Results 6,381-6,400 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: In its plan of development obviously Irish Water will need to have due regard for water supplies that need to be upgraded. A number of those supplies have been identified already. I am not saying they are necessarily from cryptosporidium, but last year a number of boil notices had to be issued in cases where the EPA felt there was an issue with water quality. I am confident that no issue...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: To take the last point first, it is the duty of the Oireachtas to ensure that due process is carried out with regard to all annual reports brought before it. I appreciate that the Senator is talking about day-to-day expenditure, but the accountability of Irish Water under the legislation is to the Oireachtas in terms of its annual report. I have no doubt the report will be subject to...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: What was the Senator's question?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The budget for water infrastructure at present, both capital and current, is ¤1.2 billion. The income from that nationwide at present is ¤200 million. That is from commercial metering. Uncollected accounts in that area amount to more than 30%, which is also a serious issue. Irish Water will start with the money it will get from the commercial rates. It will also get whatever actual...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The purpose of amendment No. 3 is to provide the board with powers to undertake preparatory work pending the assignment of full water services powers by future legislation. A similar provision for the Commission for Energy Regulation was included in the published Bill. This amendment will clarify the range of functions that the subsidiary, Irish Water, and the board may carry out pending...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Far be it for me to offer Senator Landy anything but comfort, given the problems we have to deal with. There have been many questions and if I do not answer some, I will be happy to deal with them if Senators give me notice. The next Bill will address all the issues raised by Senator Landy, including the legal and important technical points which must be resolved. What the Bill is doing is...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Where a local authority carries out any activity in respect of water services that same powers will attach to Irish Water in the context that it must negotiate with the local authority before proceeding to carry out works. It will have the same powers as a local authority. Legally, it has the same statutory powers to ensure the water supply is safe and to carry out whatever works are needed...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I do not know the cost. The regulator will do due diligence on all of that area. All costs submitted will have to be transparent and will be transparently decided. Nothing will be hidden.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: No. The average commercial charge for water at present across all counties is ¤2.52 per 1,000 litres. In Denmark one will get three quarters of a bottle of water for ¤1. That is an indication of how expensive water is there. That is very expensive water compared with ours. The actual cost will be determined by the regulator. I do not know if that is helpful. People will know the cost...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I think that is presently the arrangement between all group water schemes. In other words, whatever arrangement is in place with the group water scheme will not change as a result of this. Clearly, issues arise with group water schemes. The experience in County Mayo is that one cannot cost the voluntary effort that goes in. I would hope the voluntary effort that the community puts in to...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: As Senator Mooney correctly points out, it is a local authority that is making the decision in terms of its development plan to do something in a particular area. That is part of the local authority's planning process, etc. I cannot say here that a particular group water scheme will come into public ownership as a result of Irish Water. That would be a local matter for them to negotiate.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: To be fair and honest on this one, in the next Bill the policy must be clarified, in other words, how one resolves the issue, should the situation arise, as I am sure it will, of the powers as between those of a local authority that wants to do action X and Irish Water that does not want to do it. There is also the question of planning. If a local authority, town council or city decides to...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: [Seanad Bill Amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (13 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Amendment No. 4 is a grammatical change to section 24 and does not change the purpose or meaning of subsection (1) of section 24.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Spending (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am taking these questions on behalf of the Minister for Defence who is out of the country. Each country pursues a defence policy that reflects its particular requirements and there can be significant differences in the proportion of funding that differing states allocate to defence. My colleague, the Minister for Defence, is committed to ensuring that the Defence Forces can continue to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Spending (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for his welcome. With respect, the question he asked concerned the way Ireland's defence expenditure as a share of GDP compares with those of other EU nations which are not members of NATO. The briefing I have refers to the question put down for answer as a priority question and does not mention the other issues raised by the Deputy. Notwithstanding the comments the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Spending (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I repeat that this was not in the question put down for priority answer. Having raised it, I will bring the points raised by the Deputy to the attention of the Minister and Department for direct reply.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ireland and our EU partners are gravely concerned about reports of human rights violations by the Malian authorities. Such allegations must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible should be held accountable. Respect for human rights is at the core of all of Ireland's engagement in overseas missions. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2071 (2012) calls on the EU to provide...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I repeat what I said in my response: "United Nations Security Council Resolution 2071 (2012) calls on the European Union to provide assistance, expertise, training and capacity building support for the armed and security forces of Mali in order to restore the authority of the state of Mali over its entire national territory." Ireland is participating on the basis of a United Nations Security...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Human Rights Issues (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The time allotted for the Deputy's Priority Question is ordered by the rules of the House. I do not have a problem with allocating more time if the House so decides. Any issue relating to Irish troops can be discussed, either by means of a Priority Question in the House, an Oireachtas committee or in the annual report of the Department of Defence. A resolution of the House is not required...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Arising from the comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011, the Government decided to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel. Following that decision, it was decided that it was not viable to retain a three brigade structure within a strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel. Accordingly, a major reorganisation, encompassing a reduction in the number of Army...