Results 2,501-2,520 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Local Government (Town Centres) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2013)

Barry Cowen: Before I move Second Stage, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I ask that we remember this day in world history. It is a very poignant date as it is the fiftieth anniversary of the brutal assassination of John F. Kennedy, an Irish-American President, who only six months earlier had visited this country to see his ancestral home and the Garden of Remembrance. He also addressed a...

Local Government (Town Centres) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2013)

Barry Cowen: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Across the length and breadth of Ireland, towns are showing the scars of disastrous unemployment rates, abysmally low confidence, myopic planning and the slow bleed of emigration. Abandoned shops dot the streetscape while remaining businesses struggle to entice customers and to keep their doors open. Government public relations are...

Local Government (Town Centres) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2013)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister of State for her response and colleagues for their contributions. I acknowledge that the Minister of State empathises with the grave difficulties being faced by local authorities throughout the country and the reality of the decimation and continued dilapidation of towns both small and large. I also acknowledge the manner in which she has taken on board her...

Local Government (Town Centres) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2013)

Barry Cowen: The Government increased the duty on alcohol sales in pubs, which had a further crippling effect on the licensed trade in many of our town centres. I acknowledge the empathy the Minister mentioned and her contribution to the debate. I respect her decision not to accept the Bill, but I remain to be convinced of her assertion that the new district councils will have the wherewithal to do...

Local Government (Town Centres) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2013)

Barry Cowen: I do not wish to get into a confrontational ding-dong here. We are above that.

Local Government (Town Centres) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2013)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to go a little over the time. I hope that on Committee Stage of the local government Bill we will be able to identify and tease out what the Minister believes to be within it that will be capable of doing much of what I am saying.

Order of Business (26 Nov 2013)

Barry Cowen: Last week the Taoiseach said that progress on the water services Bill would be discussed at Cabinet today. Can he now commit to the Dáil that all the legislation outstanding will be dealt with in this session? I refer to the legislation on the transfer of network assets and to give effect to the billing system.

Order of Business (26 Nov 2013)

Barry Cowen: There are 9,000 appeals in Dublin at present.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Barry Cowen: The Deputy voted against €1,400 a few years ago.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Barry Cowen: Not if they are sick.

Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (26 Nov 2013)

Barry Cowen: If they are healthy.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (3 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: 264. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which enabling legislation relating to the Pyrite Resolution Board will be passed; when the board will commence receiving applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51766/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Panel Report Recommendations (3 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: 265. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the observations in the pyrite report that it would be in the banks' own interest to facilitate a process that would protect their assets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51767/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (3 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: 273. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a county breakdown of the National Asset Management Agency properties transferred to local authorities and voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51955/13]

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: I apologise but I was interrupted when the Minister was referencing the Irish Water service level agreements. I would appreciate it if he could reiterate his comments in that regard. I am conscious that we are awaiting legislation in regard to many facets of Irish Water, including the transfer of assets and service level agreements in relation to staffing proposals.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: I accept the premise of what the Minister says. I am sure he is right to be presumptuous in relation to the passage of legislation to allow him to do that. For the purpose of the record, in the absence of relevant legislation, can this be done?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: I understand from where the Minister is coming but he is asking us to agree to the transfer of funding for service level agreements despite that we are not aware, and will not be, of the workings of the service level agreement until such time as we have sight of what is proposed in this regard. I accept the Minister's intentions and the good faith in which this amendment is being proposed in...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: What then is changing to indicate reform?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: Based on what the Minister said, the role of local authorities in the service, maintenance and provision of water services will remain as it has been up to now, yet an additional 200 staff of similar management grade to those in the local authorities and 450 staff to manage a call centre are to be recruited.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Government Bill 2013: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: There was great fanfare about the reform that would take place in terms of how we maintain and provide water services, yet from what I have heard the only difference will be that it will be more costly and, ultimately, taxpayers will pay in terms of the setting of rates.