Results 4,301-4,320 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: I am somewhat confused by some of the contributions. We have heard that water is a human right for the past couple of weeks and that everything should be for free. When the Government facilitates the establishment of Irish Water and keeps costs down, there are objections.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: The Opposition wants to load it with more debt. It is confusing.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: It is, but we are trying to get Irish Water going.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: Off balance sheet.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: I do not think other Deputies are being clear. I have been dragged into side arguments because there seems to be confusion within the Opposition as to what it wants out of Irish Water. I like other Deputies would like to make a comparison with Northern Ireland Water. Of the household charge in Northern Ireland, £160 goes towards water. Some £200 million of the block grant from...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: Are these gross or comparative figures?

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: That is what is happening in Northern Ireland with the household charge.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: The Minister of State might inform the Dáil as to who owns the overall company, Ervia. To the best of my knowledge, it still is owned by the people and therefore, as Irish Water technically is a subsidiary of Ervia, there is no doubt about the ownership of Irish Water, which still is ours. I take Deputy McNamara's point that the legislation is definitely more simple and easier than...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: Absolutely. It certainly could be. As I have read more about this subject, one interesting point to emerge is about Northern Ireland Water, and the more this matter is discussed, the more important it becomes. Northern Ireland Water has been in existence for seven years. It cost more to set up than Irish Water did. It has had its own hiccups - at one point, 36,000 people were without...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: However, Sinn Féin never has had any discussions about getting rid of Northern Ireland Water, and it now delivers the service it was created for. The structures of Irish Water and Northern Ireland Water are highly similar. There is nothing in the management statement or the financial memorandum of Northern Ireland Water that makes any reference to the necessity for board members to be...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: Over the course of the past two or three days or even the past two or three two weeks since we have been discussing the funding of Irish Water it has become clear that Irish Water is similar in structure and governance to the way water companies throughout Europe are structured. It is becoming clear from this debate that we are not far off the structure of Northern Ireland Water. I am keen...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: I will finish on this point. I have sat through the debate and taken a keen interest in it. Perhaps I was not around when the Commission for Energy Regulation report was discussed on Committee Stage. However, it seems we have been led up the hill and back down again by some Members of the Opposition given that in other jurisdictions, especially one where a particular political party...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: There are to be no interruptions. The Deputy should address his remarks to the amendment.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: As the time permitted for this debate has expired-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: Sorry; as the time permitted for this debate has expired, I am required to put the following question in accordance with an Order of the Dáil on Tuesday, 16 December 2014: "That section 14 is hereby agreed to in Committee."

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: Personally, I believe the idea that we would call for a referendum on Irish Water is daft. I believe also that members of the Opposition know within their hearts that it is daft. Why not call for a referendum on all our hospitals remaining in public ownership?

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: Would members opposite like a referendum to ensure that will always be the case? Should the same apply in respect of our roads and so on? The fact that members opposite are calling for a referendum means that not only do they have no regard for the Dáil Chamber and the Oireachtas but they have no regard for the people who elected them. The people elected the Deputies to represent...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: The Deputy is one of those people. He is a slow converter to democracy as well.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: There are a few other Deputies behind Deputy Ó Snodaigh who also need a little house training. They still have not got their heads around that anarchy and all that rubbish does not make for a better country.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Liam Twomey: My point is that there are some people here who have little regard for the Oireachtas yet they are calling for a referendum on Irish Water.