Results 3,581-3,600 of 4,908 for speaker:Diarmuid Wilson

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: But a subsidiary nonetheless. There is genuine concern among the public that it will be next for privatisation. Would it not be wise, therefore, to reverse the decision to sell this division of Bord Gáis to allay these fears? The Minister of State referred to two other semi-State companies - ESB and Bord na Móna - that could have taken on Irish Water. Were they invited to examine the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: We oppose this section because of the manner in which the tender was awarded to Bord Gáis. There should have been a public tender and we do not see what the rush was for except to divert awkward questions from the Taoiseach, the relevant Minister and the Government as a whole to Bord Gáis. We object to the company being formed on the basis that there should have been a public tender....

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd to the House. These are difficult days for the Minister and the people of County Louth as a result of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. I offer my condolences to the Minister, the people of his county and to the family of Detective Garda Donohoe in County Cavan, where he hailed from originally. I wish to clarify the situation...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Mairead McGuinness, MEP (29 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I will not take that amount of time. My colleague, Acting Chairman, Senator Mooney, tells me I should refer to Ms Mairead McGuinness, MEP, as "Deputy McGuinness". I did not know that until today. She is very welcome. It is refreshing to hear somebody who knows her brief inside out, and not only represents the farming community in Brussels so well but also lives the life at home. She...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I join other Senators in sympathising with Senators Henry and Clune on the recent deaths of their mothers. I also sympathise with the de Buitléar family on the death of former Senator Éamon de Buitléar. In particular, I join my colleagues in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the vicious and callous murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was a native of Kilnaleck, County...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: There are tough lambs in the Cooley.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: Is the Senator saying the Tánaiste did not make those comments?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: We are up the country.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: It does not matter about the potential 1,600 people who may lose their jobs.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: Excuse me, the Government went ahead-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: She is inviting interruption.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Government went ahead with a decision to give it to Bord Gáis Éireann without allowing the Oireachtas committee the courtesy of waiting for its report.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: What the committee reported back was irrelevant because the Government had made its decision.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I am doing my best.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: It should have been publicly tendered.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: It should have been publicly tendered.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: We would have extended to the joint committee the courtesy of waiting for its report.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: The Taoiseach has been unable to give any detail or proper answers about his Government's proposals for introducing water charging and dismantling the current water service system. In their haste to hand the multi-million euro contract for water and wastewater services to Bord Gáis, the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Hogan, could not even wait for the Oireachtas committee to complete...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: I welcome the Minister of State and acknowledge his comments that the Bill will not be rushed and that he is open to accepting amendments as it progresses. I regret that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, who is primarily responsible for this legislation is not with us, but he has sent a very capable replacement.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Diarmuid Wilson: Whatever our disagreements - I will come to Senator Denis Landy and the Labour Party - we all agree that this is an important development and appreciate the need to protect and invest in our water sources. That is why Fianna Fáil is deeply concerned about the entire process and the thinking which has given rise to the short Bill before us. For the past year we have witnessed considerable...