Results 1,561-1,580 of 25,975 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is already covered. I am reading from the note. The Irish language service advisory committee was established by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in accordance with section 18 of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. The advisory committee's primary focus is the preparation of the first national plan for the Irish-medium public services, due to...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: One learns something new every day. Deputy O'Callaghan made reference to the impact of developments on Gaeltacht areas. That is one of the considerations. In my role as Minister of State, I can no longer get involved in such matters but we all would have dealt with planning a lot. It is day-to-day work for us. Each planning application has to be dealt with on its own merits. In...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Ó Snodaigh referred to local area plans and so on. Section 69 speaks about priority area plans. Before Report Stage we will look at perhaps incorporating Gaeltacht areas and the islands so that priority area plans could be done in that category. That is something we will come back to. The Deputy also spoke about Údarás na Gaeltachta becoming an AHB, as other...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: In line with the first-step principle, we will get a note from our housing section about who exactly can apply and qualify to be an approved housing body. I will come back to the Deputy as to whether the údarás qualifies.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is the first step in that regard. On amendment No. 619, under the current guidelines, names should be related to the local area. That is the intention. There is no particular requirement for them to be in Irish. It is something we will consider in the new planning guidelines we are bringing out for Gaeltacht areas. I take the Deputy's point. On amendment No. 1111, I will once...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Many of the new estates are named in Irish now.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is that from 2022?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I read those guidelines earlier.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: To take the latter point on the B2 level, the Department of the Gaeltacht is the expert on competency in that area. It has made us aware that B2 level is what it is accepting but that may change. It has to come through. It goes back to what will have a practical impact, which is the planning regulations to be brought out specifically for the Gaeltacht areas. The most important thing is to...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Was that in January of this year?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome that report and note the point raised by Deputy Ó Snodaigh. Everything is about balance but I very much take his point on board. He put flesh on the bones of the points articulated by Deputy O'Callaghan. I also take on board the points about the deliberations on the regulations from the Department of tourism. We should let it work in that area.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is purposely why I stopped. It is at the behest of members.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (14 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am open to-----

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: We debated this at great length last week and it was a very informative debate.My position remains unchanged. I remind the House that the Schedule covers various Acts that have come in over many years. One does not expect a Minister to effectively implement all the provisions of a Bill; that is the work of the staff in the Department. It is the same position here. The mayor will drive...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendments Nos. 9 and 10 basically state that the councillors, by resolution, could remove items from Part 2 of Schedule 1. That is not what the people voted for. What is listed on Schedule 2 is probably large in number but it is only a reflection of legislation that has come in over various areas that remain with the DG and is what was put to the people. I accept the point but I must be...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I understand the broad thrust of these amendments to section 17 from the Civil Engagement Group is to ensure the mayor would not be a member of the council or have voting rights and also that the mayor is accountable to the council. I appreciate the Senator's rationale. However, it is at odds with the report of the independent advisory group chaired by Tim O'Connor, which the Government...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Senator for deciding to leave aside amendments Nos. 14 and 15. On amendment No. 16, section 17(1) of the Bill states "The Mayor shall be, ex officio, a member of Limerick City and County Council". Section 17(4) states: A member of the elected council attending a meeting of Limerick City and County Council may ask questions of the Mayor in relation to the performance by him or...

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is fine. I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendments No. 17 from the Civil Engagement Group and No. 18 from Sinn Féin and the Labour Party aim to change the manner in which the staff of the mayor are appointed. The appointment of staff to the office of the mayor was the subject of much debate in the Dáil, both on Committee Stage and Report Stage. The Bill, as published, provides that the director general would appoint the...