Results 5,681-5,700 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: It is the brashest statement I have ever heard.

Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: The Minister of State was doing well until he made his statement.

Registration of Deeds and Title Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: So much for freedom of information.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I welcome the Bill for what it contains, which is not very much. That is not a criticism of the Minister of State. When so much attention is focused on the energy industry, not only here but throughout Europe and worldwide, I would have expected the Bill to contain some earth-shattering proposals to deal with future energy requirements, to recognise the instability of energy markets and...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Four years ago would have been the time to introduce this Bill, and over the intervening period we could have developed the industry to the extent to which we now require it to be developed. I notice that one section of the Bill allows for the Minister to take emergency action, as it were. When one gets to the stage of emergency action it is too late. If Ministers and the various agencies do...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: That is the old story.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Absolutely. Could it be like the incinerator for Ringsend where one Minister said it shall not be in Wicklow and another Minister said it shall not be in Ringsend? In that case we could be treated to the unthinkable spectacle at the next general election of two Ministers up the same pole, at the same time, one telling the people of the benefits of incineration and the other with a placard...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: He is welcome back.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: It is. Ministers should take an interest in that area. It should not be up to a regulator, notwithstanding the fact that the regulator has been busy in recent years ensuring that electricity and gas prices have been increased. The price increases relate to worldwide energy prices. We had this argument many years ago with Bord na Móna when prices increased from £16 per tonne to approximately...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: It is unfortunate when it transpires that the Ceann Comhairle mistakenly believes a body has powers it does not possess. The legislation before the House confers on the Commission for Energy Regulation the same powers the Ceann Comhairle believed it already held.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I do not accept the Chair's suggestion.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I am certain the Ceann Comhairle would be energised and delighted to learn that I raised this matter.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: When I raised this issue on the Order of Business this morning, the Tánaiste informed me I would have an opportunity to raise it during the debate on this Bill. I have received six items of correspondence from the Ceann Comhairle indicating that the Minister has no official responsibility to the Dáil for matters I raised because they fall within the remit of the Commission for Energy...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: It is unfortunate the Minister of State has raised that matter because I am sick to my teeth listening to people giving advice that issues should be discussed at committee meetings. This is the national Parliament, the place where these issues should be thrashed out in the first instance. Minor details can be dealt with by the committee but here, in Parliament, is where the job is done or not...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: Regulators were introduced after the American Civil War to ensure everything was regulated. However, markets have a tendency to regulate themselves. Unfortunately, in this country regulation appears to have regulated prices for the consumer in an upward direction. Although 2007 is approaching, with the prospect of full deregulation, there appears to be a great difficulty——

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: It is.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I am glad the Minister had the temerity to raise that issue. It is grand to see those who are condemned speak openly about the execution. I do not mean that in the literal sense, of course, but some type of retribution will be exacted by the population who have been waiting patiently, in every hole and corner——

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: ——for the Government to emerge and give an account of its stewardship over the past number of years. Woe betide the Government.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: I would not go that far. Do not mention the war. I advise the Minister to go carefully in that context.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Apr 2006)

Bernard Durkan: The Bill is welcome as far as it goes. It puts in place a statutory basis for what regulators are supposed to do effectively. We have yet to see evidence that deregulation will be of benefit to the consumer. I look forward to that because it is not obvious yet. I hope it will be. The Bill does not contain any short, medium or long-term plans for the provision of an energy sector that will be...