Results 181-200 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: 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.

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: There must be because many suppliers from County Donegal would supply across the Border just as those from across the Border would supply in Donegal. There is natural trade across the Border. There has to be.

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: There is no scheme of which I am aware.

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: In relation to the quarries in County Donegal, there was more than one quarry involved in the county. On the point that was made on professional indemnity insurance, we do not want to see this becoming a bone of contention as the scheme rolls out. I have one quick question on that. What are the organisations represented actively doing with the Government, specifically the Minister for...

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 thank both deputations for coming. This has been a very worthwhile exercise and I thank them for their involvement to date. Sometimes this issue has got very heated, but we recognise the witnesses bring a very important element to ensuring the scheme works. We also appreciate the fact the scheme has evolved so much. That flexibility has resolved many issues on the ground. There are...

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: A damage threshold has been included to ensure the houses that are worst affected are looked about. A situation might arise in a county as dispersed as Donegal whereby an area such as Buncrana has an awful lot of these houses versus the area where I am from that has fewer such houses. More builders may be available for a time, given that they may all be taken up with work in Buncrana. The...

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 have two points to follow on. I back the point made by Deputy Conway-Walsh about personal circumstances and finance requirements for the damage threshold. I believe it is only right that personal circumstances would come into that situation. There are many individuals who are in hard economic and personal situations. I would extend this further where certain individuals find themselves...

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 get 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: I just feel that is wrong because that is part of the make-up and it cannot be left to fall down on top of a kid. An accident could happen. There are many accidents that could happen in this regard. It is not about blowing this out of the water. I am just being realistic about it.

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: We have had many deliberations in recent years. There is a realisation that not only in Donegal, Mayo or Clare because of mica but nationally because of the demand for building houses there is a lack of builders. I have spoken to the head of the local employment office in Donegal who is very receptive to the idea I am going to put to the Department. I suggest there should be specific...

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: When the commotion settles-----

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: I want to welcome the Minster to the House-----

Seanad: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Second Stage (21 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: I commend the Bill and the work that has gone into it heretofore. The establishment of an electoral commission under the Bill is monumental and overdue. Any democratic Government must aim to include as many people as possible in the electoral process and remove barriers to voting. There are also welcome changes to incentivise electoral boundary decision-making processes that will hopefully...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. David Donoghue and Mr. Rory Montgomery (2 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: I thank the Acting Chairman. Both Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Donoghue are most welcome today. This is a fascinating series for many of us. Many of us feel that this is particularly important work given the background that they themselves have explained in relation to the Good Friday Agreement, and for us to discover how it came about because many of us would like to see this island united as a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Mr. David Donoghue and Mr. Rory Montgomery (2 Jun 2022)

Niall Blaney: Were there are any other parties? Was it just the DUP and UUP that opposed the Good Friday Agreement at that stage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement: Mr. Tim O'Connor (26 May 2022)

Niall Blaney: I welcome Mr O'Connor. I heard him say he is a bit of a nerd. I think that on this topic he is joined by a lot of nerds around the table.