Results 17,961-17,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: What was the Deputy's second question?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: Yes, let us first deal with the Bill if that is agreeable.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: My response to both of the Deputy's questions is that the period is not openended. We are talking about providing an extension of time to allow the committee to complete its work. It is a nine-month suspension and if more time is needed to allow the committee to complete its work, let us say they ask for time or if the Minister believes that the committee needs more time, then this...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: -----and I am happy to have a discussion on how we can reassure people who may be sceptical or may have concerns about future public ownership of Irish Water's infrastructure. Perhaps the Oireachtas committee will make recommendations on this but we will have to wait and see. I have an open mind on it. I know a referendum seems like a solution, but referendums sometimes have knock-on...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: There are a multiplicity of issues around water, on how we pay for it, how it is delivered. The point of setting up a commission and also having a special Oireachtas committee to look at all those issues are that some issues the Deputy raises now can be teased out. What we are trying to facilitate now is a very simple piece of amending legislation that allows for the suspension of water...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: We could do loads of things in this Bill. We are doing what we committed to do. There will be an opportunity to debate all the other issues at a later stage within the process that this nine month period is facilitating.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 7:In page 3, to delete lines 27 to 31, and in page 4, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the following:“(b) Where the Minister is informed by the committee that it will not complete its work on or before 31 March 2017 or is otherwise satisfied that the committee will not complete its work on or before that date, he or she may, on or before that date, make an...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: It does. Let us be clear on what the amendment provides. It states: "Where the Minister is informed by the committee that it will not complete its work on or before 31 March 2017 or is otherwise satisfied that the committee will not complete its work on or before that date, he or she may, on or before that date, make an order extending the first-mentioned period for such further period". It...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 9:In page 4, to delete lines 15 to 24 and substitute the following:“(d) Notwithstanding section 21(1) of the No. 2 Act of 2013, Irish Water shall not charge for water services provided to a dwelling in respect of any period specified in an order under paragraph (b) or (c).”. I propose to take amendments Nos. 9 to 11, inclusive, together. I have brought...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 10:In page 4, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following:"(e) Irish Water shall not—(i) before 31 March 2017, (ii) (in circumstances where an order is made under paragraph (b)) before the expiration of the period specified in that order, (iii) (in circumstances where an order is made under paragraph (c)) before the expiration of the period specified in that...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 11:In page 4, line 25, to delete "(e) In" and substitute "(f) In".

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I thank the select committee, in particular the clerk, and members for facilitating this meeting at short notice. There are time considerations involved in passing this legislation.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to respond to the issue raised by Deputies Ó Broin and Coppinger on the expert commission. I spoke to the chair of the commission today and yesterday and I am aware of some commentary and criticism made of a media interview he did and his personal views on water. The chair of the commission will make a personal statement on that issue later this afternoon and I would...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I do not propose to get into a long debate on this issue.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: In that case, I will respond to both Deputies together.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: We agreed terms of reference for the commission when we put together, with Fianna Fáil, a confidence and supply agreement on the commission. To be fair, the idea that we will now start debating and changing the terms of reference is not a reasonable request. We made the purpose of the commission clear. A group of people with considerable knowledge of issues related to water, including...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: To be fair, I never said I would change or amend the terms of reference. Once they were agreed between two party leaders, they would not be undone. I would not like to give an impression that I ever said it would be otherwise because I did not do so. I have been up-front about the commission. I have seen some commentary on some websites and on social media about some of the members of the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Business of Select Committee (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I will answer it in a roundabout way. I have spoken to Mr. O'Toole about the criticism that has come his way during the past 24 hours in particular. He is reflecting on it and has asked for some time and space to make a personal statement in response to it. I would like to give him that courtesy.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Tenant Purchase Scheme (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232, 238, 239 and 245 together. The consideration of individual applications and the determination of eligibility under the new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the governing legislation for the scheme. The new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (5 Jul 2016)

Simon Coveney: In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. These draft revisions proposed: - the setting of a more stringent day- and night-time noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind energy developments, - a mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres...