Results 641-660 of 3,241 for speaker:Brian Ó Domhnaill

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Minister is agreeing with the Fine Gael councillors by not asking them. As the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government he has an obligation to direct the local authority.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Fine Gael is in power in Cavan, not Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Perhaps the Minister will talk to the councillors in Cavan. Deputy O'Reilly was a former Member of this House.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: If the Minister agrees that there will be no planning charges, architect charges or charges relating to special protection areas, heritage areas or wetlands and no additional costs in these areas then I welcome the change. However, if this is the case I do not understand why the amendment cannot be accepted because the amendment states, "contain such other information as may be prescribed"....

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: That is a disgrace and an outrage.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I want that comment withdrawn.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: We should send her to the Gaeltacht for a month.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It will be pressed. Can we have verification on the mandatory nature of the provision?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I appreciate what the Minister said and that the information may be of use to the EPA. However, the information required will have implications for householders.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Our previous amendment stated any additional information which was required would have no extra cost to the householder.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Why was it not accepted?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It was nothing to do with the €200. It stated any additional information required would have no additional cost to the householder. The amendment should have been accepted if there is no additional cost to the householder, as the Minister just outlined.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: While I appreciate what the Minister is saying, I cannot accept it. We would not have to press this amendment if our last amendment was accepted. There seems to be some-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Minister indicated that there may be a need to provide some form of drawing. I assume this refers to a drawing of the location of the septic tank and percolation area relative to the property. If that is required - I am merely giving an example of what might be envisaged in this - the likelihood is that the homeowner may not have the necessary skills to provide that information, in...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: There is €431 million in the budget this year.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I thank Senator Landy because he has brought clarity to the matter. The Minister seemed to imply that only houses affecting water courses within the 475,000 would be inspected and requested to upgrade. This is how it operates in County Cavan. I am informed by my learned colleague that not all the houses in County Cavan are included.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: All the houses in Cavan will now get €50 so it is getting worse-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: In my view, legislation should be tight, irrespective of what Government is in power. Legislation should come before the Oireachtas if changes such as those proposed in this Bill are to be regulated by a ministerial regulation. Senator Walsh made a very good point on the pollution threat caused by urban waste water systems. In my constituency and throughout greater Donegal there are...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I would prefer a system which dealt with that matter first. We do not all live with the luxury of a sewerage treatment system. Not all of us live in Dublin. Some of us have to travel to the country and we live in very rural and remote areas where roads may not be as good as in other areas. However, I am proud to live in the rural countryside.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, may have a great deal to look after because most of the septic tanks built in the rural part of Gweedore, the most densely populated rural part of Europe, are built on sites of roughly one fifth of an acre.