Results 1,521-1,540 of 5,573 for speaker:Paul McAuliffe

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Fire Stations (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: 228. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the new Dunleer fire station in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45970/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: The committee is meeting today to discuss the citizens' assembly report on a directly elected mayor of Dublin. The committee has decided to set aside three meetings to consider the job that has been put before us by the Dáil. The Dáil has sent us the recommendations of the Dublin Citizens' Assembly. It has asked us to consider the recommendations, to consider if a plebiscite is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Thank you, Mr. Shakespeare. I call Ms Farrelly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Thank you, Ms Farrelly. I call Mr. Curran.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I thank all the witnesses. I am particularly struck by Mr. Ward's contribution that, in some ways, they are speculating on what might happen in future. We want to try to get insight from the representatives in the context of their current roles, but we appreciate there is a degree of speculation as to what might come. I remind members that this is not an opportunity for them to reprise...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: As there is only three and a half minutes, we will try to keep the answers tight.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Yes, but just for the answers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Much of that was directed to Councillor Feeney. She may start and then we will allow the others in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Who does the Deputy wish to direct her question to?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Anybody else? I am conscious that getting to all four witnesses for each question will take time, but I am happy to do that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: That is a direct question. I will allow any of the chief executives to come in. What powers will they give away?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I sympathise with the witnesses. Looking at the report, I was a little disappointed when I got the recommendations of the citizens' assembly because I expected it to be more detailed, complex and thought-out. That is one of the challenges. All of us are, or have been, practitioners in the local government space and understand the ether. It is difficult for people who are outside to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: It would appear that it is proposed that the existing traffic budgets would remain with each of the four local authorities. How could directly-elected mayors make decisions on budgets that are held by the different local councils without reference to the councils, for example?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: May I comment on the issue of cathaoirligh not being present? I agree with Deputy Higgins that cathaoirligh can often go further than chief executives might because they have a mandate. Part of the difficulty with their not being present is echoed in the current challenges of the office. The role is highly ceremonial and very much driven by community events and so on. One would not want...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: We will proceed to the second round, beginning with Deputy Higgins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: Senator Fitzpatrick is next and then Deputy Cian O'Callaghan. We should conclude after that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: We are doing that with everybody, to be fair.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: They might do a better job of it anyway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: I have a final question, and I am not even sure who to direct it to. One area that caused the most debate when we discussed the Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 at prelegislative scrutiny stage was the issue of impeachment. We do not have a directly-elected executive office in Ireland, and one of the concerns expressed during discussion of the Limerick mayor Bill was that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Consideration of the Citizens' Assembly Report on a Directly Elected Mayor of Dublin: Discussion (19 Oct 2023)

Paul McAuliffe: That completes all our questions. We appreciate the witnesses coming before the committee. It is not in their normal role of being accountable for the day-to-day functions. We always appreciate them commenting on that but we also appreciate them going slightly outside of it to provide their expert views. We will keep them informed of our work as we go through.