Results 18,221-18,240 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

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

Alan Kelly: It is a separate Bill. A question was asked as to whether I gave a direction to local authorities and the answer is "No". In regard to payments, a range of flexible payment systems will be put in place for those who find it difficult to pay the charges. Senators will be glad to know that I have insisted on An Post being used as part of the payment plan option, a suggestion raised in this...

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

Alan Kelly: Why would it have to be included in it?

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

Alan Kelly: I have asked colleagues to trust my bona fides in what I said previously. They have a choice to make on whether they should do so. I am a reasonable person. I will look at this issue; I will consult and revert to the House on it. It is up to them to decide whether they want to accept this.

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

Alan Kelly: There may be another forum that could be constituted to assuage the concerns about how this Bill proposes to deal with the privatisation issue. I am doing so on the basis of the amendment put down by Senator Byrne.

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

Alan Kelly: I do not believe this needs to be in the legislative process.

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

Alan Kelly: That has nothing to do with me accepting the amendments or not. I will look at the idea of a forum and some other way of dealing with this.

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

Alan Kelly: I am giving a firm commitment here and now that I will look at the amendment in that spirit. Please, take my word on that. I might even surprise Senators opposite on it.

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

Alan Kelly: The House may also want to consider this issue. Whatever process is created, either through this legislation or outside of it, it could be used as a precedent. In the future, there may be other issues which could use the same model.

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

Alan Kelly: I am not that new.

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

Alan Kelly: I was annoyed until the Senator said that.

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

Alan Kelly: There is not another Minister that is as pro-Seanad Éireann as I am. I was a Member of this House. While I have been lucky enough to be a member of every body-House to which one can be elected in this country, I was first a Member of this House and I respect it. I ask that Members respect me. A couple of Senators have questioned my sincerity. I do not think that is fair. I am doing...

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

Alan Kelly: I thank Senators for their support for it. I hope Senators appreciate that I am deliberately not prescribing the full terms of the forum because I think it appropriate that the relevant committee first discuss the matter. I do not have the monopoly on how the forum should be run. It will be a forum for customers and will not discuss the type of issues raised here. It is particularly a...

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

Alan Kelly: -----that will not concern me if it is the right thing to do. There is never the wrong time to do the right thing. If the Dáil needs to reconvene to deal with an amendment made by the Seanad I will have no issue with that.

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

Alan Kelly: I am well able for that discussion. I do not believe this issue needs to be addressed by way of the legislative process. There may be other amendments on Report Stage. I have already introduced two amendments on Report Stage in the Dáil based on amendments already tabled by Deputies Denis Naughten and Stephen S. Donnelly. This amendment does not need to be part of the legislative...

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

Alan Kelly: I would appreciate it if the Senator took that back.

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

Alan Kelly: In fairness, I have given my attention.

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

Alan Kelly: It does not matter. Let us move on.

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

Alan Kelly: I did not say "No."

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

Alan Kelly: I did not say "No." I actually said that I listen.

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

Alan Kelly: In fairness, I am responding to the amendment.