Results 1,621-1,640 of 8,167 for speaker:Peter Burke

Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: Dung can be very useful.

Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank the Deputies for their views, some of which were very contrasting. I value them greatly. The Bill is a response to an EU infringement case and is a key environmental management tool to which we are trying to respond. This is focused on large-scale abstractions. The ESB and Irish Water would be required to register for all the major abstractions they carry out. Therefore, it is...

Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: I will address amendments Nos. 45 to 48, inclusive. These amendments to the Bill are intended to amend the Foreshore Act 1933 in order to ensure there is no doubt over the definition of the foreshore and that the Act can operate as it always has. This includes requiring a foreshore licence for the lawful undertaking of geophysical and geotechnical surveying. Many licences have been applied...

Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Members of Local Authorities) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank everyone for their warm comments. A number of female councillors from all parties and none were involved at the very core of this process. Groups like Women for Election, See Her Elected and the Women's Council of Ireland have all been involved in trying to frame this legislation and assist me going through the process. Laura Mannion from the Department was central in working with...

Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Members of Local Authorities) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: I again put on record of the House my appreciation for all the Members of all various different parties and Independents who contributed to framing these proposals for maternity leave for our councillors. Since my appointment, this has been a significant gap and I am happy now that we have taken this journey to ensure that we have this very important reform. I know from dealing with so many...

Seanad: Appointment of Ordinary Members of An Coimisiún Toghcháin: Motion (14 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion, which recommends the appointment of four ordinary members of the Electoral Commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin. An Coimisiún Toghcháin will be a statutory, independent body and indeed, the motion before the House reflects an coimisiún's accountability to the Oireachtas. An coimisiún will take on a broad range of...

Seanad: Appointment of Ordinary Members of An Coimisiún Toghcháin: Motion (14 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: I thank Members for their contribution on the motion. I wish the nominees the very best on their appointment to the President. I will respond to a few concerns and statements by some of the Senators. In regard to the electoral register which Senator Kyne raised, the Act provides for the extensive modernisation of the electoral register. These provisions were commenced in October. Local...

Seanad: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: While the three bodies are merging, the functions will not change. I understand that is not the concern of the Senators but, rather, the concern is that the functions will retain their importance, in particular the OSI and its archives and important history. It is a unique facility. I expect the new body will respect that. Section 37 states that all records will transfer over and I expect...

Seanad: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: All pension rights will be maintained. I am sure people's functions and skills will be treated in a similar manner. We cannot put that into legislation because some people will look for promotion in areas that may not be their normal area of work. I have no doubt that their skills will be recognised.

Seanad: Tailte Éireann Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: The section will be interpreted broadly. As somebody who in another life was involved in a number of boundary disputes at the Bar, I know the importance of all of those little pieces of evidence going back through history.

Confidence in Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Motion (13 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: Hear, hear.

Confidence in Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Motion (13 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: Correct.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (13 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health, published the "Housing Options for Our Ageing Population" policy statement in 2019 which provides policy options in support of a range of housing and accommodation alternatives for older people. The policy statement, together with the third and final Implementation Group report, including an update on Action 4.6 as referred to in...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (13 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: The purpose of Building Regulations is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings and the building control processes are a means of ensuring compliance with the Building Regulations and as such the Building Control legislation applies as normal when providing accommodation for Ukrainian Refugees. For information, Building Regulations apply to the construction of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (13 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: The Building Regulations set out the minimum legal performance requirements for the design and construction of new buildings (including dwellings) and certain works to existing buildings. The Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010, which came into effect on 1 January 2012, sets out the minimum statutory requirements that a building must achieve in respect of access and use....

Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: The Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022 is a significant milestone in Ireland’s overall environmental protection measures. The critical Bill sets out a system of controls on the abstraction and impoundment of water to protect our water environment and to ensure compliance with Ireland’s responsibilities under the water framework directive....

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Telecommunications Infrastructure (8 Dec 2022)

Peter Burke: Overground electronic communications infrastructure and any associated physical infrastructure was inserted into section 254 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) via legislative measures introduced by the then Minister with responsibility for Communications through the Communications Regulation Act 2002 (20/2002). This was then enhanced with measures provided through...