Results 1,601-1,620 of 26,006 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: 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...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I will speak to amendments No. 19, 20, 88 to 91, inclusive, 95, and 138 to 143, inclusive. These are minor technical and drafting amendments. Amendments No. 88 to 91, inclusive, and 95 to existing sections 65 and 66 are of a technical drafting nature and there is no change to the substantive provisions therein. The collective citation of the Affordable Housing Acts has been relocated to...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendments Nos. 21, 22 and 23 from the Civil Engagement Group relate to the appointment of the director general in Limerick City and County Council. They propose a process that is not in line with current legislation and also that the mayor would have a role in that appointment. The appointment of a chief executive, and by extension a director general, is a reserved function of the local...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: Delegated.

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senators Higgins and Cummins for their comments. I will speak to Amendments No. 24 to 27, inclusive, from the Civil Engagement Group because they all relate to delegation of functions by the mayor. Amendment No. 24 proposes that delegation of executive functions by the mayor to the director general should be subject to a resolution by the elected members. Any executive function...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Senator Higgins and the Civil Engagement Group. I will deal with what our response is and we can expand on that. I will speak to amendment No. 28 and amendments Nos. 67 to 74, inclusive, as they have been grouped for discussion. The intention of amendment No. 28 is to extend the definitions in Part 4 by adding a reference to the United Nations sustainable development goals, as...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: Regarding the Project Ireland 2040 delivery board, which is what we are dealing with in this section, the Limerick city and county development plan, the national development plan, the national planning framework and climate change mitigation measures are mentioned. Furthermore, the UN sustainable development goals are built into national, regional and local frameworks such as the national...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: Each local authority is required under the climate action legislation to produce climate action plans for five years. Limerick City and County Council is currently preparing its action plan and it will include all the sustainable goals. It is there. We have a planning Bill going through. It is all about a tiered system that flows from the top down. The UN sustainability goals are...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: Amendments Nos. 29 to 39, inclusive, are grouped for discussion as they relate to the Limerick mayoral and government consultative forum, and I will address these together. Amendments Nos. 29 to 34, inclusive, propose an expansion in the membership requirements for the forum to include the príomh chomhairleoir as well as two members of the elected council, and to transfer the role of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (13 Feb 2024)

Kieran O'Donnell: A key action of Housing for All required local authorities to develop Housing Delivery Action Plans to include details of social and affordable housing delivery, including specific plans for the delivery of housing for disabled and older people. The Plans set out details of both social and affordable housing delivery as appropriate over the period 2022-2026, in line with targets set under...