Results 2,981-3,000 of 20,765 for speaker:Alan Kelly
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: It is a negligible number. I have some figures here and will read them into the record.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: I appreciate that Members have accepted that this section is quite technical and that it attempts to ensure everybody is protected. Everybody has a legal contract of employment and all income is pensionable. There are issues relating to the performance model and for that reason I have stated publicly that the issue must and will be dealt with quickly. It cannot remain an ongoing issue....
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: That is fair enough.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: Workers need to be protected. These are technical amendments relating to their pension schemes and I ask for the co-operation of the House to support them.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: I apologise as I meant to give the number with regard to the transfer to the Deputy earlier. Approximately 144 have transferred and 145 from local authorities for asset management, three from local authorities under the customer operations side and 16 under support services. Wages are a matter for management at Irish Water. Under the board's guidance, it will have to deal with pay and all...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: I move amendment No. 36:In page 12, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:"(3) The Minister may request the Minister for Finance to make payments up to a total amount of €460,000,000 to local authorities for the purpose of repaying any Housing Finance Agency water related loans under section 5 of the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981 held by local authorities. The Minster for...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: The issue is being pushed into a bracket in which it should not be. It is a necessary transaction. While it is a large figure, it has been flagged previously.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: Local authorities have water related loans totalling €600 million. That figure is broken down as follows: €150 million from various commercial lenders and, as has been outlined, approximately €450 million from the Housing Finance Agency. In May 2014 the Government agreed that these loans should not be transferred to Irish Water, as the combination of these loans and...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: Moreover, if one takes account of the fact that the loans were included-----
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: Yes, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, and I will go through it now.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: Work proceeded during the year in establishing the full extent of the liabilities, other than loans, and they are now estimated at approximately €50 million, rather than the previous figure of €200 million. Therefore, it should be possible to accommodate the €150 million of local authority water services-related debt held by commercial banks within the €200...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: For the purposes of clarity-----
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: It is under €460 million.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: For the purposes of clarity, these is a range of loans and the figure is under €460 million; I understand it is closer to €450 million. In addition, it now is proposed that the €450 million owed to the Housing Finance Agency should be unwound by the provision of necessary finance from central funds. I am talking about debt with local authorities being transferred to...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: In summary, it makes sense not to transfer the Housing Finance Agency loans from local authorities to Irish Water for a number of reasons. First, Irish Water's cost base will be reduced and it will not be required to take on other local authority loans in respect of the €450 million in loans for water infrastructure. These loans originated within the Housing Finance Agency and, to...
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: Yes.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: Yes.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: Of course, it is. Local authorities will not be left liable for these loans which will be recouped from central funds.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: It is already Government debt.
- Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)
Alan Kelly: I do not see it that way at all.