Results 181-200 of 23,052 for speaker:Paddy Burke

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (16 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: I thank the Cathaoirleach. You learn something new every day. Today, we found out there are two Father Teds. Like Senator Cummins, I offer my commiserations to Senator Boyhan and my congratulations on letting his name go forward. I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and wish him, Conchobar and their families the very best of luck during his term as Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann. This...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This is important legislation to restore confidence in An Bord Pleanála. I remember when Bertie Ahern was Taoiseach, which is quite a few years ago - we have had a number of Taoisigh since then - he brought forward legislation to fast track the planning process for large projects. Since then, the whole system has actually slowed down, in...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: It is a weakness in the case for such arrangements. I would be wary that it might put members under stress and lead to corruption or whatever else. The members of An Bord Pleanála are well paid, as Senator Boyhan said. At every meeting, the question should be asked as to whether members have a vested interest in the cases being dealt with. They should have to sign a declaration...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: I thank the Cathaoirleach and congratulate him and the staff of the House for organising the magnificent celebration of 100 years of Seanad Éireann. I support Senator Seán Kyne in his calls for the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, to step up to the plate, especially since it now has the backing of the Bradley report, to address the many issues he has raised this morning.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: Senator Kyne and I have raised several issues over the last six months relating to Inland Fisheries Ireland. We have asked for the Minister to come into the House and for the Bradley report to be discussed here. We have not succeeded with any of it. If we do not have some action in the early part of the next session, we will have no choice but to bring forward a Private Members' motion...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: I do not think it affects councillors at this stage. I understand that the councillors’ class has changed and that-----

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: I would dispute the ruling that was made in relation to the two previous amendments. This funding is paid by individuals into the pot. It is not Exchequer funding. I dispute the ruling that is made here. Those amendments have been rightly tabled to be discussed on the floor of the House. Senators Craughwell and Boyhan had to find a way around amendment No. 19 so that the Minister would...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: I thank the Minister for giving a genuine reply to the matters raised in this amendment. We will undertake to bring this to the committee. I thank the Minister for saying she or her staff will be available to come before the committee and that the material she has will be furnished to it.

Seanad: Cuimhneachán ar Chothrom Céad Bliain an Chéad Suí de Seanad Éireann – 11 Nollaig 1922 - Commemoration of the Centenary of the First Sitting of Seanad Éireann – 11 December 1922 (12 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: It is a great honour to say a few words on the 100th anniversary of Seanad Éireann. I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and the staff of the Houses for organising this great event. I welcome the Taoiseach and members of the Government as well as former Members of Seanad Éireann. I wonder what the Members of this House thought 100 years ago on this day. It was after the First World...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: I compliment the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, on finding a solution for the crib at Saint Stephen's Green. I have no doubt at all that thousands of people will visit the crib in the Phoenix Park, which is an ideal location for it. It will be much more accessible to the public and people who will visit Dublin to shop. It is a real sign of Christmas when the crib is on display. I...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: It is very hard to follow some of the great contributions. We all knew Terry Brennan as a friend. He had no enemies and that can be seen from all the contributions made here today. Terry Brennan had no enemies at all; he had all friends. There were three things Terry tended to speak about in the House. One was that he must have scored ten or 15 points in every match he played for Cooley....

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister. How does the Government know whether the scheme is going to be a success? Does the Department compile figures weekly, monthly or every six months? The recommendation would provide for a six-monthly report to be laid before the Houses, so I am sure the Department will want to know how successful the scheme will be. Moreover, for future planning, that type of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: Will the Minister clarify something in regard to the cargo bicycle provision in section 8? Some bicycles used by post office workers have a cargo space at the front of the bike or in between the two wheels, while many other cyclists pull an additional frame, which may be used for their kids and so on. Will that qualify? These frames are not an integral part of the bike but they can be...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: I welcome this initiative and the Minister's commitment. I am a long-time advocate of this measure as well. There is nothing better than to see people living in the centre of towns and cities, and villages for that matter. When people start to move out, everybody moves out. Nobody wants to live in the centre of a town on their own. I can well see when people move in now, more and more...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: I wish to ask the Minister about a problem with solar panel farms or solar photovoltaic farms. As a country, we want to get people into all forms of electricity or energy generation, whether offshore or onshore, wind or photovoltaic. However, where farmers give over their farms, whether or not they rent them long-term to companies, for solar farms - not turbine farms but solar photovoltaic...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: I thank the Minister for clarifying part of that. I did not see anywhere else in the Bill to raise the matter. I wish to bring it to the attention of the Government because it will be a Government issue, I presume.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: I refer to the vacant homes tax, VHT. It was supposed to be introduced on 7 November 2022, a date which has come and gone, with a filing date of the end of January 2023, I presume. Will this tax now not come into being until 7 November 2023 or are we legislating retrospectively? The penalty a person has to pay is three times the local property tax, LPT. Someone may have a vacant house in...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: On the dates, from what the Minister said, I understand the first payment for people who fall under these criteria year will be January 2024. Is that correct?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: The residential zoned land tax will have some difficulties, I presume, in its implementation, particularly in rural villages and rural towns. As I understand from what the Minister of State proposes, the landowner can apply not to have his land zoned. Would that be the case? If it is not zoned, he does not fall under the criteria even though the land may have all the services. Would it be...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Paddy Burke: Will the Minister of State clarify what the services are? I refer to all of the services needed, whether they be water, sewerage, public lighting and footpaths. When will they be laid down in law? I presume they will be. What is entailed? The Minister of State said it has to be zoned and serviced land. What does serviced land mean in the law that would require payment of the serviced...