Results 241-260 of 432 for speaker:Niall Blaney

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: Before he does, I wish to ask Professor Dunlop one more question. Investigations are ongoing by Engineers Ireland on behalf of the Department. Is pyrrhotite part of the investigation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: I welcome the three groups and thank them for their presentations. Moreover, I thank them for their work. Without their input, this scheme would not have the same credibility. Their work is important. The scheme has been difficult for people across the country. When people are under attack because their homes are falling down around them, there is much uncertainty. It is important that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: That is critically important. Likewise, there is the issue with the foundations because there are many homeowners in Donegal who are ready to go with the new scheme. They have the background work done and are waiting for the new scheme to happen. It has been turmoil for them but now they are afraid to go ahead because people are saying foundations are not safe. Who do we believe? There...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: May I make a quick comment on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Discussion (23 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: It is really important the scheme gets under way because there are so many homeowners. As a mica homeowner myself and knowing so many whose houses have mica, it is really important the scheme gets under way because it will allow people get their lives back together as well. It is not just the houses; it is personal.

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Second Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: I thank the Minister for attending to discuss this vital legislation, which I strongly support. I thank some of the Opposition spokespersons for their thoughtful approach to this legislation. Both Senators Boyhan and Flynn talked about bringing this legislation back to the people. They are 100% right that this legislation must be about the applicants and the affected homeowners.It is about...

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: I acknowledge the work that has gone into this scheme and its evolution since 2020, as alluded to the last day. I have never witnessed legislation evolve like this, with such access given by a Minister to his departmental officials. I sincerely thank the Minister for that access to his officials. It was useful to work with them in changing the scheme dramatically. I acknowledge Senator...

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: I understand where the Senator is coming from in relation to this amendment but I would have concerns that that review has to be sufficient and widespread, and comprehensive. As such, I do not see it being done in a timespan that will allow this scheme to take off. I believe the scheme has to start now. I have been an advocate of ensuring that the old scheme was never gotten rid of because...

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: Everybody in this House represents the homeowners. We all speak for homeowners. We speak to homeowners. Certainly, I have been spent as much time as any other public representative in these Houses on this scheme - hundreds of hours over the past two years - and I would like to think I was doing the work on behalf of homeowners who consult with me. I also recognise that there are those...

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: I get where Senator Gavan is coming from in terms of this matter. As the owner of a home damaged by mica and someone who has witnessed cracks go down the side of his wall, I can say that cracks open at a fairly sharp rate. Over two years a crack that is 1.5 mm will very quickly increase in size, and so much so that one can put one's hand through the wall. I get where the Senator is coming...

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: Would people have to submit a new application?

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: I thank the Minister for his reply. There is an engineer from Donegal working on the scheme who has a case where the works were approved for level 2 remediation of outer wall. On starting the works, it was realised that the rate of deterioration was such that there was much more extensive damage. On further inspection, the building in question now needs level 1 remediation. The Minister...

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: I do not fully subscribe to the amendment as put forward. There has been spin in respect of the scheme and this is part of it. The scheme covers 100% of the cost. It was a big step to get the Minister to allow downsizing. Many applicants want to downsize and it is good that they are allowed to do so under the Bill. I refer to what I said earlier, however, in respect of whether a...

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: They will be exempt as well.

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged By the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: I do not agree with this amendment for practical reasons.We have all seen developments being undertaken and jobs being done by developers over the years. When developers are under pressure, they move around jobs. The longer we extend the period for completion and the more flexibility is given in that regard, the more a developer will move around sites. That means more pain for homeowners....

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: That is not true.

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: I reiterate what I said earlier. Sinn Féin has done an awful lot of spinning over the course of this debate. There has been no end to it these past few weeks. It is interesting that a review of this legislation was announced in June 2021. The party's spokesperson on housing was asked, like all of us in these Houses, to make a contribution to help fix the scheme. We knew there were...

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: Senators are constantly referring to the foundations being an issue, yet nobody has come forward with a foundation that we can contribute to NSAI to be part of the scientific work that is ongoing. We are all talking about the bother with foundations, but nobody has yet produced a foundation anywhere where this problem does not exist. If Sinn Féin has knowledge of foundations, it would...

Seanad: Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (14 Jul 2022)

Niall Blaney: The Senator is talking rubbish again.