Results 3,261-3,280 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: Considering the delay which has ensued, in spite of commitments given by several members of the Cabinet, an example of which was the comments made by the Tánaiste last week to the effect that this should have happened months ago, will the Commission for Energy Regulation be allowed extra time during which the public might be permitted to make submissions as part of the consultation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: In the absence of the Minister's own submission, it is very difficult for the public to make a qualified submission, let alone ourselves and many others who have an interest in this issue. Has Irish Water made a submission and, if so, would the Minister instruct it to make that public to afford people an opportunity to ascertain the intentions of Irish Water with regard to these areas? In...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: Can its submission be published?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: Would the Minister agree it should be published?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Litter Pollution (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: Pooper scooper extraordinaire.

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: 7. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the re-instated inquiries into planning irregularities in seven local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19555/14]

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: On assuming office, the Minister put a stop to the proposed planning inquiry into the irregularities in many local authorities and stated that an internal inquiry carried out by his office would be sufficient. In light of recent comments on extending the inquiry again, is it the case that the findings of the internal inquiry warrant the broadening, as originally envisaged by the previous...

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister of State for her response, in which she stated that she had initiated an independent inquiry and hired consultants to conduct it on her behalf, but I will repeat my question. When the Minister assumed office he stated that there was no need for such an inquiry and that an internal inquiry would be carried out by his Department. It now appears that, in light of the...

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: The Minister of State has confirmed that it was because of the court case in respect of Donegal that she decided to have an external inquiry. Is that the position?

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: It had no correlation with the internal inquiry that the Minister initiated on assuming office. Is that so? Has that been concluded? Is there any way that could be published or that the House might be made aware of its findings? The Minister of State is now saying it had no regard to that and that there was nothing emanating from it, if there was such an inquiry at all, when it came to...

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: Could we publish the full findings?

Other Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: 9. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to detail the number of households which will not have a water meter by the time charges are introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19553/14]

Other Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: 15. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the full details of his Department's submission to the Commission for Energy Regulation's water charges policy will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19554/14]

Other Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: I received a response from the Minister this week in respect of an estimation on the part of the Department and Irish Water on how many households would be metered. The answer suggested that over 400,000 households out of approximately 1.1 million would be done by the end of this year. I was hoping for a more up-to-date response, to be honest. It might determine a quicker resolution to the...

Other Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister for his response. The Minister said that he has funded a study and asked more consultants to carry out work. He is paying them to analyse and recommend to him and to Irish Water a means or mechanism by which pricing may be levied on those who have no meter installed. When was this study initiated? When was it recommended? When was it tendered? When did it commence?...

Other Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: Some moments ago I detailed many questions in response to the Minister's answer. I hope the record of the House will show, list and detail those questions. The Minister has said that the problem has become apparent to him to such an extent that he has had to initiate a new study to address the prospect of many houses not being metered. The Minister has only now or recently acknowledged...

Other Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: -----in a similar fashion to that which caused the debacle in January. Have we learned nothing during this sorry process over the past three years? We have learned doubly nothing since January. I am very disappointed and perturbed to hear today, four months after the debacle in January, that more funds are being expended on consultants in an effort to establish how they might set a charge...

Other Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: I asked direct questions so the Minister might respond to them in writing.

Other Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: It most definitely was €85 million.

Other Questions: Water Charges Introduction (1 May 2014)

Barry Cowen: Not the quango that is Irish Water.