Results 1,721-1,740 of 6,905 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I will speak to amendment No. 245. On page 70, it would insert, after "policy", "but which recognises the importance of balancing such economic requirements with factors improving the health and well-being of the regional population." This is important in ensuring RSESs will not just look at economic development but also at how development impacts the health and well-being of the population...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: What we are trying to amend is the current wording, which states: (n) a strategy relating to economic matters that- [...] (iv) identifies the means of maintaining and augmenting overall regional economic performance in accordance with national economic policy. I do not have a problem with that if our proposed wording is agreed because it would add some context and balance in terms of...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: It does need to be included here.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Economic performance needs to be included here. I have no issue with that but there has been no discussion around that. That needs to be included here and human health and well-being also needs to be included. Things that are only located elsewhere implicitly just do not get the same consideration so I am strongly making the case that it is needed here.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: My amendment reads, "In page 77 ... to insert ... The preparation, making and revision of a regional spatial and economic strategy shall be subject to an assessment in respect of its effect on water quality of water bodies in the region, in respect of requirements under Article 4 of the Water Framework Directive." The Minister of State might think there is no need for a provision like this...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: This is a very important amendment. As Deputy Matthews says, if "commuting zone" is not defined and there is not a link to public transport, it is very wide in terms of how big or how long a commuting zone is. This is something that needs to be looked at. The definition of public transport could also be addressed. Without being too prescriptive on it, there would want to be some options...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Amendment No. 271 refers to section 31. It seeks to delete the existing wording, which provides four weeks for a regional authority to publish the regional spatial and economic strategy. The amendment provides that where a regional assembly agrees to make a regional spatial and economic strategy or a revision to an existing strategy, it shall: ... within 1 week of agreeing to make the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Will the Minister of State explain why the Bill provides for four weeks?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Would the document not be ready for publication once it is made? What needs to be done between making the RSES and having it ready for publication?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Under section 31(1), where a regional assembly makes a regional spatial and economic strategy or revises same, it shall publish the relevant document within four weeks . The assembly has made the strategy or the revision. The work is done and everything that the Minister of State referenced in the context of consultation under section 29 has happened. That has all been done. That is all...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes, but is that not all done before the strategy or revision is made?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Is all of the work relating to preparing the regional spatial and economic strategy not already done? The strategy is then made, but an assembly is given a four-week window for publication. Will the Minister of State explain that?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: It is page 82. It states that "A regional spatial and economic strategy, or a revision ... shall take effect 6 weeks after the date on which it is made by the regional assembly under section 30 or 31." Does that mean if it takes four weeks to publish it, the public then only have two weeks to spot any very serious issues if they want to legally challenge it? Does that reduce the potential...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: It is from publication.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Therefore, the publication that takes place after four weeks is when the eight-week window starts.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Could the Minister of State explain, given that one of the regional assemblies was looking for the full reinstatement of section 25A of the Act, why the Government has not taken on board its request? As the Minister of State will know, the regional assemblies are cross-party. By their nature, regional assemblies are not known to collectively take very wild stances on anything. They have...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: Section 25A of the Planning and Development Act 2000 required that every two years, Government Departments and local authorities set out the progress that was made to support the objectives of the regional, spatial and economic strategies. Deputy Matthews is correct that just because there is a ten-year development plan, it does not mean that monitoring should be slowed down....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 245: In page 70, line 24, after “policy” to insert the following: “but which recognises the importance of balancing such economic requirements with factors improving the health and well-being of the regional population”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 247: In page 71, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “(iv) (I) where the region includes a Limistéar Pleanála Teanga Gaeltachta or a Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta within the Gaeltacht, any relevant Language Plan agreed pursuant to Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, (II) where the region includes a Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta outside the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Mar 2024)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 255: In page 74, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “(iv) (I) where the region includes a Limistéar Pleanála Teanga Gaeltachta or a Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta within the Gaeltacht, any relevant Language Plan agreed pursuant to Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, (II) where the region includes a Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta outside the...