Results 141-160 of 1,874 for speaker:Richard O'Donoghue

Covid-19: Statements (8 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: A report from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, HPSC, indicates that 0.0002% of all outbreaks occur in hotels and 72% occur in private homes. I spoke this evening to the president of the Irish Hotels Federation. It wishes to meet the Department of Health and the Department of tourism. It is seeking an overall plan and for the Minister to tell it what it is missing, if anything. I...

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Budget Statement 2021 (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: I hate to be proven right.

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Budget Statement 2021 (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: There were eight members of the Green Party elected in Dublin and this is a Dublin budget. It is an embarrassment to see the Government and the Cabinet going along with this. It is an absolute disgrace. As my colleagues have said, there is nothing in this budget for rural Ireland. What about the people on the front line who we depended on to get food into the shops? The Minister, Deputy...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: None of this can happen unless we address the 2040 plan. In terms of planning permission, the way the 2040 plan is designed means that there will be no houses built outside of the city area because of the issue of emissions. Everyone who wants to build a house in the countryside or even in terms of the housing stock has to reflect the likely impact of emissions in their planning...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: Historically, many houses were designed in terms of streetscapes, such as semicircle with 12 houses. In housing estates people are passing all of the houses. It seems to work a lot better when there are communities. Each pocket works together and people are not passing somebody's house every day. Pockets of houses work better.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: It creates hubs.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: There has been a lot said about the housing crisis. The issue of accommodation above shops was also mentioned. The issues in regard to accommodation over shops are conservation and the planning guidelines. Every existing shop is on the sewerage infrastructure and all the services are in place so they offer a quicker way of releasing stock. It might be worthwhile providing for a separate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: I would like to address No. 17. In August and September, we have had flash floods around the country-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: That is fine. At the moment, the local authority is using rock salt but it is not adequate. It blows off dry roads, which means local authority workers have to go out two or three times before it works. We are looking for the brine solution. It is more efficient and it has been used in other councils and counties. It is far more efficient and it stays on dry roads. That is one of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: The next point is flood readiness. As I stated earlier, in August and September there were flash floods in areas not in flood plains. Again, we need to ensure our local authorities are ready and available with generators for localised flooding events. They need generators to pump water back into rivers. We need to discuss that with the Office of Public Works. Last year, no funds were...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: I will take the advice I am given and I am willing to be directed. I will make a quick point. Local authorities should abandon the proposal to have directly elected mayors. This is costing each local authority €500,000, although the Government if providing that funding. In these times, the local authorities should dispense with that until we have a country to live in. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: Is it possible to have a second meeting in one week?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: If possible, could we consider having the meetings on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, rather than Monday or Friday, because-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Committee Work Programme: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: I can do 6 o'clock on Monday morning without any problem.

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: I acknowledge that the budget gave many people hope of surviving financially during the Covid crisis. However, I do not support the measures it brought in under the green agenda as they hit rural Ireland to the core. Yesterday €3.8 billion was given to health. What will this mean for children with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, EDS? There are two children in my constituency with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Plan (14 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: 101. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the Climate Action Plan 2019 in view of the delays to electric vehicle manufacturing caused by Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30470/20]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (14 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: 106. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on aligning the regional airports programme with EU criteria so that both Shannon and Cork airports can access capital supplied along with aligning the national aviation policy with Project Ireland 2040 to strengthen the role of airports as key strategic assets for balance regional development. [30468/20]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: 121. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he has taken in respect of persons over 65 years of age and under 18 years of age for Covid-affected sole traders and self-employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30469/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (14 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: 238. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on college fees for the academic year in view of university and college institutions not being fully utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30471/20]

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Oct 2020)

Richard O'Donoghue: What is a primary medical certificate? A primary medical certificate allows a person with a disability to claim back VAT on a vehicle. It also allows for tax relief on the purchase and adoption of vehicles. For the past four years, the Minister for Finance has been embroiled in controversy over the criteria for this scheme. A case was challenged and went to the Supreme Court, and the...