Results 21,441-21,460 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: This is repetition

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not wish to delay this any further. I welcome the fact that the Minister will examine this in more detail. Senators Byrne and Walsh have tabled an expanded amendment for Report Stage. It is clear from the Minister's response and from the contributions of others in the course of the past hour that what is in the Bill is more than likely insufficient. I cannot understand how the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: What about an amendment to that Bill?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: It is not.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: That can be withdrawn or amended.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I am.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I said I was not convinced.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I thought Senator O'Donnell was independent.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: The speakers could come back in after the Minister’s response.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Thank you for clarifying that. Maybe after three or four more speakers the Minister might respond on those specific issues, because that would help some people decide on section 2.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Sorry; I have not concluded yet. I am yet to be absolutely convinced on that. I know the Minister has taken a note. I do not know whether it is the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, or the Minister, Deputy Kelly who is coming back in.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I would imagine he shall.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: -----particularly in this instance. It has been an absolute disaster. Anyone who is honest about it would say of the mess created - by both the former Minister, Commissioner Hogan, and the Cabinet - that Deputy Kelly comes in here, beats his chest and states correctly that he will sort it out, he recognises mistakes were made and it was a mess but his party leader, the Tánaiste, and...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: ----- I say, "Big deal". That is the job. I agree with Senator Cullinane. I myself do not share that view. People are entitled to contact their Oireachtas Members about issues that concern them and that is what people, in the hundreds and thousands, have been doing over the past number of days and weeks.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I will conclude shortly. I would invite the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, if he could, - I would invite the Minister, Deputy Kelly, to come back in to contribute sooner rather than later on this specific issue - to explain the complexity of having a referendum about the ownership of Irish Water staying with the Irish people in perpetuity. He cannot publish the Attorney General's advice...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: That is the real belt and braces. That is what is required, namely, that the Government put it into Bunreacht na hÉireann. The people want the ownership of the water in this country to be retained by the people of Ireland in perpetuity. Let them vote on it. What is the problem with them voting on it? I have not yet got an answer to that.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister of State should tell me what the problem is. Is it a political decision that Fine Gael and the Labour Party have made or are there really complex areas that the Government cannot deal with, or is it that the Government will not deal with those areas? I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, or the Minister, Deputy Kelly, whenever he returns this evening, to answer that...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: At what time does the Leas-Chathaoirleach reckon we will get a response from the Minister to the queries? Will that be at the end of Committee Stage?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: One of the fundamental flaws in this and one of the biggest concerns people have is the ownership of water and whether it can be sold on. I heard the Minister say that no Government in its right mind would do this, that or the other. I do not agree. One can go back to the Minister of State's party and look at the NewERA document and the proposed establishment of the strategic investment...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not believe that is true. The Senators thought it was not necessary. Why was it necessary only a matter of weeks ago but it is not necessary now? My opinion as to why it is believed that it is not necessary is because within the Labour Party, the party leader and Tánaiste in discussions with Ministers at Cabinet, told Labour Party Members that this was causing too much...