Results 18,341-18,360 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: In fairness, I am used to this House. In the area of electricity supply, a major cost in the production of water, Irish Water’s current renewable and efficient energy initiatives aim to reduce costs by 33% by 2020. In April, Irish Water became the main contact point for customer queries and reports regarding water supply outages and water quality, through its customer call centre....

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I could not agree more. As a former manager of Bord Fáilte and Fáilte Ireland, I could not agree more with Senator Norris, but from a tourism point of view that is huge. Tourism is critical to this country and we cannot continue to give that example to people. We must look forward and deal with this issue. According to last week’s EPA report on wastewater treatment in...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is outrageous that this is continuing as we move into 2015.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I am glad the Senator agrees. It cannot be allowed to continue. Nationally, our population is increasing, and that is to be welcomed. Our economy is growing, and our climate is changing. I will return to the House in the new year to talk about that very important issue. These realities bring new demands and challenges for our water system, realities that a single national utility is best...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I am pleased to bring the Bill before the Seanad today. It is good to be back in the Seanad, which is the House with the better debates, to be honest. I acknowledge that I am bringing the Bill to the House very late in the year. I very much appreciate the additional time which has been allocated and I thank everyone. We had more than 40 hours of robust debate on the Bill in the Dáil....

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I am also aware of the proposal from the Seanad on the holding of a referendum on the ownership of Irish Water.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I stress that I brought this directly to the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and everyone in Government, as I said I would,. It was carefully considered, and the argument of a constitutional amendment was considered in great detail. The Government believes the wording of such an amendment would be difficult to construct given the various categories of ownership of water services infrastructure in...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I suggest that legislation approved by the Houses of the Oireachtas is the appropriate way to address this matter. Senators must also take into consideration that during all of this I have borne in mind the advice we received from the Attorney General. I also had to take into consideration all of the issues relating to unintended consequences of putting such a provision into the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Yes.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Well, I think-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I agree

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Yes, if the Senator does not mind.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I know the process. In fairness Members should have the speech. I accept that.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: With regard to section 2 which provides for a plebiscite of the people should a future Government propose to initiate legislation that would lead to the privatisation of Irish Water, which I think is very unlikely, I fully understand the views expressed by my colleagues in the Dáil against any potential privatisation of Irish Water. Based on the debate-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I do not mind.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I have no problem with that.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I know the process in the House as I have been in long enough.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I am delighted to be back in the Seanad again.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I have been here quite often of late. I have good affection for the Seanad. I was here for a few years and I found the debate in the Seanad was often the superior debate in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Senator should check the record.