Results 521-540 of 5,294 for speaker:Michael McCarthy

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 36: In page 21, subsection (1), lines 27 to 34, to delete paragraph (f). E-mail is one of the methods described in the Bill by which notices can be served, however, the serving of notices by electronic mail is unworkable. First, it more or less imposes a legal requirement on every person in the country to check his or her e-mails. Given the difficulties people can...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister of State for his reply, which I accept. However, I reiterate that the service of notices by electronic mail is a dangerous thing. I understand the context in which the Minister of State puts it and I accept his reply, but we must bear in mind that the failure to respond to the notices in question can result in jail. The issue is more grave than the amendment might suggest.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 43: In page 27, subsection (1), line 4 after "(2)" to insert "and provided that the Minister is satisfied that democratic accountability for the function concerned will be ensured". This section could possibly result in the privatisation of water services through the transfer from local authorities to "another person prescribed", which could be a private company. The...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: The spirit of my amendment is to ensure democratic accountability in the delivery of services by local authorities. The Minister of State and his team will be aware that the section I seek to amend will inspire fear. There has been a significant tightening of the public purse and we have seen a spate of public service cutbacks due to the fiscal situation. A section of this nature in a Bill...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 54: In page 32, subsection (2), between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following paragraph: "(a) the right of each person within the functional area of the authority to have access to water services;". The Bill is quite bureaucratic in parts. One cornerstone of public policy has been omitted, and is obvious by its absence. That is the public's right of access to water...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I reiterate the importance of reflecting in the Bill the fundamental right of access to water which is the intention of the amendment. The Bill does not refer to this right and could take a narrow approach to it if the amendment is not considered.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 61: In page 38, subsection (3), line 22, to delete "the relevant part" and substitute "such provision". This is a drafting amendment. I want to ensure consistency of language in the Bill and I hope the Minister of State will accept it.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I thank the Minister for his reply.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 62: In page 38, subsection (3), line 37, to delete "executive" and substitute "reserved". The amendment pertains to the roles of the executive, officials and members of local authorities. There is a serious issue in regard to the functions and powers of elected members of local authorities, to which I referred earlier in regard to the exclusive authority which the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (16 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: There have been occasions in the past and there will be in the future where county and city managers will disagree with the elected members. I can accept that but often there is good reason for a member of a local authority to make representations to or to plead with a manager to make a decision based on advice given by the member. When such a situation prevails in the context of a reserve...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: Yesterday in Iraq, sovereignty was handed back to an interim Iraqi Government, and Paul Bremer has now left that country. In that context, will President Bush and Prime Minister Blair now apologise to the people of Iraq and the international community for waging an illegal war since the start of last year against the wishes of many in the international community and the fundamental ethos of...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: We are not controlling them all.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I support the thrust of the amendment. The local authority I was a member of was controlled by Fianna Gael and Labour. Sadly, that is no longer the case as it is now controlled by Fine Gael. There is an issue in terms of transparency of contracts and the whole tender process. I can recall at divisional and full meetings, officials, as they are required, opening the tenders in the presence of...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: That is as clear as water.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 96: In page 52, subsection (1)(c), line 20, after "authority" to insert "to a material extent". Section 53 prohibits the waste of or unauthorised use of a connection to a water supply. However, this section is overly bureaucratic as it can be construed that wasting a glass of water is an equal offence to wasting 1,000 gallons.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 98: In page 52, subsection (1), line 28, after "shall" to insert "take such steps as are reasonably within his or her control to". My highly-skilled parliamentary team informed me that the Bill takes a too bureaucratic line, which this amendment proposes to address. Occupiers can do little to ensure that the water on their premises meets prescribed quality standards. I...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: On a point of order, according to the list of amendment groupings, this has already been dealt with.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: It has been dealt with, according to this document.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: The meter starts running when one enters a taxi and it is there to measure cost not just the distance travelled. There is a fear that metering will be imposed for the specific purpose of charging people for water usage. Given the fiscal situation in this country for the last few years and that many public services have been starved of funds, not least the local authorities for which...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2003: Committee Stage (Resumed). (29 Jun 2004)

Michael McCarthy: I move amendment No. 156: In page 75, subsection (1), line 11, after "as" to insert "an Coiste Náisiúnta Seirbhísí Uisce Tuathúil or, in the English language,". The amendment seeks to insert the Irish title of the committee. This issue arose recently during our discussions of the An Bord Bia Bill when the Minister for Agriculture and Food, while accepting the spirit of an amendment...