Results 101-120 of 915 for speaker:Aidan Davitt

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Uncertain Hours) Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I worked in Dunnes Stores.

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Uncertain Hours) Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: The Senator's party are just talkers.

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Uncertain Hours) Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Is this a Labour Bill or a Sinn Féin Bill?

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I raise the issue of the scourge of online gambling addiction. People in Ireland spend over €5 billion a year on gambling.This figure is not verified but that is the minimum figure the experts quote. Heretofore gambling problems were noticed by friends, other users of bookmakers or even bookmakers or cashiers living in their communities but this model no longer exists. We are facing...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I am. Any family that has suffered as a result of gambling addiction is all too aware of its traits: depression, serial deception, cheating, theft, financial destruction, broken homes, lost friends and often suicide. Adolescent years have been proved to be formative years and problems, particularly pathological ones, develop during these years. I call on the Minister to address the House...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: There has been a lot of work done on it. Since then bookmakers’ hours have increased. They can open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. The Betting (Amendment) Act 2015 was brought in to assist in the provision of licences for online gambling firms. This is a serious issue. It is getting out of control in Ireland and the Minister should address Members and bring forward this Bill as soon as...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: The Senator's amendment is a good concept. When I read it quickly at first, I presumed it pertained to the particular site on which one was looking for planning permission. Otherwise, for me it would not have made a lot of sense. The Senator has fleshed out the point about builders who have a site. I could name a whole pile of counties but there is no point in alienating any more people...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: They are selling three-bed semi-detached houses in several counties surrounding mine for perhaps €50,000. The cost of building those houses before paying levies or putting in infrastructure is a minimum of €150,000. That is a minimum. We want to get houses built and people in them. That is the problem. Senator Higgins's sentiment is dead right. I fully agree with it but...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: They could not be given away.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I have a brief query. Will the levies and planning fees revert to the councils in which they are raised? For argument's sake, if the planning permission is granted in County Westmeath and 200 units are provided directly under the new system, would the local council receive the revenue raised through the levies and planning fees?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: We suspended Standing Orders to take the Minister early and Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill was down to speak first. He was not here at 6.30 p.m. but he is entitled to speak.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: We suspended Standing Orders to take the Minister early and Senator Ó Domhnaill was to speak at 6.30 p.m.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: He did not know.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Am I allowed to speak?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I stated that they were not discussed together. I know the Acting Chairman has only been catapulted into this debate. She was not here earlier. The previous Chairman told us we were resuming at 6.30 p.m. on the dot.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: It could have been over by now.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: Will this power be an executive function of a council or a reserve function for councillors?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: I have sat here for the whole of this debate today. There are many aspects of this Bill that I would like to change and that I would do differently. We have to consider the serious matter we are trying to address. We are in the midst of a housing crisis and some of the issues being discussed are hair-splitting. We come in here every morning for Commencement Debates and listen to people...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: This Bill has to be progressed. Senator Boyhan, for example, has a great knowledge of planning issues and Senator Ó Clochartaigh was on a council for years. Like others here, they understand the mechanisms of planning and how slow it is. The Minister is trying to speed it up and bring in large sites that have not been in use or considered for planning because all these guys went bust....

Seanad: Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2016)

Aidan Davitt: It is a good amendment, but I seek clarification through the Chair. The wording is "formal council meeting" rather than "full council meeting". I presume that this refers to an in camerameeting of the executive and councillors.