Results 1,461-1,480 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Role and Remuneration of Elected Local Authority Members: Discussion (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: Some people are very loud whisperers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Role and Remuneration of Elected Local Authority Members: Discussion (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: As George Hamilton would say, there is danger here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Role and Remuneration of Elected Local Authority Members: Discussion (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: That is grand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Role and Remuneration of Elected Local Authority Members: Discussion (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: The point that has been the thread in earlier questions and will come up later is that this discussion we are having about councillors' pay takes place in a broader context. There is political acceptance that the ad hocsituation that exists at present, namely, the basic payment plus a series of allowances and expenses, needs reform. That is why Sara Moorhead was given the task to consider...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Role and Remuneration of Elected Local Authority Members: Discussion (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: I just want to mention Senator Boyhan, who expressed his disappointment. I can give him a commitment that the report in spring will be published, and it is my intention that it be implemented. We need the best report, and I want this change to kick in. I indicated in a discussion on councillor pay in the Seanad that I want this to be the case for the new councillors once they are elected...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Role and Remuneration of Elected Local Authority Members: Discussion (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: I have no issue with backdating it. Senator Conway's friend might be calling him from Brussels. The then Minister, Mr. Hogan, did not reduce the remuneration of councillors.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Role and Remuneration of Elected Local Authority Members: Discussion (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: He did not reduce councillor's pay, though.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Joint Committee
Role and Remuneration of Elected Local Authority Members: Discussion (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: I will start at the end again. The Senator speaks for himself when he said we do not care about councillors. As has been outlined, I have been acutely aware that councillors are not adequately remunerated. They are probably fed up hearing me say that but in order to change anything, one has to produce a body of evidence for why it should happen. The need for change might be obvious to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: Seeing as it is end of the first week in December, I expect that people in Crossbarry probably realise at this stage that the start of 2019 is the earliest date that this report can be completed. The Government is committed to resolving such issues, not only in Crossbarry but throughout the country. I reassure Deputy Moynihan that, following the imminent publication of the review, a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Murphy. I thank Deputy Aindrias Moynihan for raising this issue and providing me with the opportunity to outline the position on wastewater treatment in Crossbarry, County Cork. Crossbarry is not serviced by a public wastewater collection and treatment system at present....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Constitutional Amendments (5 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: At its meeting this week, the Government reviewed the progress on Bills to amend the Constitution and decided that, subject to passage of the necessary Constitution Amendment Bills, two referendums will be held on the same day as the local and European elections in May 2019. Work is being progressed in my Department, in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to inform...

Local Government Bill 2018: Instruction to Committee (4 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: I am happy to respond.

Local Government Bill 2018: Instruction to Committee (4 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: I do not.

Local Government Bill 2018: Instruction to Committee (4 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: I will respond briefly to all of the queries. I have spoken to the officials. The Committee Stage debate on the Local Government Bill 2018 is due to commence at 6 p.m. tomorrow. At 5 p.m. tomorrow, my officials will meet Deputies to discuss some of the issues of concern that have been raised and I will do so as well if I can. An email outlining the details of that meeting will be sent...

Local Government Bill 2018: Instruction to Committee (4 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: I move:That it be an instruction to the Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government, in relation to the Local Government Bill 2018, that:(a) pursuant to Standing Order 154, the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing provisions of the Bill, in relation to the holding of plebiscites on directly elected mayors and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Members' Remuneration (4 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: On 21 June 2018 I announced that, with the agreement of the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, I was commissioning a review of the role and remuneration of local authority elected members and published the terms of reference for same. I appointed Ms. Sara Moorhead SC to conduct the independent review. Ms Moorhead's review is well underway and, in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (4 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: The primary role of my Department in electoral matters is to provide an appropriate policy and legislative framework for a modern and efficient electoral system. Within that framework, local Returning Officers are responsible for all matters in connection with the actual conduct of elections and referendums. This includes, in accordance with section 94 of the Electoral Act 1992, the provision...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Election Management System (4 Dec 2018)

John Paul Phelan: Arrangements for the holding of elections and referendums, including the setting of the polling day, are set out in legislation. Electoral law allows for the taking of the poll at elections and referendums on any day of the week and this flexibility allows all relevant factors to be taken into account at any given time in setting the polling day. While I have no proposals to change the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Commercial Rates Exemptions (29 Nov 2018)

John Paul Phelan: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists, prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 - 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority and all rates income accrues to the local...

Microgeneration Support Scheme Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (27 Nov 2018)

John Paul Phelan: I will speak first because, under Standing Orders, the Minister may only speak once on Private Members' business. I commend Deputy Stanley on introducing the Bill and thank Deputy Cullinane for thanking the Government for not opposing it. The Government subscribes to the principles outlined in Deputy Stanley's contribution and we will not oppose them in legislation. I welcome the...