Results 521-540 of 602 for speaker:Fiach MacConghail

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Dec 2014)

Fiach MacConghail: I welcome the Minister. It has been only 24 hours since we last went toe to toe yesterday. The classic line that comes to mind with the Water Services Bill is that if we were to start from anywhere, we would not be starting from here. My thoughts on the Bill it that it is complex, contradictory and a conundrum. I believe we should pay for water in order to conserve what is a limited...

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

Fiach MacConghail: I believe there is some merit to the Senator's amendment, particularly the sentiment behind the consideration of a proposal to amend the Constitution, but I am just not sure. My concern over section 7 is that the public water forum could end up comprising narrow vested interests. The Constitutional Convention has a track record, albeit a slow one. However, we can see that the...

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

Fiach MacConghail: In this regard, my voting record-----

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

Fiach MacConghail: I would like to inform the Minister-----

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

Fiach MacConghail: I would like to inform the Minister that the definition of “Independent”-----

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

Fiach MacConghail: The Minister is not an Independent but a member of the Labour Party. The track record of any Independent is evident from how he or she differs from others in votes. An Independent is someone who considers each section of a Bill or each issue on its merit and does not constantly vote against or for the Government. A considerable number of the 14 Independent Senators have voted consistently...

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

Fiach MacConghail: I, as an Independent who had the constitutional benefit of having been nominated by the Taoiseach, believe-----

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

Fiach MacConghail: I am being interrupted here.

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

Fiach MacConghail: I am talking to the Minister about a particular point.

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

Fiach MacConghail: In fairness, when a dear colleague of mine impugns my independence by accentuating the first syllable of the word , I need to address it on the record. The distinguished Senator is a former lecturer of mine and knows the works of Flann O'Brien and James Joyce better than I do. It is in the nature of being an Independent Senator that one will differ from other Senators in how one votes. I...

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

Fiach MacConghail: I make that point by way of providing information to Senator Norris who is not independent. What we are trying to do here is reassure citizens who are following the debate that it may be possible to make a civic gesture that could be enshrined in a Constitutional Convention. It could be argued that the Minister's idea of having a public forum on Irish Water is a little narrow. A convention...

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

Fiach MacConghail: I did not realise I was showing any such anxiety. The Minister should consider consulting his Cabinet colleagues on this issue before Report Stage. He has highlighted issues concerning Irish Water, the water network, water pipes and so forth. I accept that the Attorney General has advised that the idea of enshrining public ownership of Irish Water in the Constitution by means of a...

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

Fiach MacConghail: On a point of order, I spoke for the first time today at 5.57 p.m. How many times has Senator Norris spoken today?

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

Fiach MacConghail: In fairness, they are watching "The Graham Norton Show".

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

Fiach MacConghail: I raised some points on this issue on Second Stage and the Minister may be familiar with my views. It is clear there is a potential flaw, not so much in the legislation but because of the disincentive to conserve. We are full of contradictions in this House. First, we do not want to cap usage or the charge on usage. However, this section gets to the heart of the philosophy behind the...

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

Fiach MacConghail: The other issue relates to rain harvesting. How does that fit in? I seek a general policy statement from the Minister on where he sees rain harvesting contributing to conservation. In particular, where does he see it in this Bill? If he does not see it within the Bill then where might he see it as part of future legislation? The concern I have, which I also raised on Second Stage,...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Feb 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: I congratulate the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, on publishing the consultation paper on the establishment of an electoral commission in Ireland. We know it is late and that the current Government promised substantial political reform four years ago. However, I believe the House should congratulate itself for the debate it had a couple of...

Seanad: Establishment of Electoral Commission: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: On a point of order, shall I move the amendment?

Seanad: Establishment of Electoral Commission: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: Is there not a protocol whereby each spokesperson of each group may speak? I do not want to be discourteous to the Minister. Is our group next?

Seanad: Establishment of Electoral Commission: Motion (4 Mar 2015)

Fiach MacConghail: I move amendment No. 1: After “January, 2015”, to add the following:“and calls on the Government as a matter of urgency to establish an independent Electoral Commission before the end of December, 2015.”.Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Seanad. I call on the Government, as a matter of urgency, to establish an independent electoral commission before...