Results 14,941-14,960 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: I look forward to that day when the Deputy has to make that decision.
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: I am delighted to be able to speak on this amendment relating to the committee. This is a unique moment because, as I stand here, I agree with Deputy Paul Murphy on this issue. This is a unique moment.
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: The eureka moment is that he used a phrase I was going to use, which is that the setting up of this committee is a sham. I am coming at it from a totally different perspective but it is a sham. It is a sham because-----
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: If the Minister will listen for a change, instead of interrupting all the time-----
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: The reason this committee is a sham is because it has a predetermined outcome. When the Minister unveils to the House his conversation with Commissioner Vella last Friday, we will all know that to be a fact. The Commissioner, with whom I have discussed this issue, will have made it known only too well to the Minister that the consequence of getting rid of or suspending water charges is that...
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: I am not misrepresenting the Commissioner.
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: I am not misrepresenting anything.
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: I say to the Minister that is what I predict will happen.
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: One second-----
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: To clarify-----
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: I will. To be clear, so the Minister cannot accuse me of misrepresenting anyone, given the discussions with Europe, I believe we will be left in a situation where this committee will have a predetermined outcome based on the advice the Minister has been given. I am sure the Attorney General has given him advice on the issue. I am sure he has asked her for it. I asked her for it before I...
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: -----or we have some form of affordable water charges based on the polluter pays principle. I know the Minister agrees with that principle. The consequences of what we have done here means that-----
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: -----this is the capacity of this committee to discuss the funding implications for Irish Water. Will the committee also discuss the Exchequer payments that will have to go to Irish Water-----
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: -----and the capital funding of Irish Water as a consequence of the action of suspending water charges?
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: Will the committee discuss, or will the Government allow it to discuss, where the funding will come from? Will it be taken from schools, health care-----
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: I-----
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: Fair enough. I take the Acting Chairman's advice.
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: Fine.
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: With the setting up of this committee and the process the Minister went through on the suspension of water charges, the Minister is in a unique situation, unfortunately, given the political arithmetic in which he has found himself in that the legislation he is proposing is questionable under European law. I consider the Minister to be in an unenviable situation. I do not think it is...
- Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (12 Jul 2016)
Alan Kelly: Wait a second. I will get to Irish law.