Results 2,381-2,400 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh
- Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: We are paying ourselves too much, as the Minister knows.
- Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: That is only â¬5 billion. It is not proportionate. Capital expenditure is â¬5 billion and current expenditure is â¬48 billion.
- Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: Honest engagement-----
- Seanad: Infrastructure and Capital Investment: Statements, Questions and Answers (22 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: The Minister started it.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: While this is not one of the more important sections of the Bill, there are still issues like aptitude, attitude and attributes that arise in respect of the people appointed. Effectively, they are all-powerful positions. Ultimately, their opinions cannot be challenged in the normal way. I know we will come to the section dealing with the restrictions on what can be appealed to the courts,...
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: The response of the Minister raises an interesting scenario. He mentioned the information sought will be on the design of the facility, basic information on its maintenance-----
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: I thought that is what he said. That was my understanding. Will people be asked when they clean the glass and keep records over a number of years? Will that be the basis for the selection of inspections?
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: He indicated to us only a small proportion of those with septic tanks will be selected for inspection. How will inspections be selected? Will it be on a random basis or on the information supplied?
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: That raises another question. I made the point on Second Stage that I would have preferred if we took a more focused and targeted view on the registration and inspection regime. We should look at areas where water courses are at risk. Such areas could be identified. Such a system works in other jurisdictions.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: No. The new system will register everybody.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: My point deals with the specific additional information that will be prescribed. What purpose will the information be put to? I understand, from the response of the Minister, that the risk based assessment or evaluation by the EPA will be based on risks to water courses. It already has that information because geographic areas have been identified. The only information they will get from...
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: The Minister's last response provided some clarification on this issue in so far as he explained that the additional information will be used by the EPA to develop a national plan. The purpose of the Bill, as the Minister indicated and with which we all agree, is to ensure we have safe water courses and a safe water supply. There is both a public health and an environmental perspective....
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: The point I am making is certainly relevant to these provisions. They relate to the gathering of information which will, as the Minister said, inform the authorities on how the national plan should be targeted. My point is that the people from whom we are seeking this information are the wrong people. The river basin management plan revealed that the main polluters are local authorities....
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: There are local authorities which have decided only in recent years that percolation tests should form part of the process of granting planning permissions. People who sought permission, went through the process set up by the State and now find themselves in great difficulty, perhaps unable physically and financially to comply, will be put through the hoops. That is unacceptable when the...
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: They will have to renew the system they installed at great cost to themselves.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: It may not be working.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: I am saying that the worst culprit in regard to pollution of water courses is the State itself.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: The State is not prepared to get its house in order but is seeking instead to pass the burden onto individual rural dwellers. It is typical of how the State operates. I am not blaming the Minister or the Government specifically; it is typical of how the apparatus of the State functions. Standards are set down with which individuals must comply while the State itself is not so obliged....
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: In fairness, the previous Government spent millions of euro on this.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)
Jim Walsh: I have good respect for Senator Landy as we know each other a long time. I do not fully agree with the point he made. The inclusion of all houses with septic tanks goes beyond what is necessary to protect our water courses which is a priority. Some people are getting anxious because even if their septic tanks were not functioning perfectly, they would still not cause a problem. This...