The problems and the challenges that the Deputy has outlined really stem back to the local authorities. I think there needs to be unity between the two local authorities in terms of the delivery. I know-----

I appreciate that. On the chapter on future focus, the report states that the task force has been active in its consideration of further improvements to social and affordable housing delivery, including greater use of modular housing, more effective partnerships with AHBs, higher density brownfield development, greater diversity in house and apartment size, greater urgency around the use of infill sites in urban areas and ongoing active liaison with the LDA. The Deputy referred to a city architect. I think that is …

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 40 together. The company referenced has been successful in an Uisce Éireann public procurement process and is one of eight companies placed on a framework for the provision of project management services in the delivery of the capital investment plan. The framework covers technical and project management services across water and wastewater. Uisce Éireann is the national water services authority for the provision of safe, clean, affordable and environmentally compliant water a…

The purpose of the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023 is to provide for the number of Members of Dáil Éireann and the European Parliament, the revision of Dáil and European Parliament constituencies and the number of Members to be elected for each of such constituencies in the light of the results of census 2022, and having regard to European Council decision of 22 September 2023 establishing the composition of the European Parliament. In broad terms, the Bill we are debating provides for the total number of Members o…

Again, by way of reassurance, when local authorities were in the stewardship of the provision of water and wastewater services there were always design build operate, DBO, contracts in place for the delivery of water and wastewater services. It is the case, as I stated at the start, that this is for the delivery of project management for Uisce Éireann. The utility that is Uisce Éireann is publicly owned. Again, I stress that will remain the case unless it is changed by a vote that is put to the people. The work tha…

Again, there is a commitment to a referendum on the public ownership of water. Uisce Éireann as a public utility is enshrined in legislation, and that would have to be changed through subsequent legislation. That is the case. I will go back to the point of the DBO projects. I refer to the scale of the challenge for water and wastewater delivery. In this House, we speak on a daily basis about the delivery of housing, but the delivery of infrastructure for water and wastewater is a critical component of that. Uisce É…

I thank the Senators for their contributions. Before closing, I will respond to some of the points they raised. The overarching thing I will say relates to the point made by Senator Boyhan on the draft research programme and the 12 January deadline. We might be able to write submissions with the Christmas pudding. It is important. I cannot stress how important it is that political parties and individual members of the public bring forward submissions because it is broad. There is a stream called the blue sky stream…

Yes, but the commission will be able to offer guidance to returning officers. Addresses can be quite vague. It could be listed, for instance, as Swords, County Dublin. It does not necessarily need to be a specific address. Again, to give assurance on that, we have given a commitment to trying to change the legislative element of that, but the commission will issue guidance to returning officers such that when a candidate is registering, they do not have to be as specific about their home address. I met representati…

The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority was established, and its functions commenced, on 17 July 2023. Up to year-end 2023, the focus of operations is to build on the pre-established work of my Department, embedding both the governance structures and the consenting regime of the agency. A recruitment process is currently under way to enable MARA build expertise in its people, processes and technology. In undertaking its work, MARA has prioritised the development of its consenting processes for maritime area consents…

I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy. This is critically important for the State and our ambition in offshore renewables. I assure the Deputy the Government is ensuring the resources required for MARA to deliver on that ambition are put in place and there is support to do so. As I said, it has gone from a standing start when its functions commenced on 17 July this year towards looking at the resources it needs. It has a very good board in place, chaired by Mark Mellet, a retired vice admiral of the Naval Service.…

I again agree wholeheartedly. There is no doubt there is a race on and it is not just on in Ireland, but right across Europe and globally. The resources the Deputy spoke about are therefore required across the world. Ireland is competing in a very competitive market for the expertise required. The Department has worked on giving certainty to the sector. The delivery of offshore renewables is interrelated with the marine environment, special protection areas for birds and all those areas. We are working to ensure ou…

I thank the Deputy for asking this question. He and I were both present at the launch of Waterways Ireland's ten-year strategy down the street from Leinster House. It presents very exciting opportunities, including, as the Deputy said, regarding the potential for our navigable waterways to be economic drivers in rural communities in particular. The navigation to Lough Allen through the Lough Allen canal was restored and reopened in 1994. Since then, Waterways Ireland has developed and maintained facilities for boat…

I again agree wholeheartedly with everything the Deputy has said. The potential here is immense, especially for parts of rural Ireland and the Border counties. It could provide a viable and vital economic driver for the region. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I are deeply committed to supporting the work of Waterways Ireland in trying to achieve that, along with partners. The tourism master plan is the vehicle by which these projects can be delivered. On the specific project, it is in a process so I will not comm…

I thank the Deputy and Deputy Feighan for the work they have done on this matter. As I said, the process is ongoing and the tender package is being prepared around the new environmental impact assessment, EIA, for the project. We will await the outcome of that. One thing I was conscious of at the launch of the strategic plan was that Waterways Ireland is showing a level of ambition for our waterways that is very exciting and not just here in Dublin. It has ambition along the Grand Canal in respect of live-aboards a…

I might begin by addressing a number of the points raised by Deputies. I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. If it is okay, I will revert to Deputy Bacik on the issue of Housing Agency valuations and market values. Deputy O'Callaghan raised points about the RTB and the dispute resolution in respect of deposits. Legislation to improve the efficiency of the RTB, along with additional staffing, is being brought forward. The RTB provides a free mediation service. Moreover, there is going to be a statement o…

These matters are being considered in detail by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Office of the Attorney General. The general scheme of the residential tenancies (right to purchase) Bill was approved by the Government on 24 October as the basis for priority legal drafting. That drafting is under way with the aim of publication during the Oireachtas session. We are exploring every opportunity to add supply to the rental sector and the overall housing system. My Department is finalisin…

That is not true.

I move: That it be an instruction to the Committee on the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023, that pursuant to Standing Order 187, the Committee has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing provisions of the Bill in relation to giving effect to European Council Decision (EU) 2023/2061 of 22nd September, 2023, establishing the composition of the European Parliament, and providing for the revision of European Parliament constituencies including the number of members to be elected …

The intent of the Bill is to provide for constituency revision having regard to the recent reviews of our Dáil and European Parliament constituencies by An Coimisiún Toghcháin. It was never intended that the Bill provide for miscellaneous amendments to the Electoral Acts as would be the case were the scope of the Bill to be extended. Notwithstanding the scope of the Bill, the practice of publishing postal addresses on ballot papers is an important issue, as the Deputy has said, in light of the concerns that have be…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, line 7, to delete “Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017;” and substitute the following: “Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017; to give effect to European Council Decision (EU) 2023/2061 of 22 September 2023 establishing the composition of the European Parliament; and for that purpose to revise European Parliament constituencies; to provide for the number of members to be elected for such European Parliament constituencies; to amend the European Parl…