Results 4,321-4,340 of 4,810 for speaker:Liam Twomey

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

Liam Twomey: The people do not want to privatise Irish Water. It is only in the United Kingdom that water companies are privatised. This does not happen in Northern Ireland, the Republic or most European countries. It is only in the United Kingdom that that happened and we have seen how it failed.

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

Liam Twomey: We have no intention of repeating those mistakes.

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

Liam Twomey: I will give way if the Deputy has something to inform me on.

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

Liam Twomey: In most European countries the water utility companies are similar to Irish Water.

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

Liam Twomey: Yes. I know the Deputy prefers to go to Denver when he needs back-up on this sort of issue.

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

Liam Twomey: The reality is that water utilities across Europe are similar to Irish Water. Sinn Féin should have greater regard for the people who elected them to this House-----

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

Liam Twomey: -----because if the people decide they want to privatise Irish Water they might well elect a radically different Government or Members of Parliament.

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

Liam Twomey: Deputy Ó Snodaigh in calling for a referendum to be held on the ownership of roads, schools and everything else is showing a lack of trust on behalf of the people who elected him. The Deputy knows this is nonsensical.

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

Liam Twomey: It is.

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

Liam Twomey: We have had an endless debate on this issue. I have read all about how Northern Ireland Water was established. What we are doing is not that different. Sinn Féin is in Government in Northern Ireland where water meters are being installed and bonus payments are being paid to executives.

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

Liam Twomey: There is little difference, yet Sinn Féin is marching people up the hill and down again and saying that it is going to do something radically different. Sinn Féin has been in Government in Northern Ireland for seven years yet it has done nothing that is radically different up there in regard to water.

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

Liam Twomey: Sinn Féin is biding its time in that regard. On the household charge in Northern Ireland-----

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

Liam Twomey: I have the floor but I am being continually interrupted.

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

Liam Twomey: In regard to the household charge in Northern Ireland, £160 per annum of that goes to meet water service provision. A further £200 million of the Westminster grant also goes towards water services. That same £200 million will probably form part of the budget deficit if things do not get sorted out up there. Perhaps water charges are on the way.

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

Liam Twomey: It is clear that-----

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

Liam Twomey: I am doing my best but Deputy Ó Snodaigh insists on speaking over me. The document published by Northern Ireland Water makes clear that no domestic charges will be introduced in 2014 or 2015. It is not say they will not be introduced. That is the reality. Perhaps it is coincidental that the elections in the North will take place at the same time as the general election here.

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

Liam Twomey: Perhaps Sinn Féin does not have to discuss the issue until such time comes.

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

Liam Twomey: The reality is that there is not much difference between what was done in the North and what we are doing. When one makes the comparison between Northern Ireland Water and Irish Water much of the debate here has been phony and misleading.

Hospital Services: Motion [Private Members] (14 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: I call Deputies Seamus Healy and Thomas Pringle. They have five minutes to share.

Hospital Services: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (15 Jan 2015)

Liam Twomey: It is inappropriate to say our health services are dysfunctional and it is disrespectful to the people who work in health services. There is an issue regarding appropriate funding for health services and that is what we should discuss. The Opposition should be talking about solutions. We should bear in mind that 2,000 beds have been taken from the health services in the past number of...