Results 81-100 of 1,441 for speaker:Ann Phelan

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: We have debated this particular issue at great length. I know Deputy Ó Cuív has a great interest in this issue. I have instructed the Department's officials to communicate with returning officers on the islands to see if a case could be made for same-day voting and the matter has received great consideration. Having listened to returning officers, we decided to err on the side...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: There are only two points I would like to make about this. Postal voters also vote early. The returning officers communicated with the islanders this week and the islanders said that they were happy with the situation. Other than that, I have nothing further to add.

Seanad: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: It is my pleasure to introduce Second Stage of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015 to the Seanad, which provides for the dissolution of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the transfer of its functions to Dublin City Council which will guide the future development of the area in partnership and collaboration with local stakeholders. The Bill also...

Seanad: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015: Second Stage (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I do not propose to say a great deal because in my opening remarks I gave a comprehensive outline of the background of the DDDA and its misfortunes.I also pointed out the good things that can and will come out of this. To clarify, there will be five community representatives on the oversight and consultative forum. Regarding the submission of accounts by the council, it is my understanding...

Seanad: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I do not propose to accept the amendment. The Dublin Docklands Development Authority has contributed over the years to a community fund administered by the docklands community trust in conjunction with the docklands community council. That fund has accumulated assets of some €1.3 million and uses the interest earned to enhance the lives of docklands residents primarily through the...

Seanad: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: In the area of employment provision for docklands residents, either during the construction phase of developments or thereafter, it is not possible under current national or EU legislation to discriminate positively in favour of local residents. There are many objectives within the North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock strategic development zone planning scheme that address this issue. For...

Seanad: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: Yes.

Seanad: Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I do not propose to accept amendment No. 3. Clear and enforceable fire safety requirements are already set out appropriately in primary legislation, including in the Building Control Acts, the Fire Services Acts, the Planning and Development Acts and the Multi-Unit Developments Act. Restatement of statutory obligations that apply generally under existing law in new legislation prepared for...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: Last month, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government outlined to the House the efforts he is making to address the funding issues associated with specific group water schemes in the Deputy's county. Although the specific issue has not been resolved conclusively with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the matter has been superseded by work on the...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I understand the Deputy's frustration. I know she has raised this issue a number of times in the House but I ask her to bear with us. We are making very good progress in this area and we expect to make an announcement before year end. I ask the Deputy to continue to keep in contact with her local authority because local authorities will be invited to bid for 2016 funding and are very much...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I do understand. These types of projects have been discussed by the working group. It is a matter for prioritisation and I again ask the Deputy to have a little more patience. We expect to be in a position towards the end of the year to deal with some of the projects to which she referred.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Climate Change Negotiations (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: We were commended on our climate change legislation, which was debated at length in the House. It provides a statutory basis for the national objective of transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally-sustainable economy by 2050. This has cross-Government support. The Minister made significant amendments to the legislation as it progressed through both Houses in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Climate Change Negotiations (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I have a detailed response regarding the whole-of-government response to the weather conditions over the past number of days. All the issues the Deputy has raised will be considered under the national mitigation plans and national adaptation frameworks and how we adapt what we are doing at the moment to how we respond to the weather events of the past number of days. There is an energy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Climate Change Negotiations (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I assure the Deputy that is Government is very serious about climate change. The 21st conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP21, is currently taking place in Paris and is scheduled to run until tomorrow when some 196 parties, including Ireland, will hopefully finalise a new legally binding global agreement on climate change. An...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Applications (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I accept the Deputy inquires regularly about the Leader programme. As he is aware, the preparation and submission of local development strategies under the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 is under way in each of the 28 designated subregional areas. A minimum period of six months to the end of January 2016 has been allowed for the submission of strategies by all...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Applications (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: Yes, I expect the bulk of the strategies to be submitted in January. Just six local development strategies have been received for evaluation, three of which will be considered next week by the panel of experts in the independent selection committee. It is a requirement that these strategies be subject to robust assessment by the committee. I appreciate the Deputy understands the programme...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Applications (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Applications (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: A long-drawn-out process is not desirable at all. I believe what will happen is that once strategies are approved and once the areas see that money is coming down to the communities, the other strategies will come in very quickly on the back of approval of contracts.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Policy (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I am fully committed to supporting the development and revitalisation of rural Ireland , through advancing the implementation of the recommendations in the report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, also known as the CEDRA report. As the Deputy will be aware, the first recommendation of the CEDRA report relates to the preparation of a clear and committed Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: 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 noise limit of 40 decibels for future windenergy developments, - a mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres between a...