Results 6,261-6,280 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is prudent-----

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: There will be.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is much higher.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I think it is about €25 million, is it?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I think it is higher than that. I think it is €25 million.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is €25 million to be a regional contractor. In other words, each of the eight regional contractors would want to have a turnover of at least €25 million to reach that benchmark. As I understand it, the €400,000 figure is the amount that local contractors must have-----

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: No problem. Deputy Murphy has made an important point about subcontracting further. Each of the 220 local contractors, for want of a better term, can contract some of that work to other people locally as long as - this is the key point - the legal accountability will continue to rest with the local contractor. In other words, there will be a legal relationship between the regional...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: No.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: As I understand it, all bonds that are necessary and all legal liabilities will attach fully and clearly. If it is helpful, I can get the specific documentation relating to that for the Deputy in advance of Report Stage. It is critical that there are no cowboys here. If there are, the system whereby liability will attach to that must be clear.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The local authorities will have service level agreements with Irish Water regarding the services they will provide. The actual physical metering, which is what the Deputy is talking about, will be done by pre-qualified local contractors. The 25% minimum requirement that I mentioned earlier comprises the minimum of 10% who must come from the SME sector, the minimum of 10% who must come from...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move amendment No. 5: In page 8, before section 13, to insert the following new section: "13.--(1) The Minister for Finance may, after consultation with the Minister, guarantee, in such form and manner and in such money (including money in a currency other than the currency of the State) and on such terms and conditions as he or she thinks fit, the due repayment by the Board of the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is in the programme for Government but the decision and amount have not been fixed as yet. Deputy Murphy made a point about those on low incomes and how one deals with water poverty. We are in contact with the Department of Social Protection with regard to those issues and poverty proofing. All those issues are very important.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Again, no decision has been made on what the level of charge will be or on the free allowance. However, it is stated in the programme for Government that there will be a free allowance. Deputy Murphy is correct in that it is about changing people's behaviour. One issue I have seen in the UK and elsewhere is that if there is charging for water, there must be significant attempts by the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The evidence I have been given as recently as last week shows very significant water loss on the household side, beyond the stop-cock. A survey established that upwards of 60% of the unaccounted water is lost on the consumer side rather than on the public supply side.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is an analytical survey. I will provide the Deputy with a copy.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The biggest water leak is the one that is visible to everyone when a pipe bursts and water pours into the street. The Deputy is correct that if the water is leaking out at the back of a house, then the consumer will deal with it because it is visible. However, the vast majority of leaks are not visible. They are small but continuous and they may not be noticed for years. I met a person...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is a very important point which goes to the heart of the quality of work and workmanship. The Department, Irish Water, the National Roads Authority and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, are all engaged on this aspect. The Deputy is correct that it must be a foolproof system to ensure proper and full restoration of the roads. Senator Norris lives in a Georgian house and...