Results 6,301-6,320 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Confidence in Government: Motion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: As we all know, Deputy Ferris, that does not serve the McCabes or the whistleblowers well. That does not set the terms of reference. That does not get to the truth. That does not pave the way for the criminal implications that may arise out of a public tribunal of inquiry. However, it gets Sinn Féin what it wants. It gets Sinn Féin to bring down a Government, as it is doing in...

Confidence in Government: Motion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: Has it affected our confidence in the Government? It has definitely waned our confidence in the Government. Sinn Féin asks whether there was a conspiracy at the heart of the Government. No. Was there a cover-up at the heart of the Government? No.

Confidence in Government: Motion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: Was there incompetence? Yes.

Confidence in Government: Motion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: Was there incoherence? Yes. Was there naivete?

Confidence in Government: Motion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: Yes, there was at the heart of the Government and within the whole of the Government, including the Minister, Deputy Ross.

Confidence in Government: Motion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: Eventually, though, we find ourselves at the right conclusion, with a public tribunal of inquiry. We do not find ourselves in the mouth of an election. We do not find ourselves in the mouth of six months of paralysis, which Sinn Féin might welcome. We find ourselves at the door of a process that offers a solution, offers the truth and offers a resolution into the future for how these...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: I will be brief. I have specific questions. If the witness could be likewise, we will get through all we need to get through here today. To lead on from the previous question, does Mr. Ciobanu-Dordea accept that we had a derogation from domestic water charges under Article 9 of the EU framework directive in 2000? That is the first question. Second, what is his and the Commission's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: It is the energy regulator, which has been charged with the responsibility to act on behalf of the public in the implementation of the framework directive.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: The Commission did not challenge it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: It has not, so it has accepted it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: Mr. Ciobanu-Dordea does accept that we were not challenged in our interpretation of the derogation based on the directive in 2000. Mr. Ciobanu-Dordea has answered it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: The Commission did not challenge it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: That is fine. That is all I wanted to know. I do not mean to be confrontational. I just mean to establish facts about the Commission's opinions and our opinions and how they are implemented, and ultimately the courts will decide if they are asked to arbitrate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: What is the Commission's definition of established practice?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: Will Mr. Ciobanu-Dordea go straight to it, if he does not mind?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: Established practice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: Therefore, the Commission accepted the interpretation of the established practice initially but sought to shift its interpretation of it when it got the river basin management plan. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: What is the Commission's interpretation of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: What is the Commission's definition of paragraph (4)? What is its definition of established practice? Prior to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Role of Regulators and Compliance with European Law: Discussion (15 Feb 2017)

Barry Cowen: Established practice in my mind and that of the Irish Government and people at that time was that it was paid for out of general taxation. The Commission decided to change its interpretation of it on submission of the river basin management plan, which is its right to do so if it so wishes. We do not agree. If there is to be an adjudication on it, it is beyond our control. That is all I...