Results 1,461-1,480 of 26,006 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: -----but as part of the process, there are two elements, namely, Government or Cabinet approval and, before any direction is issued, that the Minister consulting the Planning Regulator, which is fit and proper.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: On a point of principle, we believe the Government sets policy and that the Minister, whoever that is, issues the direction. However, the Minister does to having got approval from the Cabinet. Furthermore, they consult with the Office of the Planning Regulator, which is independent in its role. This is a measure that includes many checks and balances. The Deputy specifically mentioned...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We have taken the recommendations.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are not talking about enforcement here. We are talking about a direction from a Minister with the approval of the Government and having consulted with the Office of the Planning Regulator.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: No, no, it is not-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We do not see this as an enforcement measure. There are enforcement measures in planning, but we do see this in that context. To give clarity: This section is a new provision that empowers the Minister, with the approval of the Government, to issue an urgent direction to the chief executive of a planning authority to amend the development plan within a specified period for the purpose of...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is something we will have to consider. We have a building control section in the Department. It is something that-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We will come back with a Report Stage amendment on that.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Under section 65(3), we are looking at this in the positive, not in the negative. It is about things happening, not preventing things. I am not familiar with the circumstances of the situation in Cork so it would not be appropriate for me to comment. The prison is under State security. Deputy Gould made the point. I am not going to comment on something I am not familiar with. This...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: The import of section 65 is that it states: (a) an event or situation with significant national, regional or strategic implications has occurred or is likely to occur, (b) it is necessary for the Government to take action as a matter of urgency for the purpose of dealing with the implications or likely implications of the event or situation concerned Reading through it, on the point of...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We will not meet on that. That is the final point.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: If one is putting forward something as a matter of urgency and it is of national strategic importance, that is not going to come in under every single particular issue that arises. The question will be whether it is urgent and is a matter of national strategic importance. These are decisions the Government will have to make and as part of that, it will consult the Office of the Planning...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendment No. 1042 proposes to subject commission fees to full Oireachtas approval. Reviews of such fees are already evidentially based and subject to ministerial sign-off and approval. Therefore I consider this amendment disproportionate in its aim and unnecessary. Section 348 provides that "The Commission may determine fees that may be charged, subject to the approval of the Minister, in...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is a decision to be made if something arises as a matter of urgency. It is not the Minister taking the decision here, it is the Minister bringing it forward and then he or she must get approval of the Government. It has to get the approval of the Cabinet. The Minister must also consult with the Office of the Planning Regulator. This applies to a class of infrastructure of national...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (20 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, to assist people in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People. The grants are 80% funded by my...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Deputy Kerrane. I will take back the points she raised to the Minister. In my opening statement I concentrated for the most part on ambulance resourcing and some recent alternative care paths in County Roscommon. I will now focus on the service nationally and touch on the investment in our National Ambulance Service and its future plans. This Government has invested very...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Service (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Health. I thank Deputy Kerrane for the opportunity to update the House on delivery of ambulance services in Roscommon, including the important emergency response role carried out by the rapid resource vehicle, RRV. I am informed that in the context of the National Ambulance Service emergency response operations across the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Overcrowding (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I thank Deputy Paul Donnelly for raising the question of overcrowding at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, is a major teaching academic hospital within the RCSI Hospitals Group. It has a catchment population of upwards of 331,000 people and serves a mixed urban and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Overcrowding (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I appreciate the Deputy’s contribution and his genuine sentiments on the surge in attendance at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. I also thank him for raising this important topic and acknowledge that he has raised other issues. The Government understands how important it is to make quality patient services available to people in Blanchardstown and everyone across the country....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Antisocial Behaviour (15 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. I thank Deputy Gannon for raising it. In fairness to the Deputy, he has raised it on many occasions. As the Deputy may be aware, the Government's approach to the misuse of drugs is set out in Ireland's national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery. This is a health-led approach to drug and...