Results 6,441-6,460 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: I thank Deputies for a very wide-ranging discussion covering such matters as likely outbreaks of cryptosporidium, public private partnerships and DBOs. We have also discussed the very fundamental point touched on by Deputy Michael Higgins, namely, the appropriate place to allow them. The last three contributions were particularly interesting, since they go to the very heart of the Bill....
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: I address this specific comment to Deputy Michael D. Higgins as he raised the important point about the pearl mussel. It is not simply an airy-fairy or touchy-feely issue, it is a matter of some significance because the pearl mussel, in addition to being a species which we should protect, and biodiversity would demand we do that, is also important as an indicator of water purity. That was...
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: That is correct. I agree with the point the Deputy made. When I met the anglers in Galway, including the "gentleman" to whom Deputy Michael D. Higgins referred in derogatory terms recently on television, and not entirely truthfully either, they made some interesting points. One issue related to the point dealt with by the Deputy; the haphazard tree-felling system. There is currently a...
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: I was simply replying.
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: May I respond?
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: I am aware of the concerns of Deputy Connaughton. I have provided â¬27.4 million specifically to Galway County Council to provide for upgrading and further capacity. Luimnagh produces good water and this funding will provide conservation measures and storage capacity as well as additional treatment. There is a problem at Luimnagh and Tuam, as Deputy Connaughton is aware, because 70% of...
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: I thank Members for a series of wide-ranging and important contributions. If Deputy Crawford provides me with details of his concerns regarding the case to which he referred, I will have them examined. Deputies Connolly and Crawford raised the fundamental issue of information. I introduced regulations in early March which, as a result of complaints made in the past, require local...
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: On this specific point, I accept amendment No. 6 recognises a practical difficulty exists. I also accept the point the Deputy made previously that the conventional script "in so far as is practicable" can be used. However, they are slightly "weasel words" because they lead us to difficulties. I gave this consideration and it was not that my contribution here was short. We discussed this at...
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: Not if the house is already there.
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: A huge number of houses have private water supplies.
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: If the Chair wishes I will not answer the question.
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: In my constituency many hundreds of houses depend on water from private sources such as wells and not group water schemes. Many hundreds of houses in the upland areas of County Wicklow and the mountain areas of County Dublin depend on water from private wells. If the amendments were accepted it would give people the right to have water taken to them at taxpayers' expense if a private well...
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: The pointââ
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: That is fine with me.
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: There are 200,000 households connected to wells in this country. Not all of those would have been built post-planning; many would have been built before planning. It would be irresponsible to suggest that every one of those be connected up to a pipe.
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: That is the effect.
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: I move amendment No. 3: In page 14, to delete line 5 and substitute the following: ""groundwater" means all water below the land surface that is not in a pipe or similarly contained;". I promised on Committee Stage to revisit the definition of "groundwater" on Report Stage. Deputy Gilmore mentioned on Committee Stage that the ambiguity in the wording of the existing definition could result...
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: I strongly hold the sentiment that water services should not be privatised. We had a lengthy discussion on this issue on Committee Stage. Amendment No. 17 prevents the asset from being transferred because the essence of privatisation is the question of who owns the asset. The new subsection (12) inserted by the amendment needs elaboration because I do not have any principled disagreement...
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: All I can do is assure the Deputy that the words mean what they appear to mean. The central issue of privatisation is who owns an asset. That asset may not be transferred in law, and amendment No. 17 specifically deals with that. The same question arises regarding use and the DBO. In the latter case, the contracting parties are contractors to the council, but that does not give them...
- Water Services Bill 2003 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Apr 2007)
Dick Roche: It is the local authority.