Results 4,921-4,940 of 25,799 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: That is the whole purpose of an amendment.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: Then what is the point in even talking right now? We all know that. This is nonsense, come on.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: There is no point. Senator Gilroy has just been waffling on for five minutes about nothing, about what amendments are. I would just like him to sit down and let us get on with it. This is rubbish.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: Oh come on.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: Senator Gilroy really should, because he is adding nothing.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: John-----
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: I move amendment No. 26: In page 11, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “9. Irish Water shall be subjected to a full review by the Comptroller and Auditor General.”.Section 9 deals with pensions and superannuation in the new Irish Water authority. Our amendment proposes that Irish Water be subjected to a full review by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Before...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: The reason I asked the Minister of State to speak first - for which I thank him - is that the response shows the complete inadequacy of the Government's proposal with regard to the oversight of Irish Water. The set-up costs of this company amount to nearly €1 billion thus far. I served as Vice Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts in the last Dáil. When Government...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: If we want to audit and have oversight over Irish Water, surely to God the best people to do that is the Comptroller and Auditor General on behalf of the State's investment in this company.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: Otherwise, are we saying we are happy enough to have KPMG or PwC - the usual punters which have audited the banks over the years - employed by Irish Water to audit its accounts? Those accounts will then go to the line Minister at the time, who appoints the board of Irish Water. This will be to whomever is the Minister. Long after this Government is gone, there will be other Ministers....
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: I have given the Minister of State other parts of it - that audited accounts-----
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: The Minister of State said it was unnecessary, did he not?
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: I did not. The Minister of State said, as part of his answer, that it was unnecessary. Did he not? I respectfully disagree with the Minister of State and the Government on the manner in which they are setting this up. I think this is absolutely necessary. If in two years time the Minister of State is the senior Minister with responsibility for the environment and he finds out that there...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: It is. I am going to finish now because I do not want to be repeating myself.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: I am trying to be constructive here and add something to this legislation.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: My amendment states, "Irish Water shall be subjected to a full review by the Comptroller and Auditor General." It is very simple. Members in the Labour Party would even understand that. Can anyone tell me if there is a problem with the Comptroller and Auditor General having oversight over Irish Water? If there is, what is the problem? If there is a problem with the Comptroller and...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: Hear, hear.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: It cannot be done under the legislation.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: It is not possible. The Senator has obviously not read the Bill.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: Senator Gilroy has clearly not read the Bill because he does not understand what he is talking about.