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Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)

John Paul Phelan: ...councils were great. Town councils were not just outdated but completely antidemocratic to the majority of the population who lived outside of towns. That is why I firmly believe that the municipal district system is far fairer. There is no reason, by the way, it could not be extended into the city authorities as well and we could have a municipal district system within city...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)

John Paul Phelan: .... Between that and the planning framework, we are, in the midst a housing crisis, telling local authorities the maximum number of houses they can build, including in major urban areas. It is far too rigid a system. It is inflexible when it comes to things that emerge from time to time. The Office of the Planning Regulator originated in the wild west days of local government. The idea...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (13 Dec 2022)

John Paul Phelan: ...I remember being in Andy's Bar in Ballyhale after the local elections and European elections of 2014. The European Commissioner had not been appointed. Bobby looked over at me, obviously knowing far more than I did about who the European Commissioner was going to be and the likelihood of a by-election coming up in Carlow–Kilkenny. He was the epitome of the perfect candidate for a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2022)

John Paul Phelan: ...of the Islamic Republic killed 22-year-old Ms Mahsa Amini for deeming her not to be wearing an appropriate hijab while she visited Tehran from her native city in the Kurdistan region of Iran. So far, nearly 500 people have been killed, including more than 40 members of the media, and almost 17,000 people have been arrested. Is it true that Ireland is considering opening or will open an...

Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security: Statements (12 May 2022)

John Paul Phelan: .... If he gets the opportunity in his concluding comments, I ask the Minister to answer a question that was asked of me at the Glenmore Fine Gael annual general meeting last Friday night by a sheep farmer, Mr. Jim Grennan, who comes from many generations involved in sheep farming. He asked why kale and turnips, which are tillage products that many sheep producers across the country would...

Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Bill 2022: Second Stage (3 Feb 2022)

John Paul Phelan: ...they provide energy but they do not really provide any alternatives. Too often in this House and other chambers across the country, politicians of all stripes but particularly of the left and far left have portrayed an idea that there are easy options for energy. What do I mean by that? Currently in Ireland the Corrib gas field, for example, provides 40% of our gas needs but there...

Easing of Covid-19 Restrictions: Statements (2 Feb 2022)

John Paul Phelan: ...of, for want of a better term, kite-flying, whether it was coming from the political sector or from those involved, either directly or indirectly, with the National Public Health Emergency Team was far from acceptable. I happened to be at some of the public health meetings at the end of the last Government when the virus was here first. One thing that struck me even then was the swift...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (15 Jun 2021)

John Paul Phelan: 1107. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the fees imposed on personal applicants in respect of probate applications is far greater than the amount which solicitors are charged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30677/21]

Covid-19 (Local Government): Statements (27 May 2020)

John Paul Phelan: Deputy Danny Healy-Rae raised this as well and I agree fully. It has to be far too much ideology in terms of rural planning in general. It is a multifaceted answer but there are two obvious issues. First, there are the serviced sites on the edges of our towns and villages. There is also the dispersed rural housing, the once-off rural house. I am acutely familiar with some of the issues...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Mayoral Election (5 Mar 2020)

John Paul Phelan: ...of business, community, academic and student interests. Information on the Group, including its membership, terms of reference, meeting agendas and reports, are available at the following link: . The Groups primary focus so far has been on determining the scope of the role, particularly identifying substantive new functions and responsibilities, and matching resources,...

Seanad: Local Government Funding: Statements (5 Dec 2019)

John Paul Phelan: ...1 billion in Exchequer funding. Over 7,000 of those 11,000 homes will come from various build programmes. This means that in 2020, there will be more new-build homes in the social housing sector than in any other year so far this century. Budget 2020 has maintained strong support for local authorities. This Government has not been found wanting. In 2020, it will provide €156...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (27 Nov 2019)

John Paul Phelan: ...of staffing and budgetary constraints. My Department is working with Sligo County Council on the staffing requests mentioned in the question. Significant additional resources were made available to Sligo County Council in the context of the financial plan, far in excess of additional support to any other local authority. Any further funding for Sligo County Council, will be...

Report of the Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (7 Nov 2019)

John Paul Phelan: ...questions to be asked, for example, whether the panel structure, which was introduced with the Constitution in the late 1930s, is fit for purpose? Do the proposed reforms of the panel system go far enough? I note that the implementation group supports the proposal in the Manning Bill for a single six-seat university constituency, the franchise for which would be extended to other...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Harbour Authorities (22 Oct 2019)

John Paul Phelan: ...lay the accounts before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Department has a prudential role with regard to the financial integrity of all local authorities and to ensure that local authorities' finances, as far as is practicable, are on a sustainable footing. In that regard, it is my Department's position that in the case of all port transfers, the relevant local authority should not be...

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

John Paul Phelan: ..., as proposed, satisfactory or are there more fundamental questions to be asked such as, for example, whether the panel structure is fit for purpose? Do the proposed reforms of the panel system go far enough? I note that the implementation group supports the proposal in the Manning Bill for a single six-seat university constituency, the franchise for which would be extended to other...

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

John Paul Phelan: Most of the speakers so far have had some basis to what they said. What the Senator has said are utter lies.

Seanad: Seanad Reform Implementation Group: Statements (24 Sep 2019)

John Paul Phelan: ...;il. The Senator is right to ask that the Dáil give its view quickly. The Government does not disagree with the suggestion that the Dáil needs to be central to whatever reform takes place in the Seanad. Insofar as I can, I will push to ensure that the Dáil engages in a debate on the report as soon as possible and, subsequently, any legislation that may follow on from it....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regeneration Projects (18 Sep 2019)

John Paul Phelan: ...state-of-the-art community facilities, large-scale housing regeneration and new development and support for local enterprise and employment through various social regeneration initiatives ensured the success so far of the Ballymun regeneration programme. The redevelopment of the shopping centre site will complete the regeneration of this area. It is expected, following the completion of...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

John Paul Phelan: ...in their rates bill. The likelihood of such increases occurring will lessen as the revaluation programme completes, and the revaluation cycle becomes regular. As Senator Gavan pointed out, it has been far from regular in the past 30 to 40 years and that is what has led to the significant jumps in valuation because we have not had an ongoing revaluation process. I referred yesterday to...