Results 6,481-6,500 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: Yes.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: One is not supposed to pollute water.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: Which the Deputy has.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy still exploited them.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: The Deputy is jealous.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: The debate has developed during the course of the day and in the past hour has focused very much on the provision of grants and how we are going to deliver whatever money is deemed necessary. Members are no longer focusing on compliance with the legislation or matters relating to public health-----

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I have stated previously that I will do everything possible to ensure people do not experience financial hardship.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: That is exactly what I will do.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: Deputy Martin Ferris has had a good run.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I will provide the answer if the Deputy bides his time.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: It would be very difficult for me to sign a blank cheque for the provision of financial support without first being aware of the extent of the problem. I stated on Second Stage and again on Committee Stage that we would consider the provision of financial assistance for people when we became aware of the extent of the problem in 2013 following the carrying out of inspections. That is what...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I could not be any more fair.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: The debate has shifted to the level of grant assistance.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: Yes, that is the figure to which reference was made. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív indicated that he wanted to see universal inspection of septic tanks throughout the country on each occasion

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: The information was contained in the relevant document.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: Therefore, it has nothing to do with the Deputy. He was in government, but he had no responsibility for it.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: Section 70C repeals the provisions contained in section 70 of the 2007 Act which was introduced by the Government of which Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív was a member. We are reducing the penalties introduced in that legislation from a maximum of €15 million in fines or five years in prison.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am repealing the relevant provisions of the 2007 Act in order to ensure the extremely onerous penalties to which I refer will no longer apply. These penalties were approved by Deputies Mattie McGrath and Éamon Ó Cuív and all of those who were members of or supported the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: I am sure Deputy Michael Healy-Rae who was a councillor at the time was informed about this matter by his father, former Deputy Jackie Healy-Rae, who supported the legislation. Under the 2007 Act, the penalties are €15 million in fines and five years in prison if one does not comply with the standards relating to water quality. That is the record of the previous Government. I will not be...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Phil Hogan: We are doing more than has ever been done before in the context of regulations.