Results 2,641-2,660 of 2,846 for speaker:Colm Brophy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: That is not the point that I made.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: With due respect-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: No. With due respect, I object to your last comment because there was an undertone to it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: I am sorry, but I object. I am making the point, which the Chairman is misinterpreting, that I have no problem with legal representatives attending as witnesses, but we should recognise the difference between the view being expressed by the Commission and the view being expressed by legal or other experts. Given the way in which the Chairman allowed the initial interjection, my point was on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: Did the Deputy ever pay water tax?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: Many of the core issues I wanted to raise have been addressed. However, I would like clarification on some points. Returning to the Scottish Water situation and a comment made earlier, which seemed to me to be enlightening in light of the Scottish Water's contribution to the committee, Scottish Water has the second most expensive water supply in Europe. It was indicated that there was an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: I thank Mr. Bradley for that contribution. He can, of course, respectfully suggest it, but the point I would make is that it is his legal opinion. He obviously is entitled to give it, but the committee has to make a decision that will go to the Dáil and the Oireachtas for implementation. I believe we have to be much more conscious of the fact that, as a result of a decision that is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Commission for Energy Regulation and Irish Water (14 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: My understanding from what the representatives of Scottish Water said last week was that its decision not to have meters had been entirely politically motivated by the SNP Government. From independent surveys, the result seems to be that Scottish Water consumers are paying some of the highest water charges in Europe. My understanding is the delivery of cost savings to customers, particularly...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Macroeconomic Outlook: IBEC (8 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: I wish to sound a cautionary follow-up on Deputy Lahart's point. From work I did on the housing committee at the start of this Dáil, there is potential for great growth in terms of the third level sector and the ability to attract international students. I think some of that is being realised but I think - a hobbyhorse of mine - there has to be a correlation between the willingness of...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Macroeconomic Outlook: IBEC (8 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: While I accept part of what Mr. O'Brien said in his response, there is a very valid point which the Department and the Government were considering. If one develops PPPs to such an extent and they come back on to the balance sheet through a ruling of EUROSTAT, there are major implications for the State. The cautionary approach still needs to be exercised. I take Mr. O'Brien's point that we...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Macroeconomic Outlook: IBEC (8 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: Living in Dublin contributing to that over dependence in Dublin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Scottish Water, Welsh Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation (8 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: I join the Chairman in welcoming the delegation and thanking them for attending this committee. I have a number of questions in respect of the information that has been provided. In Wales 53% of households have a meter. How does the billing mechanism work between the 53% of houses that have a meter and the remaining 47% of household that do not? Is there a noticeable difference between...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Scottish Water, Welsh Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation (8 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: I have a question on the charge element of the local property tax or local household charge or bill. Is that a fixed amount for every household? Does the charge vary in a local authority area, based on the overall bill? Is a fixed amount charged for water per year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Scottish Water, Welsh Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation (8 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: Is there a cost implication to having the meter fitted?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Scottish Water, Welsh Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation (8 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: I have spoken already, so if another Deputy wants to ask a quick question it is fine with me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Scottish Water, Welsh Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation (8 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: There is one thing I do not understand, though the answer seems to be related to a policy decision by the Scottish Government. Mr. Millican seems to be saying there is no effective way of enforcing conservation because his company has no meters. I understand why it has no meters because it is charging between £200 and £800 for a meter and between £100 and £300 for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Scottish Water, Welsh Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation (8 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: The information I have gives costs, admittedly in dollars to cubic meters, of Glasgow as the second highest, exceeded only by Copenhagen in Denmark, for water.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Scottish Water, Welsh Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation (8 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: This is information supplied to us by the water in Europe public services research unit. I take the point about individual costs per meter versus an extensive roll-out programme. I assume that making meters available on demand in Wales is an important aspect of providing the service, so that they have a choice to reduce their individual bills by conserving water. That choice seems to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Scottish Water, Welsh Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation (8 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: It is anti-conservation in nature.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Prisons, Penal Policy and Sentencing: Irish Penal Reform Trust (8 Feb 2017)

Colm Brophy: I want to follow up on the question asked by Deputy O'Callaghan. While he seemed happy with the answer, I have a problem with a particular aspect which I would like to tease through with the witnesses. There is a constant reference to minor offences that are deemed by certain groups or whatever to be low impact or not affecting victims. However, the reality in terms of victims of crime and...