get an answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy can deliberately ask for answers which he knows are not available, or he can listen to what is available to us. We sent a briefing note to the Attorney General's office a number of weeks ago. I understand it was made very clear during the deliberations of the water committee that the holding of a referendum to change the Constitution to reassure people on public ownership of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) (No. 2) Bill 2016: Discussion (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: As I said, although this is not my legislation, I do have an obligation to make sure we get it right, particularly given the construction of the Dáil and the Seanad. That is why the Government is providing both advice and legal expertise. I hope we will not have a situation where I will be appealing to other parties not to support legislation on Report Stage on the back of the Attorney...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: Since May 2016, I have been liaising closely with my colleague Minister Naughten, having regard to his responsibility for renewable energy policy, on the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines relating to noise, setback distance and shadow flicker, recognising the need to bring the review to a close and provide certainty on the matter to all stakeholders, local...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water Pollution (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels for public water services, including the delivery of water services capital infrastructure, encompassing the management of urban waste water collection and treatment infrastructure.  All discharges to the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Community Development Initiatives (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 gives legislative effect to the commitments in ‘Putting People First’, including the establishment of Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each local authority administrative area.  A key function of each LCDC is to prepare the community elements of a 6-year Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP)...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Housing Issues (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department provides funding through the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) for sheltered housing to meet the needs of persons with specific categories of housing need, including those with a disability. The funding is provided to local authorities, including Kildare County Council, who arrange for the housing delivery via approved housing bodies. Total funding approved to Kildare County...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (4 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: The aim of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to relieve critical infrastructural blockages in order to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites in urban areas with high demand for housing.  On 28 March 2017, I announced funding for 34 projects under the LIHAF. The cost of these projects is €226.46 million, of which...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing (3 May 2017)

Simon Coveney: I have no plans at present to re-introduce an Affordable Housing Purchase Scheme because there are a range of measures being taken under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness to increase housing supply overall, with the aim of creating a functioning and sustainable housing system which can meet housing demand at more affordable prices.  The plan is divided...