Results 6,321-6,340 of 9,933 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: This was a Government decision to sink €500 million into the ground for something we now know it was at all times advised was not necessary.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I argued trenchantly a few days ago for giving the forum another task, but I was only using the forum because it was an available device within the legislation. It is extremely weak. What greatly concerns me about the legislation in general is the Minister's extremely broad powers to regulate various matters including, in this case, the membership of the forum. The Minister is giving...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: I said the opposite.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: The Government has made at least 20 U-turns on this in the last couple of months. I sincerely hope we reach section 10-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: -----which deals with the €0.5 billion bailout which the Senator is standing over this morning.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: It would be an interesting feature of this debate if somebody distilled the Labour Party contributions and separated the heckles from the substantive contributions.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: It is nearly all heckles from the Labour Party in the course of this debate. There have been very few substantial contributions. The forum should have another function, which is to investigate the story yesterday on RTE radio. Bord Gáis told the Government-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Thomas Byrne: It is very specific. What the trade unions, the commercial water users and the householders want to know is why the Government pressed ahead with the metering programme despite being told by Bord Gáis, the experts in this area, that it was not necessary. Cui bono, who benefits? That is the question the public is asking. The question the public is asking is why €500 million was...

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

Thomas Byrne: On the basis that the Minister has not said he will come back to us on Monday on this issue, I have no option but to press it. He was asked a number of times to do so.

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

Thomas Byrne: Will the Minister come back on Monday on Report Stage with this?

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

Thomas Byrne: Yes, I am. I would rather the Minister give a commitment to come back on Monday on Report Stage on this.

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

Thomas Byrne: We had a Private Members’ motion recently on the privatisation of Irish Water which the Labour Party bravely supported. The Minister said then he would come back on this. Through all the hours of debate, we have shown we are not satisfied with what he proposed.

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

Thomas Byrne: I have come the minimum distance to come closer to the Minister on it but he has rejected it. Senator Gilroy said we need to change the wording. If he has ideas on this, I will sit with for the next hour to change the amendment for Report Stage. However, I got the reply from him that why should he help me with my amendments. We are trying to help him actually.

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

Thomas Byrne: We are trying to help the Government make this Bill better. That is what all our amendments are about. I urge colleagues to support this amendment. If they have difficulties with the wording, we have Report Stage to make those amendments. The forum has already been given quite complicated tasks and is well able to look at this issue. The customers of Irish Water will be the citizens, or...

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

Thomas Byrne: Will another situation arise whereby we have to change it again?

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

Thomas Byrne: I did not.

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

Thomas Byrne: I said it was the only body that could do it.

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

Thomas Byrne: I will be brief. I am not going to match that style of speech. This was a genuine attempt to use a vehicle in the Bill to come halfway between our position and the position of the Government. Labour Party Senators did a brave thing in supporting a Seanad motion calling for the non-privatisation of Irish Water. This is one way we can put that into action. We cannot initiate legislation in...

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

Thomas Byrne: This was a vehicle to do it.

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

Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 8: In page 4, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following:“(8) The Forum established under section 7 of this Act shall not later than seven months after the passing of this Act, meet and consider a proposal to amend the Constitution of Ireland to incorporate a provision prohibiting the alienation of any share or shares in Irish Water or its assets or any part...