Results 4,881-4,900 of 25,799 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: We have an opportunity on Committee Stage here. While some Senators, who have spoken at length about the importance of not privatising Irish Water, with which I agree completely, had an opportunity to reject the Bill yesterday, unfortunately, for whatever reason they decided not to. There is now a real opportunity to tie into the legislation the absolute necessity for a referendum. A...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister is perfectly entitled to a break and he should have one. Could we propose a sos for half an hour?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Perhaps the Acting Leader of the House proposes-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: That is why we argued against it.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: It is part of our policy.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Fianna Fáil Members did not agree to the Order of Business; the House did.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: That is very unfair.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: That is not a point of order.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: One of the fundamental flaws in this and one of the biggest concerns people have is the ownership of water and whether it can be sold on. I heard the Minister say that no Government in its right mind would do this, that or the other. I do not agree. One can go back to the Minister of State's party and look at the NewERA document and the proposed establishment of the strategic investment...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not believe that is true. The Senators thought it was not necessary. Why was it necessary only a matter of weeks ago but it is not necessary now? My opinion as to why it is believed that it is not necessary is because within the Labour Party, the party leader and Tánaiste in discussions with Ministers at Cabinet, told Labour Party Members that this was causing too much...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: The Government spent €540 million plus €172 million. It will probably raise a maximum of €140 million per year. It will probably be way less than that - some people are saying it will be €20 million - and for what? It has transferred 4,000 staff to a utility that is-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: We will get to that section later. I am not convinced by the argument made by Government and those who support this section that what Government is proposing with regard to a plebiscite would in any way, shape or form deal with the future ownership of water. While commentators might say now no Government would do it, I do not agree. Fine Gael, in particular, would be a party about which,...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: -----particularly in this instance. It has been an absolute disaster. Anyone who is honest about it would say of the mess created - by both the former Minister, Commissioner Hogan, and the Cabinet - that Deputy Kelly comes in here, beats his chest and states correctly that he will sort it out, he recognises mistakes were made and it was a mess but his party leader, the Tánaiste, and...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: ----- I say, "Big deal". That is the job. I agree with Senator Cullinane. I myself do not share that view. People are entitled to contact their Oireachtas Members about issues that concern them and that is what people, in the hundreds and thousands, have been doing over the past number of days and weeks.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: I will conclude shortly. I would invite the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, if he could, - I would invite the Minister, Deputy Kelly, to come back in to contribute sooner rather than later on this specific issue - to explain the complexity of having a referendum about the ownership of Irish Water staying with the Irish people in perpetuity. He cannot publish the Attorney General's advice...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: That is the real belt and braces. That is what is required, namely, that the Government put it into Bunreacht na hÉireann. The people want the ownership of the water in this country to be retained by the people of Ireland in perpetuity. Let them vote on it. What is the problem with them voting on it? I have not yet got an answer to that.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: The Minister of State should tell me what the problem is. Is it a political decision that Fine Gael and the Labour Party have made or are there really complex areas that the Government cannot deal with, or is it that the Government will not deal with those areas? I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, or the Minister, Deputy Kelly, whenever he returns this evening, to answer that...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: At what time does the Leas-Chathaoirleach reckon we will get a response from the Minister to the queries? Will that be at the end of Committee Stage?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: The speakers could come back in after the Minister’s response.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Darragh O'Brien: Thank you for clarifying that. Maybe after three or four more speakers the Minister might respond on those specific issues, because that would help some people decide on section 2.